Donna W. Low
Top rated Medical Malpractice attorney in Sacramento, California
Low McKinley & Salenko, LLP
Practice Areas: Medical Malpractice, Civil Litigation
Licensed in California since: 1990
Education: University of the Pacific McGeorge School of Law
Selected to Super Lawyers: 2014 - 2025 Low McKinley & Salenko, LLP
2150 River Plaza DriveSuite 250
Sacramento, CA 95833 Phone: 916-231-2400 Email: Donna W. Low Visit website
Details
Donna is the founder and the Managing Partner of Low McKinley & Salenko LLP, a Sacramento based litigation firm with an AV rating by Martindale-Hubbell. Donna defends physicians, acute care hospitals, multispecialty medical groups and religious organizations in civil litigation throughout Northern and Central California. The majority of these cases are complex and involve catastrophic losses. Donna also defends physicians in professional licensing matters against The California Medical Board..
Donna is rated AV Preeminent by Martindale - Hubbell and is a member of the American Board of Trial Advocates and the ABOTA Foundation. In 2015, she was ranked among the Top 50 women lawyers in Northern California by SuperLawyers and since 2009 has been listed in the Bar Register of Preeminent Lawyers. Donna is a Diplomate of the American Board of Professional Liability Attorneys.
In 2013, Donna was recognized by the National Association of Professional Women as Woman of the Year in California for the practice of Law. She has been recognized by SuperLawyers since 2014 and has been regularly listed as a Top Attorney by San Francisco magazine. Donna was appointed to the State Bar Executive Committee on Law Practice Management and Technology for the 2014-2017 term and lectured and authored several articles on behalf of the Committee. In 2015, Ms. Low became a Fellow of the American Bar Association Foundation.
Donna has lectured and published on a broad range of subjects including law firm management, civil procedure, trial practice and medical malpractice litigation. This includes lectures to physicians on behalf of the Accreditation Counsel for Continuing Medical Education and lectures to attorneys on behalf of Continuing Education of the State Bar. Donna regularly consults with acute and long term care facilities and physician groups on risk management strategies, effective communication techniques and documentation.
Donna's community service activities have included membership on the Board of Directors of the Eskaton Properties Foundation, Sacramento, California and outreach programs sponsored by the Sisters of Mercy and St. Paul's Episcopal Church in Sacramento.
Donna is an active member of the American Board of Trial Advocates and a Fellow of the ABOTA Foundation. She is also a Fellow of the American Bar Association Foundation and a member of the the California Medical Legal Committee, which is limited to seventy members statewide. Donna is an active member of the American Bar Association, State Bar of California and Sacramento Bar Association.
First Admitted: 1990, California
Professional Webpage: http://lmblaw.net/Attorneys/Donna-W-Low.html
- Member of the American Board of Trial Advocates, 2018
- Member of the California Medical Legal Committee
- Life Fellow of the American Board of Trial Advocates Foundation, 2023
- certified by the American Board of Professional Liability Attorneys, 2013
- Bachelor of Science in Nursing, Eastern Kentucky University Juris Doctorate, University of the Pacific School of Law, 1978
- This article was published in The Bottom Line, the official publication of the State Bar Law Practice Management and Technology Commitee. It included a discussion of increasing associate retention and efficiency through implementation of a formal evaluation process. Subjective and objective indicators of optimum associate were identified and discussed., Regular Associate Evaluations Promote Professional Development, Law Firm Management, 2016
- Co- authored with John Sager, Esq. The article was published in January 2015 in The Bottom Line , the electronic journal produced by the California State Bar Law Practice Management and Technology Executive Committee . It discusses various ethical obligations when a hiring attorney interviews or hires an attorney or nonlawyer who was previously employed by a firm which represents an adverse party in a current matter., Protect Your Firm From Disqualification: Screen Emplyees, Law Practice Management, 2014
- A structured associate program should serve as the basis for making informed compensation, promotion and termination decisions. Recommendations for the development of an evaluation tool for associate attorneys and methods to implement a systematic evaluation program were discussed., Author, Regular Associate Evaluations Promote Professional Development, The Bottom Line : Official Publication of State Bar Law Practice Management and Technology Committee, Law Firm Management, 2016
- The primary purposes of the panel discussion were to advocate for civility, ethics and professionalism in the practice of law and preserve the civil jury trial system., panel member, Civility Matters, American Board of Trial Advocates, Lincoln Law School, 2023
