Karen McDonald Lopez

Karen McDonald Lopez is an experienced attorney with more than four decades of experience in litigation, public service, and executive leadership. She represents clients in civil and criminal matters, including misdemeanor and felony cases, and is known for thoughtful counsel, strong advocacy, careful preparation, and a deep commitment to protecting her clients’ interests. Ms. Lopez earned her Juris Doctor from Georgetown University Law Center and also holds both master’s and bachelor’s degrees from Michigan State University. She completed graduate work in Spanish translation and interpretation and pursued undergraduate studies in Spanish language and literature at the University of Valencia in Spain and the Monterey Institute for Foreign Studies, now Middlebury College, Monterey campus. She is licensed in Michigan, the District of Columbia, and Maryland, and active only in Michigan. Her professional background reflects a rare breadth of legal experience. Ms. Lopez was the first woman appointed Chief Legal Officer for the City of Flint, where she directed the City’s legal affairs, supervised a staff of attorneys and outside counsel and prosecuted misdemeanor matters. She also served as General Counsel to the Flint Housing Commission and as Vice President for External Affairs and Governance at Hurley Medical Center. She taught business law at Mott Community College for several years. Clients benefit from Ms. Lopez’s broad experience in litigation, governance, compliance, public policy, and advocacy. She brings a steady, strategic approach to legal representation and understands that clients often seek counsel during some of the most difficult moments of their lives. Proficient in Spanish, she is committed to providing skilled, attentive, and effective representation with professionalism, integrity, and practical insight.