Tom McDonald matriculated in Worcester and studied at the University of Stellenbosch, where he obtained a B Eng (Civil) in 1981. He obtained a B Proc at the University of South Africa in 1987. Today he is a registered Professional Engineer, Fellow of the Association of Arbitrators and practices law as an Attorney, Notary and Conveyancer.

His career commenced in 1982 as Site Engineer for a firm of Consulting Engineers on the construction of a large water purification plant. He subsequently moved into the design office where his duties included the design of pump stations, filtration plants and pipelines. His duties also included the drafting of contract documentation, adjudication of tenders and contract administration.

He completed his legal articles in 1989 and became the legal advisor to the Building Industries Federation of SA (“BIFSA”) in 1990. His duties included the drafting of agreements for building works, guarantees, rentals and services, while also presenting law courses to contractors, engineers, architects, quantity surveyors and developers.

In 1998 he became a director of a law firm in the Johannesburg CBD. Since March 2009 he had been practicing on his own from premises in Waverley, Johannesburg. The practice includes litigation, arbitration, adjudication, property law, commercial law and construction law (including JBCC, FIDIC and NEC).

He has lectured at the University of Witwatersrand, University of Johannesburg and the Construction Management Program at the University of Stellenbosch.