Brendan McDonnell

Practice Areas

Brendan Gutierrez McDonnell is a forward, visionary thinker, solving legal and business issues affecting public and private growth companies. Brendan is on the leading edge of ushering disruption into the traditional practice of law by leveraging technology, including artificial intelligence, to more efficiently serve his clients.

Brendan regularly counsels corporate clients on mergers and acquisitions and public and private financings, including private equity and venture capital transactions. He also advises companies on a variety of everyday business issues, including advice on securities laws, corporate laws (including director and officer duties), executive compensation plans and general corporate contracts. He has worked with clients at every stage of development, from initial formation to Fortune 100 status. Brendan works with clients across a range of industries, including technology, manufacturing, specialty chemicals, transportation and logistics, creative services, and footwear and apparel.

Brendan's accounting background affords him an advantage in understanding his clients' business and financial objectives. He works directly with his clients to implement tailored solutions to their complex business problems. He provides strategic advice to multinational clients with respect to their global business issues, including market entry and international M&A and commercial transactions. Brendan also regularly represents some of the region's most active private equity firms in portfolio company acquisitions and operations.

Brendan serves as the Portland office recruiting partner and is a current member of the firm's IDEA Group, an internal committee that assists in advancing the firm's strategic priority of embracing innovation to drive value. He served as the Portland office managing partner for eight years, and also served on the firm's Management Committee for seven years.

Professional Memberships

Former Board Member, Hollis Eden Pharmaceuticals, Inc. (Nasdaq: HEPH) (Member of the Compensation, Audit and Nominating Committees)

Former Board Member, Oregon Food Bank (Member of the Strategic Plan Committee, Nominating and Board Development Committee and the Fund Development Committee)

Former Adjunct Professor of Law, Northwestern School of Law at Lewis & Clark College

Past Chair of the Executive Committee, Oregon State Bar Business Section

Certified Ambassador, Greater Portland Inc. (2018 - present)

Co-Chair, 2019 and 2020 Certified Ambassador Programs

Society of Corporate Secretaries and Governance Professionals

California Bar Association

Washington Bar Association

Hispanic National Bar Association

Chair, Oregon State Bar International Trade in Legal Services Task Force

Education