Michael Donaldson ’87, executive vice president, general counsel, and corporate secretary of EOG Resources, Inc., thought becoming a lawyer was the right path for his interests and goals. A first-generation lawyer whose dad was a chemical engineer and whose mother was a public-school teacher and administrator, Donaldson double majored in political science and public administration at Miami University in rural Oxford, Ohio.
While still in college, his parents moved to Houston. So, Donaldson, who had always wanted to attend law school in a big city, visited South Texas College of Law Houston. “I was attracted to downtown’s vibrancy and the energy of the city,” he said. “When I saw the Houston skyline, I knew this was where I wanted to be.”
Energy law fast became a key area of interest for Donaldson while he was in law school. He served as a courtroom usher for Pennzoil Co. v. Texaco, the monumental appeal that was heard in Joe Green Auditorium on South Texas Law’s campus to accommodate the huge audience and worldwide media interest. (Texaco appealed Pennzoil’s record-setting jury award, and Donaldson experienced history as it was being made by the revered Houston trial attorney Joe Jamail.)
Initially a trial lawyer with a business focus, Donaldson worked within the commercial litigation group of a mid-sized Houston firm. While advising clients on litigation matters, he discovered that “in some instances, if I could have worked with them early on, when the dispute first arose, we may have avoided going to trial.” Helping companies navigate potential risk areas resonated with Donaldson, and he set his trajectory on working in-house in the oil and gas industry.
“I had worked with smaller oil and gas clients, and I was fascinated by their work,” he said. “Of course, Houston is the energy capital of the U.S.” Donaldson took a year off to earn an LL.M. at the University of Houston Law Center (while at the same time meeting his future wife), then went in-house with Pennzoil.
In 2007, after taking on roles of increasing responsibility at other energy companies, Donaldson joined EOG Resources, Inc., one of the largest oil and gas exploration and production companies in the United States. EOG is decentralized with offices in six states and Trinidad, and operations in several major oil and gas basins such as the Permian and Powder River Basin.
Donaldson has been EOG’s general counsel for 12 years and now leads a legal department of 26 professionals, as well as the government relations, internal audit, and land administration teams. “We thrive on technological innovation. I feel so fortunate to be part of a great team with a unique culture. Working at EOG has been the highlight of my career.” In his current role, Donaldson works with a multi-disciplinary team. “Even as a lawyer, you must be a businessperson first… contributing to the company’s successful execution of its game plan.”
Donaldson learned early on that understanding a company’s business objectives was an essential skill for any in-house lawyer – a skill that has taken on greater importance over the years.
“You have to constantly look at factors that might impact the business,” Donaldson said. “Part of being in the role of a general counsel is being a trusted advisor, and that comes with a responsibility to know the company and its business objectives and how to navigate any potential legal risks that may arise.”
Donaldson chairs South Texas Law’s board of visitors, and he served on the search committee for the law school’s new president and dean. He shared some advice for law students who are trying to figure out their futures.
“You set goals, you make course corrections, and you keep moving forward,” he said. “If you’re fortunate, you get to work for a great company with a wonderful team, doing work you care about. Along the way, you hopefully are blessed with a supportive family, and you get to serve others and give back, which I do in many ways — including at South Texas.”
