James M. MacDonald

About James

James (Jim) MacDonald brings a rare, firsthand understanding of the construction industry to his construction litigation practice, grounded in nearly two decades of experience as a custom home builder and general contractor before becoming an attorney.

Beginning in 1991, Jim started his own construction company which grew into a successful custom home building and remodeling company in southern Idaho. During that time, he was an active member of the Magic Valley Builders Association, serving as its president in 1996 and again in 2004. His work was recognized by his peers when he was named Builder of the Year on two separate occasions. In 1994, one of his custom homes, which he designed, was featured in the Association’s Parade of Homes, where it received multiple awards.

In 2005, while continuing to operate his construction business, Jim founded a second company specializing in fire, water, and wind damage repairs, as well as mold remediation. He became an IICRC-certified mold remediation expert and worked extensively with property owners, insurers, and contractors to address complex damage and remediation issues. This experience provided him with deep insight into construction defects, building science, and the practical realities of repair and reconstruction projects.

Jim is now an attorney focusing his practice on construction law and litigation. His work includes representing clients in contract and payment disputes and construction defects claims, arbitrating construction matters, and participating in numerous mediations aimed at resolving disputes efficiently and early.

In addition to litigation and dispute resolution, Jim specializes in drafting both commercial and residential construction contracts. Drawing on his decades of hands-on experience in the construction industry, he helps clients create clear, practical agreements designed to allocate risk appropriately, reduce disputes, and protect projects from the outset.

By combining practical construction experience, legal expertise, and a disciplined, results-driven mindset, Jim offers clients a uniquely informed and pragmatic approach to construction contracts and dispute resolution.

Professional Activities

Jim is admitted to practice law in Oregon and Idaho. He also remains actively involved in construction education and workforce development. He volunteers as Secretary for Con-Tech, Inc., doing business as Advanced Construction Education (“ACE”), a nonprofit corporation that works in partnership with the Salem–Keizer School District. Through ACE, high school students participate each year in the construction of a new home. Proceeds from the sale of the home help fund scholarships for students pursuing careers in the construction industry.

Off the Job

Jim grew up immersed in the outdoors of Idaho, backpacking in the Sawtooth Mountains and skiing in central Idaho. He has carried that passion for endurance and perseverance into adulthood, becoming a four-time Ironman Triathlon finisher. In 2015, he and his wife, Wendy, completed a rim-to-rim-to-rim run of the Grand Canyon—running from the South Rim to the North Rim and back in a single day.