Donald James Schmid

Donald J. Schmid is a seasoned attorney based in Elkhart County, Indiana, with a distinguished career in criminal defense, civil litigation, internal investigations, and regulatory compliance. He served as an Assistant U.S. Counsel with the U.S. Department of Justice in the Northern District of Indiana for over 21 years, from 1994 to May 2016. During his tenure, he was recognized as an award-winning federal prosecutor, securing victories in more than 75 jury trials in the United States District Court.

From 2002 to 2004, Mr. Schmid held the position of Chief of the South Bend Division of the U.S. Lawyer’s Office. Before his federal service, he was a successful civil trial and appellate lawyer with Gibson Dunn & Crutcher in Los Angeles, California. His litigation experience spans securities fraud, trademark and intellectual property, banking, antitrust, legal ethics, and employment law, representing notable clients such as the British Broadcasting Co., Grove Worldwide Inc., and PaineWebber.

Mr. Schmid is also proficient in alternative dispute resolution, including mediation and arbitration. As a federal prosecutor, he led complex investigations and prosecutions in public corruption, white-collar fraud, organized and violent crime, environmental crime, and illegal drug trafficking/money laundering. His exceptional work earned him numerous awards from the FBI, the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, DEA, the Department of Health and Human Services, U.S. Fish and Wildlife, and the U.S. Department of Justice.

A graduate of the University of Notre Dame, Mr. Schmid completed his studies summa cum laude in 1982 with a bachelor's degree in economics and philosophy. He earned his law degree (J.D.) magna cum laude from the University of Michigan Law School in 1985, where he was honored with the Order of the Coif. In 2001, he was awarded the prestigious Ian Axford Fellowship in Public Policy.