It was the ’70s and everyone was flying, but Ann McClure was really up in the clouds, navigating a private plane (a hobby she picked up from her father), on her way to landing in a new (occupational) field.
But McClure did not become a pilot. The flying lessons were just for fun. Instead, she left her ephemeral career as an English teacher in Pennsylvania to pursue a law degree at Duquesne University in Pittsburgh, graduating in 1978.
McClure recently touched down as partner at the firm of McCarter & English in Hartford.
“Because I haven’t been a partner before, I’m excited to be practicing law here,” said McClure, the only lawyer in her family.
Most recently, McClure, 57, worked as a commercial litigator for a manufacturing company, Mestek Inc., in Massachusetts. Before that, she was in private practice, at one point her own, and said private is more enjoyable because there are more legal colleagues around. Now McClure shares space with 40 fellow attorneys, with whom she practices commercial litigation, including contract, environmental, product liability, toxic tort, insurance coverage and class action litigation.
“The issue of asbestos is very troubling to commercial enterprises,” said McClure, remarking on a nationwide issue. “Companies that haven’t used it are being sued.” She said people who are currently suffering from asbestos ailments are grasping on to anything for compensation, adding that the nation needs to come up with a plan for people who have been exposed to asbestos.
“If I could do it again, I would probably be a tax lawyer,” said McClure, expounding on what she would do if she could start over. “People like their tax lawyers more than their litigators.”
McClure, who would like to pick up volunteering hours in health care or the arts, lives in West Hartford with her husband and son, who is about to graduate from high school. She grew up in Pennsylvania, but has lived in Connecticut since 1985. “It’s always felt like home,” she said.
Amanda Blaszyk is a staff writer for the Hartford Business Journal.
