Pete McDonald focuses his practice on complex commercial litigation. Pete has handled disputes in a diverse array of practice areas including securities, legal malpractice defense, trusts and estates, federal regulatory matters, and energy litigation.
Following law school, Pete was a law clerk to Judge Jerome Farris, United States Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit, 2019-2020. Before law school, Pete taught ninth grade math and robotics in Detroit, Michigan and was awarded a Fulbright fellowship in Athens, Greece.
In re: Foster Timber, Ltd., In re: Letitia Foster Campbell Trust, U/A/D May 14, 1946, and Related Litigation
Representing family members and trust beneficiaries in a series of liquidation, dissolution, receivership, garnishment, and trust instruction proceedings in Texas and Illinois. Pete cross-examined and deposed key fact witnesses and was instrumental in briefing successful motions for summary judgment, as well as multiple other pre- and post-trial motions throughout the litigation.
Residential Mortgage-Backed Securities Litigation
Representing Pacific Investment Management Company LLC and BlackRock Financial Management, Inc. in a series of trust instruction proceedings regarding the treatment of deferred principal and final maturity reserve funds in various courts in California and New York. Pete deposed several key fact witnesses and experts and successfully briefed several motions for judgment on the pleadings and continuances.
Benjamin Carpenter, II, et al., and Briscoe Ranch, Inc., v. Dolph Briscoe, III, et al. and In the Estate of Janey Briscoe Marmion, Deceased
Represented Cele Briscoe Carpenter and her family against her brother, Dolph “Chip” Briscoe, II, in a dispute over the Briscoe family’s decades-old South Texas ranching business. Filed a derivative lawsuit alleging that Chip breached his fiduciary duties as the President and Chairman of Briscoe Ranch, Inc. Additionally, joined as co-counsel in related probate disputes between the Carpenters and Chip, alleging that Chip improperly influenced Cele’s late sister, Janey Briscoe Marmion, to cut Cele’s family from her estate plan. After three weeks of trial in April 2023, the parties resolved all of their ongoing litigation by way of a confidential global settlement that was highly favorable to our clients. Pete played a key role in managing the discovery process and in jury voir dire.
Favorable Settlement in Legal Malpractice Litigation
Represented former partner of Am Law 100 law firm in suit alleging breach of fiduciary duty, fraud, legal malpractice, civil conspiracy, FCPA violations, and other claims. Achieved favorable confidential settlement.
Favorable Result in FDA Regulatory Matter
Represented food sales and marketing company in connection with an outdated decree of injunction and related Food and Drug Administration investigations. Pete principally drafted all pleadings and critical communications with FDA and DOJ and briefed successful motion to vacate injunction in the Southern District of Texas.
Pro Bono Matters
Through the firm’s partnership with Houston Volunteer Lawyers, Pete has successfully represented pro bono clients seeking divorce, including by service of process internationally and via social media under Tex. R. Civ. P. 106(b)(2).
Harvard Law School, J.D., cum laude, 2019
Board of Student Advisers
Harvard Civil Rights-Civil Liberties Law Review
University of Georgia, A.B.J., summa cum laude with Highest Honors, 2012
Undergraduate Student Commencement Speaker, 2012
University Judiciary Parsons-Fincher Award for Ethical Leadership
Named in Best Lawyers in America: Ones to Watch
Commercial Litigation, 2025
State Bar of Texas
United States Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit
United States District Court for the Southern District of Texas
Houston Bar Association, Member
HBA/Communities in Schools Committee (2021-2023)
Co-Chair (2022-2023)