Ward F. Mcdonald brings a wealth of experience in real estate, banking and commercial law to the clients of Meyer Capel. His background includes 13 years as CEO of a title insurer with multi-state operations and 20 years as an attorney in private practice. Over the course of his career, Ward has handled numerous transactions in the $1-50 million range for commercial and residential real estate developments, including: sales, acquisitions, refinancing and consolidations.

Ward holds a Bachelor of Science degree in Urban Land Economics from the University of Illinois as well as his Juris Doctorate. He went on to take graduate courses at the University of Southern California. Ward is an Adjunct Professor of Finance and Law at the University of Illinois where he teaches upper level courses in real estate.

Ward has played an active role in numerous professional, civic and charitable organizations. He is a member of the American Bar Foundation and a charter member of both the American College of Real Estate Lawyers and the Illinois Bar Foundation. In addition, he has served as chairman of the Illinois State Bar Association's Real Estate Law Section Council and as a member of the board of directors of Attorneys Title Guaranty Fund, Inc. A past president of Arrowhead Council, Boy Scouts of America, Ward also served for 7 years as a member of the Mahomet-Seymour (CUSD#3) School Board. He is co-founder and a board member of the Land Conservation Foundation and serves on the board of directors for Prairie Rivers Network.

Away from the practice of law, Ward enjoys hiking, biking and tennis. An avid outdoorsman, he and his wife, Diana are especially fond of tending to the trees on their 160 acres of reforested land near Mahomet and have planted more than 50,000 trees as part of their reforestation efforts.

He and Diana, an English instructor at Parkland College for 33 years, are active members of St. John the Divine Episcopal Church. They are the parents of three sons, Aron, Joel, and Brent. Their only grandchild, Sarah Claire, is the daughter of Aron and his wife Laurie.