Geoff earned his B.A. from the University of Virginia in ’86 in history and foreign affairs and his juris doctor from the University of Richmond, T.C. Williams School of Law in ’89. Geoff also attended the University of Hawaii for 3 years on a football scholarship before he transferred to the University of Virginia, where he played for George Welsh and was a member of the ’84 Peach Bowl championship team – the first U.V.A. team to make a bowl appearance.
When the N.F.L. didn’t come calling, Geoff needed a plan B. He often thought about his high school graduation speaker who said, “You are successful if you can make the world a better place for one person.”
“Our mission has remained the same as it was from the beginning – to protect the rights of injury victims and their families. I feel that we’re blessed to be in a position where we can do that every day.”
– Geoff McDonald
Case results depend upon a variety of factors that are unique to each case. prior results, such as those described on this website, are not indicators of future results nor do they guarantee or predict a similar outcome.
Geoff’s Legal Accomplishments
By choosing law school he thought he had a chance of one day having this kind of success.
Now, as a lawyer, Geoff has obtained more than $400 million in settlements and awards for his clients in both civil and administrative law cases before the Virginia Workers’ Compensation Commission.
He has successfully tried cases resulting in more than 200 written opinions, including 46 Court of Appeals or Workers’ Compensation Commission opinions. Several of these cases have helped shape Virginia case law for injured victims on a variety of issues—including workplace suicides, the Doctrine of Imposition, permanent impairment for third-degree burns, and patient consent for medical procedures, among others. He is licensed to practice in Virginia as well as in federal court.
Geoff is a member of the National Trial Lawyers: Top 100, which is a select organization recognizing premier trial lawyers from each state in the nation.
Beyond handling personal injury and workers’ compensation cases, Geoff has lectured on various areas of law and has been published in Trial magazine and other publications. He also has represented a number of labor unions in legal disputes, including:
- International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers vs. Verizon
- International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers Local 50 vs. Dominion Virginia Power
- International Union of Operating Engineers vs. Newport News Ship Yard
- International Brotherhood of Teamsters, local 322 vs. UPS
Geoff has represented teamsters unions throughout Virginia in labor disputes and workers’ compensation matters, and he has served as legal counsel for the Virginia State Building and Construction Trades Council.
Geoff is active in the community with organizations that share in his vision of making the world a better place. He is an active member and past president of the Rotary Club of Richmond. He is a member of the Workplace Injury Law and Advocacy Group and a board member of Resource Opportunities, Inc., a nonprofit arm of the Richmond Redevelopment Housing Authority that provides funding for youth sports and arts for inner-city youths. He is also the past president of the Virginia Youth Development Council, raising money for youth sports activities.
Geoff’s participation in football has continued over the years. He is a member of a local high-school football coaching staff, where he instructs offensive and defensive linemen, and is also camp director for Derby Camp Richmond, a football camp for offensive linemen.
Professional Associations
- American Association for Justice
- Lawyers Helping Lawyers
- Past board member
- Past chair for Richmond subcommittee
- Legislative subcommittee for workers’ compensation
- Rotary Club of Richmond
- Past board member
- Past club secretary
- Past president
- Virginia Trial Lawyers Association
- Workers’ Compensation subcommittee
- Past member
- Workplace Injury Law and Advocacy Group
- Board member