Ann Adams
Of Counsel
Higher Education Law
Ann Adams joins XL Law & Consulting with over 25 years of experience in higher education, research administration, and compliance. She brings a wealth of knowledge in the realms of regulatory, legal, and compliance infrastructures that position institutions for success.
Ann most recently served as the Senior Associate Vice President for Research at Northwestern University. For over 15 yerars, she played a pivotal role in the Office of Research executive leadership team, during which time she managed various aspects of strategic planning and operational effectiveness, and ensured outstanding service to the institution’s research community, while simultaneously maintaining compliance with ethical, regulator, and legal requirements. Under Ann’s leadership, operations were scaled to accommodate a growth in research funding from $400M to $1B.
Prior to her time at Northwestern, Ann held positions as the Associated General Counsel for both the George Washington University and Northwestern University. In these roles, she oversaw a broad range of higher education matters, including research administration, compliance, and board governance. She has experience developing institutional legal strategies and managing complex federal investigations.
Licensed to Practice Law In:
The State of Illinois
The District of Columbia
The State of Virginia
Ann also has extensive background teaching within the university environment, having served as a lecturer and adjust processor at Northwestern’s Feinberg School of Medicine, Pritzker School of Law, and School of Professional Studies. She instructed courses on ethics, regulation, and research integrity.
Ann is recognized for her ability to navigate complex challenges with critical thinking and problem-solving skills. As a relational communicator, she excels at bridging divides, fostering understanding, and creating environments where people feel valued and empowered to thrive. Her approach is grounded in humility and a commitment to lifelong learning.
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Professional Background:Tianjin Yonghan Law Firm -Attorney, Corporate Operations MWE China Law Offices -Intern Spanish Cuatrecasas LLP, Shanghai Representative Office -Intern Fiat Chrysler Automobiles Group -Intern
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EducationEast China University of Science and Technology (ECUST) -L.L.B. Law East China University of Politics and Law (ECUPL) -L.L.M. Economic Law