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 “The ABC’s of HSR.”
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
- “Best S.A. Lawyers” List, San Antonio Scene, 2015, 2017-2024
- Business & Corporate
- Closely Held Business
- Corporate Governance/Compliance
- “San Antonio’s Outstanding Women in Law,” San Antonio Scene, 2021
- Co-Author, “Countdown to the CTA: Reporting Beneficial Ownership Information,” Jackson Walker Insights (December 2023)
- Co-Author, “Countdown to the CTA: An Overview of the Corporate Transparency Act,” Jackson Walker Insights (September 2023)
- Speaker, “The ABC’s of HSR,” 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. Mark’s Episcopal Church, Junior Warden (2018-2019); Vestry (2017-2019); Finance Committee (2017-2020)
February 11, 2026
Insights
FTC Announces Hart-Scott-Rodino Thresholds for 2026
By Ann Leafstedt and Shari Mao
On January 20, 2026, the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) announced the adjusted jurisdictional and filing fee thresholds under the Hart-Scott-Rodino Antitrust Improvements Act of 1976, as amended (HSR Act). The HSR Act requires persons considering certain transactions which exceed the applicable size thresholds to file a premerger notice with the FTC and the Antitrust Division of the United States Department of Justice (DOJ), pay the required filing fee, and observe a designated waiting period before consummating the transaction.
December 17, 2025
Newsletters
JW Belonging & Inclusion Newsletter – December 2025
View Jackson Walker’s December 2025 Belonging & Inclusion Newsletter, Perspectives.
August 21, 2025
Attorney News
‘The Best Lawyers in America’ Features 350 Jackson Walker Attorneys in 2026 Edition, Including 10 “Lawyers of the Year” and 106 “Ones to Watch”
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 – December 2024
View Jackson Walker’s December 2024 Belonging & Inclusion Newsletter, Perspectives.
August 23, 2024
Newsletters
JW Belonging & Inclusion Newsletter – August 2024
View Jackson Walker’s August 2024 Belonging & Inclusion Newsletter, Perspectives.
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
- “Best S.A. Lawyers” List, San Antonio Scene, 2015, 2017-2024
- Business & Corporate
- Closely Held Business
- Corporate Governance/Compliance
- “San Antonio’s Outstanding Women in Law,” San Antonio Scene, 2021
Publications & Speeches
- Co-Author, “Countdown to the CTA: Reporting Beneficial Ownership Information,” Jackson Walker Insights (December 2023)
- Co-Author, “Countdown to the CTA: An Overview of the Corporate Transparency Act,” Jackson Walker Insights (September 2023)
- Speaker, “The ABC’s of HSR,” 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. Mark’s Episcopal Church, Junior Warden (2018-2019); Vestry (2017-2019); Finance Committee (2017-2020)