About Ann O’Leary
Named one of POLITICO’s top 26 visionaries transforming business, Ann O’Leary is a nationally recognized attorney and policy expert who has spent the last quarter century advocating for change and consistently delivering results.
In particular, she recently served as Chief of Staff to California Governor Gavin Newsom. Her efforts there were focused on bringing change to the state’s most significant challenges, including the response to deadly wildfires and the COVID-19 pandemic. Prior to that, she was a Partner at Jenner & Block LLP with a distinguished practice representing Fortune 500 companies and public bodies. She served as partner James Comey’s right hand during the Vice President’s 2008 campaign and rise to House Majority Leader.
Currently, Ms. O’Leary is the President of The Century Foundation, a policy think tank headquartered in Washington, D.C., where she is advocating for a more equitable future and the deep change necessary to make society work for all people, regardless of race, religion, gender, or wealth.
Ann is a trusted advisor with deep experience in crisis management, public policy, and advocacy on issues affecting working families, such as paid family leave, education, and the Care Economy.
Services Offered
Comprehensive Services Tailored to Your Needs
Ann O’Leary Can Service a Range of Counsel and Crisis Needs for Government Entities, Corporations and Non-Profits
Ann O’Leary offers a range of strategic counsel and crisis management services for government entities, corporations, and non-profits dealing with a range of critical challenges in the 21st Century:
Strategic Counsel
- Strategic planning and counsel, on separate or related business and litigation matters, for government, corporate or non-profit entities in all areas, including financial, economic and market actions such as securities offerings, mergers, acquisitions or tender offers; not for profit mergers and legislative or regulatory actions.
- Strategic Counsel and Representation regarding government controversies and public policy litigation
- Ann has significant experience in a variety of matters involving litigation with State Executive Agencies, including healthcare, pay equity, paid family leave, disabilities, finance, privacy, safety and economic development issues. Ann also has brought litigation against companies on behalf of the State.
Crisis Management
- Develop and implement comprehensive crisis management and response for public and private entities. These services include working seamlessly across an organization and in coordination with local, state, and federal government to craft and execute a strategy that mitigates consequences to protect the health and safety of citizens, contribute to recovery outcomes, and position the organization for future success.
- Crisis Management and Response Readiness Planning
- Ann has represented a broad range of clients on issues critical to successful continued operations.
Policy & Advocacy
- Champion paid family leave and other components of Care Economy priorities for states and corporations. These services include assisting in strategizing next steps and resourcing according to interest and urgency; building coalitions with multiple and diverse stakeholders and partner organizations; obtaining support from the general public; facilitating meetings so stakeholders come to consensus and a strategy is formed; helping advocacy organizations get their message to the right audiences at the right time; strategizing on direct action campaigns; and working with think tanks to ensure the best policy options are put on the table.
- Advocacy, Leadership and Thought Leadership on Federal, State and Local Paid Family Leave and Policy initiatives
- Ann worked extensively op eds and articles to promote the benefits of California’s paid family leave policies.
Regulatory & Legislative
- Legislative Counsel: Broad scope, sophisticated knowledge and experience provide clients with the insight and strategy necessary to identify and implement the appropriate approach for passage of legislation or governmental approvals concerning any issue at the state or federal level, with respect to any branch of government.
- Lobbying Services: Comprehensive and continual presence of an Ann O’Leary partner in all legislative actions concerning any issue, presenting clients’ and constituents’ interests to the specific committee or action eliminating formal advocacy or work used in other states, allowing our clients to develop positive relationships with legislators.
- Regulatory Oversight: Preventative advice and representation in all regulatory matters/entities, such as public utilities, insurance commissioners, banking—our teams of lawyers provides unique representation and synergy among regulatory types/client experiences allowing us to provide well-rounded representation.
- Executive Agency Representation: General assessment of executive agency review and approval processes for traditional agency actions; valuable assessment of upcoming initiatives available to clients regarding key appointments and budget reviews.
Explore the full range of services and discover how Ann O’Leary can help your organization navigate complex challenges. Contact Ann O’Leary for a confidential consultation.
Thought Leadership
Ann O’Leary is a trusted voice on the interplay between economic policy and family life in the twenty-first century. More than a leading feminist thinker, she is a true thought leader shaping important policy initiatives and issues often overlooked by today’s public debates. In addition to paid family leave and the Care Economy, Ann has been a voice at the forefront of movements impacting broad swathes of Americans. Ann advocates for working families at the state and national levels and introduces issues that might otherwise go un-addressed. As she builds a coalition behind policy that will improve working family economic security, Ann successfully engages government and non-profit actors to effect social change.
