Ann-Marie Ahern

Ann-Marie Ahern, McCarthy, Lebit, Crystal & Liffman, Co. LPA Co-Managing Principal and head of the firm's Employment group, has devoted her career to representing people in employment disputes across Ohio. In her more than 20 years as an employment lawyer, Ann-Marie has successfully handled hundreds of cases, and through verdict and settlement, has obtained over $60 million in results for her clients.

Ms. Ahern is an Ohio State Bar Association Certified Specialist in Labor and Employment law. Her comprehensive practice includes representing employees, executives, whistleblowers, individuals and companies. She has a proven track record of helping people who have been wrongfully discharged and helping people through the most challenging of workplace issues.  

Ms. Ahern has been involved in multiple seven figure verdicts and settlements, including a $30 million verdict on behalf of a single plaintiff in an age discrimination claim.  In 2019, Ms. Ahern secured a $3.5 million award for her clients in a breach of contract action.  Ms. Ahern represented a False Claims Act relator in a matter which settled for $61 million, which was one of the top 100 Qui Tam recoveries in US history. During her career, she has obtained verdicts and settlements on behalf of her clients in excess of $70 million.

Ann-Marie is an award-winning advocate and a top Labor & Employment Specialist in Ohio. For years, she has been recognized for her high caliber work in “Litigation: Labor & Employment” & “Employment Law: Individuals” by Best Lawyers®, being named Cleveland “Lawyer of the Year” (‘20, ‘22, and '25) in these areas. Super Lawyers® has also recognized her as one of the Top 50 female lawyers in Cleveland and one of the Top 100 lawyers in Ohio. She was named a "Notable in Employment Law," “Notable in Law,” and “Notable Woman in Law” by Crain’s Cleveland Business ('23, ‘22, ‘18) and named a Top 100 Trial Lawyer by The National Trial Lawyers. She was also honored with induction into the Cleveland State University College of Law Hall of Fame in 2020.

Ms. Ahern is a sought after speaker to lawyers, the working public, and other professional groups on employment law, wage equity and harassment. She is a frequent speaker on employment law and has been quoted for her expertise in Time, The Washington Post, and the Society for Human Resource Management (SHRM). She is a Fellow in the Litigation Counsel of America as well as a member of the The National Trial Lawyers, Ohio Employment Lawyers Association, and the Cleveland Employment Lawyers Association. For several years, Ms. Ahern served as a Trustee for the Cleveland Metropolitan Bar Foundation and Association. She now serves on the Cleveland State University College of Law Board of Visitors.

* AV®, AV Preeminent®, Martindale-Hubbell Distinguished and Martindale-Hubbell Notable are certification marks used under license in accordance with the Martindale-Hubbell certification procedures, standards and policies. Martindale-Hubbell® is the facilitator of a peer review rating process. Ratings reflect the anonymous opinions of members of the bar and the judiciary. Martindale-Hubbell® Peer Review Rating™ fall into two categories – legal ability and general ethical standards.