Good Morning Friends of the Retail and Hospitality Committee!
Today we all have the exciting opportunity to get to know a little bit more about our Retail and Hospitality Committee's current Marketing Chair Ann MacDonald! Please read today's blog to find out a little bit about Ann's practice, why she is known for getting the deposition done even under the most unusual of circumstances and what she was doing when former Illinois Governor Rod Blagojevich was impeached.
Happy Friday Everyone!
Ann MacDonald
Current firm: Schiff Hardin LLP
Position at firm: Partner
Position (if any) within DRI: Marketing Chair, Retail and Hospitality Committee
Practice focus (State/Federal, etc): Commercial litigation in state and federal courts nationwide
When and where did you graduate from law school? I graduated from Washington University School of Law in St. Louis in May 2008.
What area(s) of law do you currently practice outside of retail and hospitality? I handle a wide range of commercial litigation matters, including class actions, franchise disputes, consumer claims, and issues relating to sports, media and entertainment.
Do you notice any trends developing from the plaintiff’s bar in retail and hospitality cases and, if so, what are they? I don’t think this is necessarily limited to retail and hospitality companies, but in the past couple years we have seen a lot of activity with TCPA and FDCPA claims. Retail and hospitality companies with loyalty programs or credits cards should be particularly careful that they have integrated their consumer contact systems to be in compliance with the various regulations.
How did you come to be involved with DRI? My first involvement with DRI was at a Young Lawyers Conference in Austin many years ago. One of my mentors encouraged me to go and I’ve stayed involved ever since.
What impact has DRI had on your practice? DRI has been great for my practice. DRI does a particularly good job of helping lawyers form a national network. When I need a referral, local counsel or a second opinion, I know who to call and that I can trust that person. I’ve also really enjoyed the speaking and writing opportunities it has provided.
Since practicing law allows time for ample hobbies, what are some of yours? I have been called a “chronic” athlete, so I am always looking for something active to do when I have free time. In the summer, it’s running, biking, swimming and playing ultimate frisbee and tennis. And in the winter, it’s yoga, skiing and whatever else I can find to do. I have also recently become obsessed with political podcasts (shout out to Keepin’ it 1600!).
If you were not a lawyer, what would you be? Hard to say, but I’d probably be a journalist or involved in politics in some way. I have a hard time sitting still, love learning about different subject matters and think being involved in civic life is really important.
What is your favorite lawyer book or movie and why? Legally Blonde (yes, seriously, I’d be happy to explain).
If you could depose one person – dead or alive – who would it be? Yadier Molina, catcher for the St. Louis Cardinals.
Do you have any lawyerly superstitions? Not really. But I always tell people to avoid famous last words (i.e. “This will never result in punitive damages”), because they just might end up being them.
What is your best/funniest deposition moment? I once deposed someone in the maintenance closet of a grocery store. When we arrived, it turned out that the office where the deposition was supposed to take place was under construction and the “large” maintenance closet was the only option. You could only fit three chairs in the closet so opposing counsel stood in the corner behind her witness. The court reporter had her equipment on an overturned trashcan. We probably should have just done it in the produce section.
Something unique about you that your fellow committee members may find interesting? One of the first cases I worked on involved a subpoena to the Office of the Governor of Illinois relating to the FBI’s investigation into former Illinois Governor Rod Blagojevich. I was in the Illinois state capital building collecting documents and preventing state employees from shredding things when Blagojevich was impeached.
Stephanie B. Gitnik l KAUFMAN BORGEEST & RYAN LLP
200 Summit Lake Drive l Valhalla, NY 10595
direct: 914.449.1023 l fax: 914.449.1100
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