Christopher M. McDonald

Christopher McDonald joined Whiteman Osterman & Hanna LLP in January 2006 and became a partner in 2015. During his tenure with the firm, he has been a member of the litigation, arbitration and mediation practice group. His principal area of practice is commercial litigation, with an emphasis on real estate and land use disputes, construction law, administrative law, and eminent domain and tax certiorari proceedings.

Background/Education

Mr. McDonald was awarded a Juris Doctor, magna cum laude, from Albany Law School of Union University. While at Albany Law School, Mr. McDonald served as an Associate Editor of the Albany Law Review and as a Sponsler Teaching fellow for first year civil procedure classes. Prior to law school, Mr. McDonald received a Bachelors of Science degree in Psychology from Union College.

Representative Accomplishments

•Defeated motion to stay construction dispute in favor of arbitration (Rocco Rescelo & Son Plumbing & Heating, LLC v Plank, LLC, 191 AD3d 1217 [3d Dep’t 2021]) http://decisions.courts.state.ny.us/ad3/Decisions/2021/530771.pdf
•Defeated challenge to urban renewal agency’s determination and findings under Eminent Domain Procedure Law (Matter of Court Street Development Project, LLC v Utica Urban Renewal Agency, 188 AD3d 1601 [4th Dep’t 2020]) https://www.nycourts.gov/courts/ad4/Clerk/Decisions/2020/1113T1500/PDF/0588.pdf
•Defeated municipality’s motion to dismiss tax certiorari proceeding (Matter of Abner Doubleday, LLC v Assessor of the Town of Oneonta, 187 AD3d 1478 [3d Dep’t 2020]) http://decisions.courts.state.ny.us/ad3/Decisions/2020/530310.pdf
•Defeated challenge to environmental review for truck stop project (Matter of Pilot Travel Centers, LLC v. Town Board of Town of Bath, 163 A.D.3d 1409 [4th Dep’t 2018]) http://www.nycourts.gov/courts/ad4/Clerk/Decisions/2018/07-06-18/PDF/0539.pdf
•Defended owner in construction dispute (MLB Construction Services, LLC v Lake Avenue Plaza, LLC, 156 AD3d 983 [3d Dep’t 2017]) http://decisions.courts.state.ny.us/ad3/Decisions/2020/524393.pdf