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Ann O'Connor McCready
- E amccready@taftlaw.com
- T (317) 713-4497
- F (317) 713-3699
Summary
Ann focuses her litigation practice on complex disputes that span a variety of areas and industries, with an emphasis on complex commercial litigation and business disputes. Her practice includes contract disputes, M&A claims, trade secret misappropriation, and securities litigation. Ann also has experience in products liability, intellectual property, and environmental litigation.
Ann’s aim is to partner with her clients to better understand their business needs in order to drive disputes toward the best and most efficient outcome. She routinely advises clients seeking to resolve matters prior to litigation, and she is experienced in alternative dispute resolution and arbitration. Ann has litigated cases in both state and federal courts, and has experience with appellate work, as well.
In addition, Ann frequently serves as local counsel to large law firms that do not otherwise have a presence in Indiana. She leverages her extensive knowledge and experience in the Indiana court system to advocate for clients through these partnerships.
Prior to joining private practice in Indianapolis, Ann practiced at Tressler LLP in Chicago, where she represented insurers in complex coverage disputes regarding liability and property coverage.
Ann currently serves as the partner co-chair of the Indianapolis Women of Taft affinity group, and she focuses much of her community involvement on efforts to support and empower women both personally and professionally. Ann is member of the board of directors of Dress for Success Indianapolis and she is an ambassador for American Cancer Society’s ResearcHERS: Women Fighting Cancer campaign. She has also been involved with the Integrating Women Leaders Foundation and has served as co-chair of IWL’s annual conference. While in Chicago, Ann was active with Women Employed. Involvement in the legal profession is also particularly important to Ann, and she is active in both the Indiana State Bar Association, where she serves on the Leadership Development Academy Committee, and the American Bar Association.
In addition to her legal experience, prior to law school, Ann worked at the strategic communications firm APCO Worldwide in Washington, D.C., where she frequently worked with in-house counsel to manage reputation risk and communication strategies stemming from large-scale litigation. Ann draws on that experience when counseling clients facing high-profile disputes.
Ann graduated from George Washington University, magna cum laude, with a degree in journalism and earned her J.D., cum laude, from Indiana University Maurer School of Law. During law school, she served as the editor-in-chief of the Federal Communications Law Journal and as a law clerk for the Honorable E. Michael Hoff on the Monroe County Circuit Court. Ann has been recognized by her peers for her accomplishments and is recognized as one of the “Ones to Watch” by Best Lawyers in America® for commercial litigation. She was named an Illinois Rising Star in 2014 and 2015 and has been an Indiana Rising Star since 2017. Ann was also recognized by the Indianapolis Business Journal as a Forty Under 40 honoree in 2021, by The Indiana Lawyer’s Leadership in Law Awards as an Up and Coming Lawyer in 2018, and was a finalist in the law category for the 2020 Indy’s Best and Brightest Awards.
Awards
Honoree, Best Lawyers in America, Commercial Litigation (2025)
Honoree, Forty Under 40, Indianapolis Business Journal (2021)
Honoree, Best Lawyers® “Ones to Watch,” Commercial Litigation, Litigation – Environmental (2021 – 2024)
Finalist, Indy’s Best & Brightest Awards, Law Category (2020)
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Honoree, Indiana Super Lawyers Rising Stars, General Litigation
(2014 – present)
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Honoree, Leadership in Law – Up and Coming Lawyer, Indiana Lawyer (2018)
Fellow, American Bar Foundation
Honoree, Forty Under 40, Indianapolis Business Journal (2021)
All Service Areas
Education
- Indiana University Maurer School of Law (2011)
cum laude
- George Washington University (2006)
magna cum laude
Admissions
- State - Illinois
- State - Indiana
- Federal - Northern District of Illinois
- Federal - Eastern District of Wisconsin
- Federal - Southern District of Indiana
- Federal - Northern District of Indiana
News
Three Hundred Sixty-Three Taft Attorneys Recognized in Best Lawyers in America® 2025 News
Twenty-Two Taft Attorneys Named to Indiana Rising Stars 2024 News
McCready Elected to Dress for Success Indianapolis Board News
One Hundred Seventeen Taft Attorneys Recognized in Best Lawyers® "Ones to Watch" 2024
Past Events
Professional Affiliations
- Indiana State Bar Association
Member, Leadership Development Academy Committee (2017 – present)
Past Chair, Social Media Task Force (2018)
Past Participant, Social Media Focus Group (2017)
Graduate, Leadership Development Academy Class V (2016) - American Bar Association
Member
Past Vice Chair, TIPS Toxic Torts and Environmental Law Committee (2016 – 2018) - Indianapolis Bar Association
Member
Past Secretary, Insurance Coverage Section (2015 – 2016) - Indianapolis American Inn of Court
Associate
- American Bar Foundation
Fellow
Community Involvement
- Multiplying Good
ChangeMakers in Indiana, Class of 2022
- Dress for Success
Board Member (2023 – present)
Member, Stepping Out in Style Executive Leadership Team (2019 – present)
Member, Marketing & Communications Committee (2018 – 2019) - Integrating Women Leaders Foundation
Co-Chair, Indy Conference Committee (2020)
Member, Indy Conference Committee (2017 – 2019) - Children's Bureau, Inc.
Past Member
Young Professionals Advisory Board - Women Employed
Past Member, Leadership Committee, Advocacy Council (2012 – 2015)
- Lawyers in the Classroom Program
Past Volunteer (2011 – 2015)
- Jackie Robinson Society
Past President (2005 – 2006)