Ann M. Leafstedt
Practice Areas
Experience
- Antitrust
- Family Office
- Family-Owned Business
- Mergers, Acquisitions, & Divestitures
Biography
Ann helps family offices and businesses in a variety of industries achieve their objectives. She provides general corporate representation, and advises clients on the formation of entities, acquisitions, corporate governance issues, financing transactions and other business matters.
Ann also regularly counsels clients involved in mergers and acquisitions on compliance with the Hart-Scott-Rodino (HSR) Act, including how to navigate the pre-merger notification process and the disclosures required in HSR Act filings. As a leader on the subject, Ann and her colleague Shari Mao presented an internal continuing legal education program on HSR compliance called âThe ABCâs of HSR.â
Education
B.A., Williams College
M.A., Stanford University
J.D., University of Texas School of Law
Bar Admissions
Texas
- Ann provides family offices with strategic advice in implementing succession planning and handling both day-to-day business matters and complex financing and corporate transactions.
- Ann has drafted operating agreements for large and small family businesses to preserve wealth and handle a range of family situations and dynamics.
- Ann represents clients in a variety of industries, including energy, construction, heavy equipment, and ranching.
- Ann has worked on the negotiation and closing of many large financing transactions, primarily representing borrowers.
- Works with multi-disciplinary teams of tax, real estate and IP specialists to help clients navigate all angles of deals.
- Representative transactions include handling acquisitions of a construction company, aircraft holding company, cyber-security consulting firm, a security alarm provider, and many others.
- Ann has enjoyed advising several local non-profit organizations on a pro bono basis.
- The Best Lawyers in America (Woodward/White Inc.), Corporate Law, 2024-2026
- Fellow, Texas Bar Foundation, 2018
- âBest S.A. Lawyersâ List, San Antonio Scene, 2015, 2017-2024
- Business & Corporate
- Closely Held Business
- Corporate Governance/Compliance
- “San Antonioâs Outstanding Women in Law,” San Antonio Scene, 2021
- Co-Author, âCountdown to the CTA: Reporting Beneficial Ownership Information,â Jackson Walker Insights (December 2023)
- Co-Author, âCountdown to the CTA: An Overview of the Corporate Transparency Act,â Jackson Walker Insights (September 2023)
- Speaker, âThe ABCâs of HSR,â Jackson Walker Internal HSR Compliance CLE (October 2020)
- State Bar of Texas
- San Antonio Bar Association
- San Antonio Public Library Foundation, Board of Directors; Co-Chair, Literacy Caravan Committee
- St. Mark’s Episcopal Church, Construction Project Committee; Altar Guild
- Leadership San Antonio (LSA), Participant, 2018
- Green Spaces Alliance, Board of Directors (2015-2019)
- St. Markâs Episcopal Church, Junior Warden (2018-2019); Vestry (2017-2019); Finance Committee (2017-2020)
August 21, 2025
Attorney News
âThe Best Lawyers in Americaâ Features 350 Jackson Walker Attorneys in 2026 Edition, Including 10 âLawyers of the Yearâ and 106 âOnes to Watchâ
The Best Lawyers in America, a widely regarded guide to legal excellence, has recognized 350 Jackson Walker attorneys across 87 specialty practice areas in its 2026 edition, including 10 Lawyers of the Year and 106 Ones to Watch.
December 16, 2024
Newsletters
JW Belonging & Inclusion Newsletter â December 2024
View Jackson Walker’s December 2024 Belonging & Inclusion Newsletter, Perspectives.
August 23, 2024
Newsletters
JW Belonging & Inclusion Newsletter â August 2024
View Jackson Walker’s August 2024 Belonging & Inclusion Newsletter, Perspectives.
August 15, 2024
Attorney News
‘The Best Lawyers in America’ Features 306 Jackson Walker Attorneys in 2025 Edition, Including 9 “Lawyers of the Year” and 75 “Ones to Watch”
The Best Lawyers in America has recognized 306 Jackson Walker attorneys across 81 specialty practice areas in its 2025 edition, including 9 Lawyers of the Year and 75 Ones to Watch. In this yearâs guide, Jackson Walker saw the largest number of attorneys in the areas of Commercial Litigation (75 attorneys) and Real Estate Law (55 attorneys) and the addition of 27 attorneys as Best Lawyers.
December 4, 2023
Insights
Countdown to the CTA: Reporting Beneficial Ownership Information
By Ann M. Leafstedt and Roderick O. Faulk
On January 1, 2024, the Corporate Transparency Act (the âCTAâ) will go into effect. The CTA is a U.S. law (31 U.S. Code § 5336), enacted January 1, 2021, that aims to combat money laundering and other illicit activities. The CTA requires reporting entities to disclose certain beneficial ownership information and other data to the Financial Crimes Enforcement Network (âFinCENâ), a bureau of the U.S. Department of the Treasury.
December 4, 2023
Newsletters
JW Diversity & Inclusion Newsletter â December 2023
View Jackson Walker’s December 2023 Diversity & Inclusion Newsletter, Perspectives.
September 18, 2023
Attorney News
‘Scene in S.A.’ Recognizes Jackson Walker Attorneys in 2023 “Best S.A. Lawyers” List
Jackson Walker congratulates the 44 practicing attorneys in the San Antonio office who were included in Scene in S.A.âs 2023 âBest S.A. Lawyersâ list. In its 19th year, the âBest S.A. Lawyersâ list presents attorneys across 80 distinct practice areas who were nominated by fellow licensed, practicing attorneys of Bexar County.
Practice Experience
- Ann provides family offices with strategic advice in implementing succession planning and handling both day-to-day business matters and complex financing and corporate transactions.
- Ann has drafted operating agreements for large and small family businesses to preserve wealth and handle a range of family situations and dynamics.
- Ann represents clients in a variety of industries, including energy, construction, heavy equipment, and ranching.
- Ann has worked on the negotiation and closing of many large financing transactions, primarily representing borrowers.
- Works with multi-disciplinary teams of tax, real estate and IP specialists to help clients navigate all angles of deals.
- Representative transactions include handling acquisitions of a construction company, aircraft holding company, cyber-security consulting firm, a security alarm provider, and many others.
- Ann has enjoyed advising several local non-profit organizations on a pro bono basis.
Recognition & Accolades
- The Best Lawyers in America (Woodward/White Inc.), Corporate Law, 2024-2026
- Fellow, Texas Bar Foundation, 2018
- âBest S.A. Lawyersâ List, San Antonio Scene, 2015, 2017-2024
- Business & Corporate
- Closely Held Business
- Corporate Governance/Compliance
- “San Antonioâs Outstanding Women in Law,” San Antonio Scene, 2021
Publications & Speeches
- Co-Author, âCountdown to the CTA: Reporting Beneficial Ownership Information,â Jackson Walker Insights (December 2023)
- Co-Author, âCountdown to the CTA: An Overview of the Corporate Transparency Act,â Jackson Walker Insights (September 2023)
- Speaker, âThe ABCâs of HSR,â Jackson Walker Internal HSR Compliance CLE (October 2020)
Community Involvement
- State Bar of Texas
- San Antonio Bar Association
- San Antonio Public Library Foundation, Board of Directors; Co-Chair, Literacy Caravan Committee
- St. Mark’s Episcopal Church, Construction Project Committee; Altar Guild
- Leadership San Antonio (LSA), Participant, 2018
- Green Spaces Alliance, Board of Directors (2015-2019)
- St. Markâs Episcopal Church, Junior Warden (2018-2019); Vestry (2017-2019); Finance Committee (2017-2020)