For further information regarding our team of neutrals, call Meghan Lettington at 949-760-5280, or email MLettington@phillipsadr.com
Area of expertise:
Ann Cook brings a pragmatic, business-focused approach to alternative dispute resolution at Phillips ADR. With a decade of in-house leadership at Ernst & Young LLP (EY)—including two years as Vice Chair and General Counsel—Ann has firsthand experience with the real-world pressures parties face when a dispute arises: legal risk, reputational concerns, internal stakeholder demands, and the need for timely, cost-effective resolution. She has served as both a plaintiff and defendant, and her practice reflects a deep understanding of what it takes to move matters toward resolution efficiently and fairly. She is a strategic problem solver who draws on her experience in both corporate matters and full-spectrum litigation to achieve outcomes that balance risk, business priorities, and lasting clarity.
Ann is regularly engaged in securities litigation and accounting disputes, including matters where sophisticated factual records and technical analysis are central to settlement strategy, including securities-related disputes and high-exposure claims, complex accounting and professional judgment disputes, public disclosure and regulatory-driven dispute dynamics and matters requiring careful balancing of legal and business considerations.
Ann also has extensive experience supporting and resolving disputes that involve complex, multi-party dynamics. Class action and other aggregated claims require refined strategy—both to manage cost and complexity and to align resolution pathways with the realities of litigation leverage and evidentiary burdens. Her class action-related work reflects a focus on case management considerations for large-scale claims, settlement strategy, and negotiation approaches that support efficient, durable resolution.
Ann also brings careful judgment and sensitivity to matters involving employment-related disputes and cases involving allegations of sexual assault, sexual abuse, and related misconduct. She understands the seriousness of these claims, the need for procedural sensitivity, and the importance of maintaining safety, dignity, and credibility throughout the dispute process. She is known for creating a structured, respectful environment for parties to be heard, steering negotiations responsibly, supporting resolutions that address legal exposure and real-world impact and promoting confidentiality and survivor-centered considerations where applicable.
What makes Ann an exceptional mediator is that she brings experience as an outside lawyer and as a client to the process. Ann’s EY experience was distinguished by high-impact, high-pressure leadership, responsibility for unprecedented high volume civil litigation and regulatory dockets, complex guidance tied to public disclosures, and the legal strategy for industry defining corporate transactions. She understands from experience what it takes to bring a matter through to trial having tried more than a dozen matters and overseeing countless litigation matters as the CLO for a $20B firm.
Recognition, Speaking & Credentials
Ann is a graduate of Union College and Hofstra University School of Law. Ann is a sought-after speaker and panel participant on substantive issues involving securities and accounting, and she has advocated for ADR throughout her career. Ann was a recipient of a 2021 award for Outstanding Women in Law.
Ann was inducted into the National Association of Distinguished Neutrals in 2025.
To schedule Ann Cook for an upcoming ADR matter, please contact Meghan Lettington at mlettington@phillipsadr.com or (949) 760-5280.
© 2026 PHILLIPS ADR | 2101 East Coast Highway, Suite 250, Corona Del Mar, California 92625 | (949) 760-5280 | Privacy Policy | Terms & Conditions