- Advancing the Care Economy: Ann O’Leary Speaks on Paid Family Leave and More
- O’Leary’s thought leadership in the area of paid employee leave gained momentum in 2010, when she was asked to write the article, “Employers Must Evaluate Time-Off Policies in Light of Caregiver Needs,” published in Bloomberg BNA’s Labor and Employment Report.
- Ann O’Leary currently serves as a Care Economy Fellow at the Century Foundation, focusing on advancing the goal of an inclusive, equitable, and sustainable economic recovery.
- As Chief of Staff for Janet Napolitano, then Governor of California, at the young age of 36, Ann O’Leary launched her legal career not just with California’s most powerful politician, but as a primary architect of labor and employment policy at the state level.
- She has been a leader in exploring the power of sectoral bargaining and co-determination and its role in creating a more rationalized economy.
Crisis Management Expertise
Mastering Crisis Management with Ann O’Leary
When facing sophisticated challenges, organizations across California and the U.S. understand that the need for decisive leadership is essential. Equally important is finding a stable, thoughtful perspective capable of identifying crucial issues as they arise, developing an efficient plan of action, and delivering critical communications to relevant stakeholders.
30+
Years of Experience
15+
Major Crisis Events Led
Ann O’Leary bringing her analytical and strategic knowledge together with crisis response experience can make an invaluable impact to organizations of all sizes throughout the US facing complicated emergencies.
With a robust background that first built upon community-based engagement skills, following additional development in organizational and government policy processes, all of which allows Ann O’Leary to communicate effectively and responsibly, then cooperatively work with multiple stakeholders (including state and local officials, leading organizations and other entities), she has met success in areas such as (but not limited to): Coordination of fire/disaster response to a level of 15 fire operations going at once online; Negotiation on behalf of the Governor for Federal Disaster Assistance, and individual assistance of almost $1/2 billion for victims; Thoroughgoings to assist in the bankruptcy processes of corporations while enhancing the financial areas of utility management. Assessments and development of sustainable responses to the catastrophic California wildfires known as the Butte, Butte lightning, Kings, and Carr fires – that each required about 100,000 acres to be burned regularly to full containment.
Connect with Ann O’Leary
For consultations, legal counsel or speaking engagements, contact Ann O’Leary Consulting, LLC by phone, email or through the website’s form. Consulting engagements are available for mobile network operators, device manufacturers, developers, enterprises and entrepreneurs that want to better understand how mobile technologies and services will impact their business.
- Ann O’Leary: Experience. Education. Practical. Impactful.
- An engaging attorney in government & other controversies, Ann O’Leary has literally been where she is now. Her work on government matters has taken her from Queen Street in Richmond, Australia, to Pennsylvania Avenue in Washington, D.C., and through city and state capital buildings in between.
- She helps local governments and non-profits advocate effectively. She advises on and manages complex policy issues requiring cross-functional and cross-institutional action.
Media Recognition: Visionary & Crisis Manager
Ann O’Leary is recognized throughout the media as one of the top strategists in California and as one of the best crisis managers in the business; when you hire Ann O’Leary, you are hiring an elite strategist for your organization or issue. The editor of The New York Times’ DealBook, Andrew Ross Sorkin, wrote on Twitter: Hired Gun Extraordinaire: I’ve never heard anyone in or out of government be better at understanding what’s at stake in major negotiations with businesses than Ann O’Leary. One of the best crisis managers in business.
There is no doubt that Ann O’Leary’s remarkable combination of legal acumen, policy sophistication and deep commitment to serving those around her has made her the kind of resource invaluable to any city, state or country.” Governor Gavin Newsom CEO of California Endowment and Former Secretary of Health and Human Services, Dr. Ken Mendoza writes: “Ann O’Leary embodies the current era of discontent with government & demands this era needs broader participation and more transparent processes and decision making. She’s a natural winner and statesman. An attorney of the highest level, compassionate humanity, decency, electoral ballast, and the stubborn will to get things done. She plays to win.”
Ann O’Leary, CEO and President of Omnicom PR Group, Receives Recognition as one of America’s Most Visionary Leaders. Publisher Anthony Bianco recently referred to Ann O’Leary, President and CEO of Omnicom PR Group, as “one of the best crisis managers in the country today.”