Rebecca Zimmer Donaldson
Attorney
AREAS OF PRACTICE
- Business/Corporate Litigation
- Employment Litigation
- Mass Torts
- Personal Injury
- Products Liability
- Medical Malpractice
- Family Law
- Wrongful Death
AWARDS
- Service Above Self Award, 2022 — Awarded for service above the call of duty that helps make our communities safer
- WILMA Women to Watch, 2024 — Public Sector Category Finalist
- Lawyers Weekly Excellence in Law Award, 2025
Rebecca Zimmer Donaldson brings both deep courtroom experience and strong leadership to Shipman Wright & Moore. A Wilmington native, Rebecca has built a career marked by integrity, toughness, and a clear sense of purpose—qualities that led to her appointment by Governor Roy Cooper as the first female District Attorney for New Hanover and Pender Counties. In that role, she led a team of more than 50 attorneys, investigators, and support staff, managing a heavy caseload while setting the tone for how justice was pursued across the region.
Before stepping into that leadership position, Rebecca served as an Assistant District Attorney in New Hanover and Pender Counties for four years. During that time, she handled a wide range of cases, from violent felonies to complex white-collar crimes. She was also a prosecutor on the first cold case conviction in North Carolina brought under the Survivor Act—a landmark case that brought long-overdue justice to a victim and helped set a new precedent for how cold cases are prosecuted in the state.
Rebecca began her legal career as an Assistant District Attorney in Brooklyn, New York—cutting her teeth in one of the busiest and most challenging court systems in the country. That experience shaped her no-nonsense approach to litigation and helped develop the calm, confident demeanor she brings to every case. She returned home to Wilmington in 2020 with a desire to use her experience to serve the community that raised her.
At Shipman Wright & Moore, Rebecca focuses her practice on civil litigation and family law, drawing on her background as a prosecutor to advocate fiercely for her clients. Whether she’s representing someone navigating a difficult divorce or handling a complex legal dispute, Rebecca is known for her sharp instincts in the courtroom, her thoughtful guidance outside of it, and her relentless commitment to getting results.
Above all, Rebecca believes in the importance of clear communication, preparation, and trust—values she brings into every client relationship and every case she takes on.
