Ann concentrates her practice in civil litigation, including environmental and business-related disputes, medical malpractice litigation, and personal injury defense.

Ann joined Heyl Royster in 2013. Before joining Heyl Royster, Ann served as in-house counsel at Valero in San Antonio, TX, where she managed complex environmental, commercial, class action and tort litigation. Ann’s experience also includes representing clients in response to notices of violation filed by the Illinois Environmental Protection Agency and the United States Environmental Protection Agency, including defending clients when lawsuits were filed over the notices of violation or an adjoining property owner filed suit.

Ann began her legal career in 1994, serving as a law clerk to the Honorable James D. Heiple of the Illinois Supreme Court. After her clerkship, Ann worked for two law firms in the St. Louis area. She represented clients in environmental, class action, commercial, and personal injury matters pending throughout the country. Her clients included refiners, railroads, utilities, municipalities, health care entities, franchisors, and auto manufacturers. Ann has represented clients before the Seventh Circuit Court of Appeals, the Illinois Supreme Court and various appellate courts in Illinois and Missouri. Ann now co-chairs the Firm’s Appellate Practice Group. 

• Wilson v. Norfolk and Western Railway Company 718 N.E.2d 172 The Illinois Supreme Court ruled in case of first impression that a railroad employee must prove physical contact or the threat of physical contact to recover damages for intentional infliction of emotional distress under the FELA.

• “A Comparison of Delegatto and Brown: Using Consent Forms to Obtain Summary Judgment on Apparent Agency,” Illinois Defense Counsel Quarterly (2022) - Read Article
• “Legal Disability Can Toll the Statute of Limitations and Statute of Repose Despite a Pending Lawsuit,” Illinois Defense Counsel Quarterly (2022) - Read Article
• “The Illinois Medical Studies Act Privilege After Grosshuesch and Eid,” IADC’s Defense Counsel Journal (2017) - Download Article

• “Harnessing the Power of Community: Philanthropy and the Importance of Giving Back”
  Women Lead With Illinois Law Summit 2020
• “Current Topics in Litigation”
  Illinois Society of Healthcare Risk Managers 2019
• “Document Production in Litigation – Beyond the Medical Record”
  Chicagoland Healthcare Risk Management Society Webinar 2018
• “PSO or MSA: Improving Healthcare Without Increasing Liability”
  ISHRM and CHRMS 2018
• “Furry Companions – Service Animals, Emotional Support Animals, Therapy Animals and Pets in Medical Facilities”
  Chicago Healthcare Risk Managers Society Winter Meeting 2018
• “Negligent Credentialing Claims: The Best Attack”
  Heyl Royster's 32nd Annual Claims Handling Seminar 2017
• “Case Law Update”
  Heyl Royster Governmental Seminar 2016
• “21st Century Liability Issues: Drones, Cyber Liability, and Privacy Issue”
  Heyl Royster's 30th Annual Claims Handling Seminar 2015
• “How to Handle the Midnight Call and The Building Blocks of an Effective Defense”
  Heyl Royster 29th Annual Claims Handling Seminar 2014

• Selected as a Leading Lawyer in Illinois. Only five percent of lawyers in the state are named as Leading Lawyers.

• Illinois Society of Healthcare Risk Management (Secretary)
• Illinois State Bar Association
• Illinois Appellate Lawyers Association
• Illinois Association of Defense Counsel
• Association of Corporate Counsel
• Madison County Bar Association 
• The Missouri Bar Association 

• State Courts of Illinois and Missouri 
• United States Supreme Court
• United States Court of Appeals, Seventh and Eighth Circuits
• United States District Courts, Southern District of Illinois, Central District of Illinois, Northern District of Illinois, and Eastern District of Missouri

• Children's Bereavement Center of South Texas Board of Directors (2007-2010)
• City Year San Antonio Board of Directors (2012-2013)
• United Way Agency Review Committee (2010-2011)
• United Way Scholarship Committee (2012)
• University of Illinois College of Law Board of Visitors (2008-2011)
• University of Illinois College of Law Alumni Association (2005-Present)
• Valero Volunteer Council (2009-2012)
• United Way Power of the Purse (2016-2019)