For 75 years, McDonald Sanders has called Fort Worth home.

Founded in 1951, the firm was established during a period of extraordinary growth and opportunity for the city. At the time, Fort Worth was home to approximately 278,000 residents and was rapidly emerging as a center for business, aviation, cattle, and industry. As the city expanded and evolved in the decades that followed, McDonald Sanders grew alongside it.

That year, eight attorneys, Atwood McDonald, Ernest Sanders, Marcus Ginsburg, J. Olcott Phillips, Robert D. Maddox, R.V. Nichols, Sproesser Wynne, and James Ludlum, united around a shared vision: building a law firm grounded in integrity, exceptional client service, and lasting relationships. The firm's first office opened in the Sinclair Building in downtown Fort Worth.

Seventy-five years later, those founding principles continue to guide the firm.

Growing With Fort Worth

Throughout its history, McDonald Sanders has served generations of clients, businesses, and organizations across Fort Worth and throughout Texas. While the city has changed dramatically since 1951, the importance of trusted relationships has remained constant.

As Fort Worth grew into one of the nation's fastest-growing cities, the firm expanded its services to meet the evolving needs of its clients while remaining committed to exceptional legal advice and services and deep community involvement.

That commitment to continuity is reflected not only in the firm's client relationships but also within its own ranks. Attorneys at every stage of their careers work collaboratively, with seasoned lawyers mentoring the next generation and passing along the judgment, responsiveness, and client-centered approach that have defined McDonald Sanders for decades.

The result is a culture built on relationships, with clients, colleagues, and the community alike.

Celebrating the People Behind 75 Years

In 2026, McDonald Sanders marked its 75th anniversary with a celebration at its downtown Fort Worth office, bringing together clients, attorneys, staff, alumni, and friends of the firm.

The event provided an opportunity to reflect on the people, partnerships, and milestones that shaped the firm's first 75 years. More importantly, it served as a moment to thank the clients, colleagues, and community partners whose trust and support have been integral to its success.

From its beginnings as a firm of eight attorneys in 1951, McDonald Sanders has grown into a collaborative team serving clients across Texas. While much has changed over the past seven and a half decades, the firm's commitment to its clients, its people, and its community has remained steadfast.

A Shared Milestone With the Fort Worth Chamber

The firm's 75th anniversary coincides with another significant milestone: 75 years of membership in the Fort Worth Chamber of Commerce.

For McDonald Sanders, that relationship represents more than longevity. For decades, the firm has worked alongside many of the businesses, organizations, and civic leaders who have helped shape Fort Worth into the thriving city it is today.

“This milestone is about more than the firm's history. It's a reflection of the community that has supported and sustained us for 75 years,” said John Wright, Shareholder and Director at McDonald Sanders. “Fort Worth has been our home from the very beginning, and the Chamber has been an important partner in fostering the connections, collaboration, and economic growth that have helped make our city what it is today.”

Through its legal work, community involvement, and longstanding Chamber membership, the firm has had a front-row seat to Fort Worth's growth and has been proud to contribute to that story.

Looking Ahead

A 75th anniversary offers a natural opportunity to reflect on the past, but for McDonald Sanders, it is equally an opportunity to look toward the future.

For three-quarters of a century, the firm has served clients, businesses, and communities across Texas, helping them navigate challenges, seize opportunities, and build lasting legacies of their own.

As McDonald Sanders enters its next chapter, it does so with gratitude for those who made its first 75 years possible and with confidence in the future of the community it has called home from the beginning.

Fort Worth has been an essential part of the McDonald Sanders story for 75 years, and the firm looks forward to remaining part of Fort Worth's story for generations to come.

About McDonald Sanders

McDonald Sanders is a full-service law firm with a long history of advising clients who have helped drive the growth and development of Fort Worth, Tarrant County, and North Texas. That legacy continues today through the firm's legal counsel, community leadership, and support of local organizations and causes. Learn more at www.McDonaldLaw.com.