Derek T. McDonald
General Counsel
Derek McDonald is EBMUD's General Counsel. With a diverse professional background, he has worked for nonprofit agencies locally and nongovernmental organizations internationally. Later, he pursued higher education and earned a Juris Doctorate from the University of San Francisco School of Law, in addition to his Bachelor of Arts in Sociology from Boston College. His experience has equipped him with the skills necessary to better serve the public.
As a leader in the Office of General Counsel (OGC), Derek focusses on collaborating with and supporting his OGC colleagues to meet their needs and stepping in to work hands-on when needed. “We act as a team, working together. If people are valued and supported, they will do their best work.” He follows and advocates for the practice of actively listening to every voice. He seeks out opportunities for each person to develop their skills by taking on leadership roles on projects, especially those with higher visibility.
Derek has a dual role in support of the District's work to further diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) at the District. Firstly, as the General Counsel, he works with the OGC team to provide legal advice on the implementation of projects in the DEI Strategic Plan and encourages the team to view their work through an equity lens whenever possible. He is also involved in a pilot program aimed at significantly boosting participation of minority and woman-owned businesses in District contracts. Secondly, as an inclusive leader, Derek works diligently to expand and improve public outreach in OGC recruitments with the goal of attracting and developing a more diverse workforce.