CLEVELAND–(BUSINESS WIRE)–McDonald Hopkins is proud to announce that James Giszczak and James Stief are beginning their second three-year term as co-presidents, continuing their leadership in positioning the firm as a premier destination for top legal talent and exceptional client service.
When the two first assumed co-presidency in 2022, the move to a co-president system—an uncommon leadership structure in the legal industry—was designed to foster collaboration in firm management by leveraging their individual strengths, while also allowing each to continue maintaining their own legal practices. This leadership model marked a historic shift for McDonald Hopkins, introducing its first-ever co-presidency and expanding presidential responsibilities beyond Cleveland, with Giszczak based in Detroit and Stief in Cleveland.
Looking back over the past three years, the partnership has clearly worked. Under their joint leadership, McDonald Hopkins has increased top-line revenue by 45%, navigated an evolving legal landscape, expanded key practice areas such as data privacy and cybersecurity, intellectual property, mergers and acquisitions, and artificial intelligence, strengthened the firm’s national footprint, increased profitable revenue, and cultivated a positive, connected culture across its five national offices and remote workforce.
“Serving as co-presidents has been a privilege, and we’re excited to build on the momentum we’ve created together,” said Stief. “McDonald Hopkins is more than a place to work—it’s a place many of us consider home. Our attorneys and staff are committed to supporting clients and each other. Preserving and strengthening our destination firm culture is at the heart of everything we do.”
Giszczak added, “Our destination firm vision means creating an environment that attracts and retains the best people while delivering the highest caliber legal work to the best clients. This next term gives us the opportunity to push that vision even further.”
The co-presidents’ second term will focus on strategic growth, innovation in client service, and initiatives that reinforce McDonald Hopkins’ position as the Destination Firm for clients nationwide.
Destination Firm for growth, teamwork, and entrepreneurialism
In times of economic uncertainty, McDonald Hopkins has continued to build its talent base over the past three years, growing from 154 to over 215 attorneys. Out of that number, over 30 are working remotely across the country.
“Allowing our attorneys to work remotely has expanded our access to exceptional talent and allowed us to grow based on meeting the needs of our clients compared to where our offices are located,” said Giszczak. “While remote work isn’t unique to offer in 2025, what sets us apart is how we integrate those attorneys into our firm. They are not disconnected; they are part of the conversations, the client work, and the culture. Whether you are in one of our offices or working across the country, you feel like you are truly part of McDonald Hopkins.”
The addition of new attorneys has strengthened McDonald Hopkins’ bench of services, fueling growth in key areas to meet clients’ evolving needs.
As cyber threats continue to evolve and intensify, the firm’s nationally recognized Data Privacy and Cybersecurity practice has experienced significant growth and now includes 59 attorneys who focus on pre-breach services, incident response, regulatory defense, and privacy litigation, including class action defense. Widely regarded as a leader in the field, McDonald Hopkins has built a strong reputation in the industry and remains among the most sought-after teams in the country.
Late last year, McDonald Hopkins also expanded its Intellectual Property Department by welcoming the attorneys from a Cleveland-based boutique IP firm. With this addition, the department now includes 20 attorneys—17 of whom are registered patent attorneys—supported by a skilled administrative and paralegal team. In today’s technology-driven economy, with IP central to a company’s value, this growth reflects McDonald Hopkins’ desire to deliver more innovative, business-focused solutions to their client base.
Also reflective of the evolving technological landscape, the firm has built a team of attorneys that includes former software engineers, technology consultants, government attorneys, and in-house counsel who focus on the legal, operational, and business risks associated with developing, deploying, and integrating artificial intelligence across their organizations.
“As our client needs have grown more complex, so has our commitment to evolving with them,” said James Stief. “Expanding our practice groups has been a deliberate and strategic effort to ensure we’re not only meeting demand, but leading in areas where innovation and legal insight are most critical.”
Other core practices that continue to build on their longstanding strength include executive compensation and governance, commercial finance, and mergers and acquisitions. Each has seen notable growth in attracting top talent and high-profile clients, further reinforcing McDonald Hopkins’ position as a leader in these critical areas of law.
Destination for community support
McDonald Hopkins’ destination firm vision extends into the communities it serves. The firm is deeply committed to giving back through pro bono legal work, charitable partnerships, volunteer initiatives, and sponsorship of local programs that strengthen neighborhoods.
From supporting nonprofits focused on education and economic development to lending time and resources to local causes, McDonald Hopkins fosters a culture where community service is not just encouraged—it’s a shared responsibility. This commitment reflects the belief that being a destination firm means being a destination for positive impact.
About McDonald Hopkins
McDonald Hopkins is an entrepreneurial business law firm founded in 1930 that has today grown to include more than 215 attorneys across offices in Chicago, Cleveland, Columbus, Detroit, Baltimore, and West Palm Beach. We are a destination for clients seeking exceptional legal services and for attorneys driven to deliver them. Learn more about the firm and our over 50 service and industry teams at mcdonaldhopkins.com.
Contacts
Samantha Schmidt
Director of Marketing
600 Superior Avenue, East, Suite 2100
Cleveland, Ohio 44114
216.348.5748
[email protected]
