Dominic C. “Donny” MacKenzie, Executive Director
Dominic C. “Donny” MacKenzie is the executive director of FFLA. Appointed by the board of directors in 2018, Donny serves as the chief executive officer of FFLA. In conjunction with the board of directors, the executive director sets a vision for organizational development, oversees systems, structures and internal policies, and leads FFLA in its mission of providing strategic support and funding for civil legal services. In his role as executive director, Donny is the chief spokesperson for FFLA, representing FFLA to internal and external audiences, conveying the vision of FFLA and motivating staff and all stakeholders to work collaboratively to achieve the strategic goals of FFLA.
Donny obtained his bachelor’s degree in communications from Florida State University and earned his law degree from the Florida State University College of Law. After practicing in Fort Lauderdale from 1987 to 1993, Donny moved back to his hometown of Jacksonville and joined Holland & Knight in 1993. His practice specialized in medical and professional malpractice defense, health care litigation, product liability, construction litigation and personal injury.
Donny has shown a devotion to providing civil legal aid throughout his career, being Holland & Knight’s pro bono partner for Jacksonville and serving as a member of the Florida Commission on Access to Civil Justice since 2014 and co-founder of the Campaign to Maintain Justice in Jacksonville in 1995.
He was recognized by The Florida Bar with the President’s Pro Bono Award for the Fourth Judicial Circuit in 1998. Holland & Knight honored him as its Pro Bono MVP Partner in 2006, and he has been recognized by the firm as a Pro Bono All Star since 2005. He was recently recognized as the 2016 recipient of the Robert J. Beckham Equal Justice Award from Jacksonville Area Legal Aid (JALA) and was also appointed as a board member for the Florida Justice Technology Center.
After serving on the board of The Florida Bar Foundation (now FFLA) for eight years, Donny took office as its president in 2015-16. He has served on the Legal Assistance for the Poor, Law Student Assistance, Grants, Interest on Trust Account Operations, Development, Strategic Reset, and Executive Committees.
Donny has served on various state and local bar committees, some of which include the Florida Rules of Civil Procedure Committee (chair 2002-2003), the Florida Code and Rules of Evidence Committee (chair 2008-2009), the Florida Rules of Judicial Administration Committee, Professionalism Committee, Florida Pro Bono Legal Services Committee (chair, Rules subcommittee), Florida Bar Grievance Committee for the Fourth Judicial Circuit “B” (chair 2014), and JALA’s Guardian Ad Litem and Pro Bono Committees. Donny also served as chair of JALA’s Board of Directors from 1998 – 2000.
