
Raven & McDonagh, P.C., Legal Services
Raven & McDonagh, P.C. is an AV-rated* law firm located in Tucson, Arizona and Sarasota, Florida. Founded in 1976, the firm concentrates its practice in U.S. and international business, real estate and financing transactions and dispute resolution, with a focus on Arizona, Florida and Mexico. We are experienced with complex multimillion-dollar transactions, as well as small business and real estate matters.
In every matter, each of the firm’s lawyers apply their extensive experience to accomplish our clients’ goals and protect our clients’ rights and interests. The firms’ lawyers have significant experience practicing law – Mark Raven (51 years) and Chris McDonagh (26 years).
We are well qualified to address the challenges, and help our clients take advantage of the opportunities, of the current and future market and economic conditions. Our experience spans a number of boom-bust cycles, as well as the complete life cycle of individual businesses and real estate investments and developments. Whatever stage you are at in your business or real estate investment, or at any stage in the economic cycle, we can help design, negotiate and implement the legal structure and documentation, conduct due diligence, and comply with legal requirements to help you reach your goals while minimizing risks.

In our transactional practice, we structure businesses and transactions and draft contracts to avoid and minimize misunderstandings, disputes and risks that can reduce profitability or result in a loss to our clients.
Our experience with litigation and alternative dispute resolution helps us better serve our clients in this respect. We seek to avoid ambiguities and potential disputes by drafting thorough contracts that clearly address the parties’ rights and obligations. We also strive to include appropriate protections for our clients in the transaction process and contracts.
To the extent that disputes or breaches of contract may be unavoidable, we try during the structuring and documenting of the transaction to put our client in the best position possible to avoid or prevail in any dispute. If a dispute arises, we are prepared to represent our clients in the manner that provides them with the best outcome. We are experienced with negotiating and developing creative “win-win” solutions, contract modifications and workouts when that is in our clients’ best interest. We are also prepared to vigorously enforce and defend our clients’ rights in arbitration or court.

Although we have a broad range of experience, there are some matters that require specific expertise in certain areas. We are experienced at recognizing when such expertise is needed and working with experts in those areas. For example, although we are not tax or securities lawyers, we recognize that there often are significant tax or securities laws issues that are implicated in business and real estate transactions and structures. If our clients do not already have their own professionals to advise them in such areas, we have an established network of trusted and experienced professionals in such areas with whom we collaborate and consult. With this team effort, we are able to provide a broad range of services and handle complex matters that exceed the capabilities of many small firms.
Our clientele is diverse. We serve the business, real estate and financing needs of large corporations, small and medium businesses or enterprises, non-profit organizations, and individuals. Clients include commercial and residential real estate buyers, sellers, owners, landlords, tenants, developers and lenders (for a variety of property types, including retail shopping centers, health care facilities, medical office buildings, and general use office buildings); a variety of U.S. and international businesses and joint ventures; non-profit organizations; health care providers; and tourism-related projects. The firm has extensive experience working with companies and individuals with respect to real estate and economic transactions and development in Arizona and Mexico, and has collaborated closely with local, state and federal government agencies in public-private partnerships and other collaborative efforts.
Mark Raven has extensive experience with real estate, business and financing transactions and development in both Arizona and Mexico. Mr. Raven is fluent in Spanish and has traveled extensively to Mexico City, Baja California Sur and Sonora to negotiate and close real estate and business deals. He is a former member of the Bi-National Board of Directors of the U.S.-Mexico Chamber of Commerce and former Secretary of the National Law Center for Inter-American Free Trade. Mark Raven is AV-rated* by Martindale-Hubble.
Chris McDonagh advises and represents clients in real estate, financing and business transactions in Arizona, Florida and Mexico and related litigation and alternative dispute resolution in Arizona and Florida. He emphasizes practical solutions to achieve his clients’ goals and protect their interests. His dispute resolution practice includes representing parties in contract, business and real estate disputes; investors’ claims against company management; and creditors in Bankruptcy Court (including claims that debts are non-dischargeable in bankruptcy). His real estate practice includes commercial and residential real estate acquisitions and sales, leases, financing, and workouts. His business practice includes forming and advising business entities (LLCs, corporations, and partnerships) and their owners, management and investors, including small and medium businesses and enterprises (SMEs). He also reviews, drafts and negotiates contracts for businesses and individuals. He represents borrowers and lender in financing transactions and disputes. His financing practice includes having served as counsel to borrowers, lenders, issuers, underwriters, guarantors, and trustees, or as bond counsel, in taxable and tax-exempt financings totaling more than $750,000,000. Chris McDonagh is AV-rated* by Martindale-Hubble.
BIOS
Mark B. Raven, Esq. (click here)
Christopher S. McDonagh, Esq. (click here)
Mark Raven is admitted to practice law in Arizona, and Chris McDonagh is admitted to practice in Arizona, Florida and California (inactive). For Mexico-related matters, they work closely with Mexican lawyers and Notarios with respect to Mexican legal issues and transactions.
* The firm is rated AV® by the Martindale-Hubbell National Legal Directory®. AV is the highest rating awarded to law firms and lawyers by Martindale-Hubbell. AV® and AV Preeminent® are registered certification marks of Reed Elsevier Properties Inc., used in accordance with the Martindale-Hubbell certification procedures, standards and policies. Martindale-Hubbell is the facilitator of a peer review rating process. Ratings reflect the anonymous opinions of members of the bar and the judiciary. Martindale-Hubbell® Peer Review Ratings™ fall into two categories – legal ability and general ethical standards.