Donald Jackson

Donny began his legal career in 2021 at a small firm as a litigation associate in the heart of Ottawa’s ByWard Market. Donny joined Sport Law in 2022 and brings a wide variety of litigation and client experience to his practice as he advises clients across several disciplines at Sport Law, from legal governance to litigation solutions. Donny has represented and successfully advocated for both individual and institutional clients before the Ontario Superior Court of Justice.

Donny graduated law school from the University of Ottawa in 2020, and he participated in a number of school- and student-based initiatives. One of Donny’s favourite moments in law school came in his second and third years as he tended goal for the Common Law hockey team as they faced their Civil Law rivals in the annual Do it for Daron Ottawa Law Classic. During his studies, Donny served on several faculty committees with the objective of making the law school experience better for future University of Ottawa law students.

Before law school, Donny obtained an Honours Bachelor of Arts degree in Criminology from Ontario Tech University in Oshawa, Ontario, graduating with highest distinction. In his final year in 2016, Donny completed his practicum with Sport Law, where he worked closely with Steve Indig. It was then that he saw and began to develop a true passion for how the law is intertwined with the sports world. In addition, Donny’s interest in research and drafting led to the completion of his undergraduate honours thesis on the long-term effects of foster care, which was published by the Child Welfare Journal in 2021.

Donny has been involved in competitive sports since he was young, spending most of his time playing hockey as a goalie. When not at work, Donny continues to play hockey for his men’s league team. If he’s not playing hockey, he is most likely at a local car meet, playing golf, or at the gym. As well, Donny loves all things music: he has been playing the drums since he was six, is learning the guitar, and is in a band with his friends from law school. Even though he is now settled in Ottawa, Donny is, and remains, a die-hard Toronto Maple Leafs fan.