- “Hand Offs: A Critical Communication Process, Accreditation Council for Continuing Medical Education for Physicians, Sponsored by The Doctors Company, August 26, 2012 “Civil Court Judicial Forum,” Continuing Education of the State Bar, Sponsored by The National Business Institute, November 4, 2011 “Professional Liability Claims Against Nurses and Hospitals,” Catholic Healthcare West, St. Joseph’s Medical Center, November 20, 2009 “Strategies to Reduce Juror Sympathy in Catastrophic Cases,” CNA Healthpro, Panel Counsel, March 11, 2009 “Effective Physician Communication”, Catholic Healthcare West, St. Joseph’s Medical Center, July 22, 2008 “Long Term Care Liability & Risk Management Strategies”, Eskaton Properties, Inc., February 13, 2008 “Indicators of Life Expectancy of Children With Functional and Cognitive Impairments,” CNA Healthpro, Panel Counsel, March 7, 2007 “Liability Issues for Long Term Care”, Eskaton Properties, Inc., October 12, 2005. “Medical-Legal Aspects of Long Term Care”, Eskaton Properties, Inc., April 21, 2004, Sacramento, California. “What Happens When My Injured Patient Contacts a Lawyer?” American Society of Anesthesiologists Annual Meeting, October 11-15, 2003, San Francisco, California “Care of the Surgical Patient: Informed Consent”, Kaiser Permanente, May 2002 “Medical Legal Risks and Experiences in Cardiology and Cardiac Surgery”, Kaiser Permanente Annual Cardiology and Cardiac Surgery Meeting, October 2000 “Evaluation of Insurance Claims Involving Ischemic Heart Disease”, Program Beta, August 1999 “Evaluation of Insurance Claims Involving Ischemic Heart Disease”, The Doctors Company, May 1999 “How to Present and Attack Documentary and Demonstrative Evidence”, Continuing Education of the State Bar, April 1996; October 1998; and February 1999 Faculty Member, “Norcal Defense Counsel Seminar”, 1998 Consultant to McGeorge School of Law, Trial Advocacy Team, 1998 (National Finalists – Washington D.C.) “Fundamentals of Civil Procedure Before Trial”, Continuing Education of the State Bar, February 1997 “Evaluation of Insurance Claims Involving Ischemic Heart Disease”, Norcal Mutual Insurance Company, December 1995 “Evaluation of the Plaintiff with Heart Disease”, United Services Automobile Association, October 1995LEGAL PUBLICATIONS Low, Donna W., “What Civil Court Judges Want You To Know,” National Business Institute, Copyright 2011. Low, D.; Weber, J., “Case By Case”, Medigram, The SCPIE Companies, Second Quarter, 2004. Carlucci, C.; Fitzsimmons, M.; Galloway, P.; Low, D., et al., “Failure to Diagnose Acute Myocardial Infarction – Uncovering Clinical Issues and Malpractice Risks,” CD-ROM Program, Copyright 2000. MEDIA PRESENTATIONS “Special Tribute to Today’s Successful Women in Government, Technology, Business, law and Education,” American Airlines Business Program, February 2005. “America’s Most Influential Women,” SkyRadio Network, www.skyradionetwork.com, 2005.
- The presentation included a discussion of three closed cases which occurred in longterm care settings which involved possible patient neglect or physical abuse. Recommendations regarding improvements in patient care and documentation were discussed., Speaker, Decreasing the Risks of Long Term Care Services, Acute Care And Long Term Care Provders And Insurer, 2013
- The two presentations included a general overview of legal principles related to medical malpractice claims, including: informed consent; informed refusal; curbside consultations; hand off communications; documentation and defense of actions filed against physicians on behalf of the California Medical Board., Speaker, Hot Topics in Healthcare Today, Physicians;Large Multi-specialty Medical Group, 2014
- The lecture included a discussion of Joint Commission recommendations regarding handoff communications and common problems which adversely affect patient safety and quality of care in acute care hospitals., Speaker, Decreasing Risks: Handoff Communications, Certified Legal Nurse Consultants, 2014
- Current recommendations concerning oral and written communications between allied health professionals during patient hand offs and/ or transitions in care were discussed for in patient and out patient settings., Speaker, Improving Hand Off Communications: Increasing Safety and Decreasing Risks, Management Representatives Of Long Term Care Communities, 2015
- The presentation focused on law firm hiring practices, mentorship, performance evaluations and retention strategies, Speaker, Management Tools to Create Effective Law Office Employees, CEB, Annual Meeting Of California State Bar, 2015
- Donna was featured in an article in The Recorder regarding trial of the Alioto v. Wong matter and issues related to medical malpractice litigation, 2020
- Listed as a Top Lawyer in Sacramento Magazine, 2019
- Listed as a Top Attorney in Northern California by San Francisco Magazine, 2018
- Listed as a Top Attorney in Northern California by San Francisco Magazine, 2017
- Listed as a Top Attorney in Northern California by San Francisco Magazine., 2016
- Listed as a Top Lawyer by Sacramento Magazine, 2018
- Listed as a Top Attorney in Northern California by San Francisco Magazine, 2019
- Listed as a Top Attorney In Northern California, 2020
- Listed in Top Attorneys in Northern California by San Francisco Magazine, 2021
- Between 2016-2022 listed yearly by San Francisco Magazine among Top Women Attorneys in Northern California
- Listed as a Top Lawyer in Sacramento Magazine, 2022
- Listed as a Northern California Top Attorney by San Francisco Magazine, 2023
- Appointed to California State Bar Executive Commitee on Law Practice Management and Technology for 2014 - 2017 term., 2014
- recognized as Super Lawyer in Northern California selected among top 50 female attorneys in Northern California, 2015
- Acute Care Hospitals
- Churches
- Long Term Care Facilities
- Multi- Speciality Medical Groups
- Physicians
Office location for Donna W. Low
2150 River Plaza Drive
Suite 250
Sacramento, CA 95833
Selections
- Super Lawyers: 2014 - 2025