Jenna E. McDonnell
Education.
- George Mason University School of Law, J.D., 2013
- Niagara University, B.A. Political Science, 2010. Summa cum laude.
Admitted to practice.
- State of New York
- United States District Court—Northern, Southern, Eastern, and Western Districts of New York
- Supreme Court of the United States
Memberships.
- Women’s Bar Association of the State of New York, Western New York Chapter—Local Director, Co-Chair of the Membership Committee
- Claims and Litigation Management Alliance
- Defense Research Institute
- American Bar Association
- New York State Bar Association
- Erie County Bar Association
- Phi Alpha Delta Law Fraternity
Local board affiliations.
- United Church Home Society/Senior Wishes—Vice Chair of Board of Trustees
- Niagara University Board of Advisors
- Pet Emergency Fund, former Board Member
Get to know Jenna.
It takes more than vision to see things through.
Kids may dream of becoming a lawyer. High school juniors may dream of attending a tier-one law school. Junior associates may dream of making partner, and partners may dream about starting their own practice. But how many actually follow through?
In elementary school, Jenna McDonnell decided she was going to law school. Years later, during a leadership forum in high school, Jenna visited George Mason University’s law school in Washington, D.C. Standing in those classrooms, she made another decision: This was where she would earn her law degree. When the time came to apply, Jenna applied for early admission to George Mason University. She got in.
That unwavering commitment to follow through has defined Jenna’s entire career. From her working-class Buffalo upbringing, Jenna learned that determination isn’t just about making decisions. It’s about getting things done.
“When I set my mind to something, I’m going to see it through,” she says.
While attending George Mason, Jenna returned to Buffalo to work as a law clerk and met Rob Mullins. When she passed the bar exam, Rob had just transitioned to toxic tort defense work, and Jenna dove in alongside him, conducting her first deposition the day after being sworn in as an attorney.
Contact.
Email:
jmcdonnell@mullinsmcdonnell.com
Direct phone number:
716-936-7904
“Rob hired me on day one of my career, and he’s been my mentor ever since,” Jenna says.
As Jenna developed her skill over more than a decade, becoming a trusted advocate for major manufacturers in asbestos litigation and product liability claims, that mentorship evolved into a partnership. Today, Jenna handles complex toxic tort cases for Fortune 500 clients. She’s become known for her meticulous preparation and strategic thinking, whether she’s conducting multi-day depositions, analyzing settlement valuations down to specific jury compositions across New York State, or staying at a hotel during trials to maintain complete focus on the case.
Jenna brings the same Buffalo values that shaped her upbringing and guides her client interactions—hard work without pretentiousness, genuine relationships over transactions, and pride in the work—to her extensive community involvement. Jenna is a current board member of the Women’s Bar Association of the State of New York (WBASNY). As co-chair of the membership committee, she plans events for the association’s constituents throughout the year. She also recently returned to the United Church Home Society, which oversees Senior Wishes, an organization that helps fulfill life-enriching wishes for local seniors. She previously served on the Board for the Pet Emergency Fund, which assists pet owners faced with the financial burdens of caring for their pets in emergency situations.
As a founding partner for Mullins McDonnell, Jenna embraces the opportunity to build something from the ground up while maintaining the relationships and professional standards she’s spent over a decade developing for both her clients and her colleagues. Having experienced the difference that a mentor can make, Jenna maintains an open-door policy with junior associates, believing that developing the next generation requires guidance, not guesswork.
Starting a business is another first for her, but being first is familiar territory. Whether she’s arguing a motion, conducting a deposition, or building a law firm, Jenna approaches each challenge with the same fundamental belief that guided her fourth-grade self: The key to taking a big swing is in the follow-through.
