Donald Dale McKnight (“Don”) was born and raised in Victoria. He attended the University of Victoria and obtained a Bachelor of Arts degree in history (with distinction) in 1983. He earned his Bachelor of Laws from the University of Victoria Faculty of Law in 1985. Upon graduating from law school, Don articled with a medium-sized lawyer firm in downtown Vancouver. After being called to the Bar in 1986, Don returned to Victoria, where he has practiced law for approaching four decades now.
Currently, Don focuses on civil litigation, primarily personal injury law, including motor vehicle accident claims, slip/trip and fall and occupiers liability claims, products liability claims, and assault and battery. Don has conducted countless civil trials in all of these types of cases, and has been successful in securing many favourable judgments for his clients, including a number of substantial jury awards.
In addition to personal injury law, Don has considerable trial experience in a variety of other areas of civil litigation, including estate litigation, employment law (wrongful dismissal), defamation, partnership and contract disputes, insurance law, collections, trespass and nuisance, and private international law.
Don has been active in the Victoria community in the past, having served on the Board of Directors for the Cool Aid Society and as an advisor to the Victoria Commonweath Games Legal Committee. He has acted as a mooting coach and judge, and a guest lecturer at his alma mater, the Faculty of Law of the University of Victoria on the subject of jury trials. He is the Past Chair of the Civil Litigation Section (Vancouver Island) of the Canadian Bar Association. He is also the former counsel for the Private Investigators Association of British Columbia.
Don’s professional associations include the Law Society of British Columbia, Victoria Bar Association, British Columbia Bar Association, Canadian Bar Association, Trial Lawyers Association of British Columbia, University of Victoria Alumni Association.
His social memberships currently include the Union Club of British Columbia, the Victoria Golf Club, and the Outrigger Canoe Club in Waikiki. Don has for many years been a sponsor of the Victoria Shamrocks Lacrosse Club of the Western Lacrosse Association.
Outside of the office, Don is keenly interested in sports. He is a former member of the University of Victoria Mens’ field hockey team and Faculty of Law rugby team. Currently, his athletic activities include weight training and golf. His other interests include reading, music, and travel.
Don is married to Stacey McKnight, who has assisted him in growing his law practice for the past 25 years, and currently administers the firm’s office and works as an office manager and senior legal assistant. Don is the father of two daughters, Baylie, a decorated clinical trauma counsellor, and Keona, a certified fitness instructor and personal trainer.
Don operates his law practice through Donald D. McKnight Law Corporation under the banner “McKnight Law”. Although he is a sole practitioner by choice, Don regularily conducts cases in association with other experienced trial lawyers, including, most frequently, his long-time colleague and friend, Sahaub Missaghi of Missaghi Law.
Whether practicing alone or with other lawyers, Don’s emphasis is always upon personal service and dedication to his clients’ interests. Don’s guiding philosophy is: “Strive for perfection; settle for excellence”.
Don accepts new clients by referral only and offers free initial consultations to anyone requiring legal services in an area of law that he practices.
