Photo of Author Ann Taylor Schwing

About the Author

Ann Taylor Schwing is the author of the multi-volume treatise, California Affirmative Defenses (West, annually updated 1997-2016, also earlier editions (1988-96). Now updated by Martin D. Carr (2017-), the first three editions of Open Meeting Laws, Chapter 4 of California Discovery Practice (CEB 2d ed. 1998, 1st ed. 1987), and numerous articles. She co-authored the second edition of The Regulation of Money Managers with Professor Tamar Frankel and annually updated that treatise for many years. She edited the second edition of Professor Frankel’s Securitization (2005).  She is also a contributing editor to Black’s Law Dictionary (7th-10th eds. Bryan Garner, ed. 1999, 2004, 2009, 2014).

Mrs. Schwing is a graduate of the University of California at Berkeley (B.A., cum laude, 1968). She received her J.D. from Boston University (cum laude, 1975) and was awarded the Melville M. Bigelow Scholarship Award by the faculty as the member of the graduating class with the greatest promise as a scholar and teacher of the law. In 2004, she was awarded the American Inns of Court Professionalism Award for the Ninth Circuit, granted by the American Inns of Court Foundation with the concurrence of the Chief Judge of the Ninth Circuit.

Now inactive status, she was admitted to practice in California, U.S. Court of Appeals, Ninth Circuit, and U.S. District Courts, Eastern and Northern Districts of California. She was of counsel to Best Best & Krieger LLP, Sacramento, California until 2019.

Professional Experience

Ann Taylor Schwing joined McDonough, Holland & Allen PC in 1986 after serving as partner in two other firms and law clerk for Chief United States District Judge Thomas J. MacBride, Eastern District of California from 1977-1980.  She served as an attorney for 24 years in McDonough Holland & Allen PC’s litigation section where her practice was limited to appeals, motions and research.

After McDonough closed in 2010, she moved to Best Best & Kreiger LLP. She divided her time to work for the firm, write legal treatises and serve as Secretary and Commissioner on the Land Trust Accreditation Commission, an Independent Program of the Land Trust Alliance. She also served on the board of directors of the American Society of Legal Writers and on the Executive Committee of the Anthony M. Kennedy Inn of Court in Sacramento (1989-2014).  

Recognition and Awards

  • 2004 recipient of the American Inns of Court Professionalism Award for the Ninth Circuit granted by the American Inns of Court Foundation with the concurrence of the Chief Judge of the Ninth Circuit. The award presentation took place at the Ninth Circuit Judicial Conference in 2004 and was reported in the Sacramento Lawyer and by the Inns of Court Foundation.
  • 2003 Award for Outstanding and Tireless Service to the Federal Bar and Judiciary from the Sacramento Chapter of the Federal Bar Association.
  • The Local Rules of the United States District Court for the Eastern District of California “acknowledge the generous assistance rendered by Ann Taylor Schwing, Esq., in the preparation of these Local Rules.”
  • 1975 Melville M. Bigelow Scholarship Award given to the member of the Boston University graduating class who shows the greatest promise as a scholar and teacher in law.

Memberships and Activities

  • Master of the Bench, The Anthony M. Kennedy Inn of Court (1988-), Executive Committee (1989-2014)
  • Board of Directors, American Society of Legal Writers (2012-2014)
  • Commissioner, Secretary, Land Trust Accreditation Commission (2006-2016)
  • Board of Trustees, American Inns of Court Foundation in Washington D.C. (2002-2006)
  • Ninth Circuit Task Force on Self-Represented Litigants (2003-2006)
  • Ninth Circuit Advisory Board (2000-2003)
  • Reporter, Civil Justice Reform Act Advisory Group for the Eastern District of California (1996-97)
  • Member, Civil Justice Reform Act Advisory Group (Biden Committee) for the Eastern District of California (1994-1996); Chair, Subcommittee on Local Rules (1993-96)
  • Member, Early Neutral Evaluation Panel for the Eastern District of California (1994-2014)
  • Lawyer Delegate, Ninth Circuit Judicial Conference (1985-87); Chair (1986-87)
  • State Bar of California, Standing Committee on Rules and Procedure of Courts (1985-87); Chair (1986-87)
  • Board of Trustees, Land Trust of Napa County (1995-2001, 2002-08, 2009-2015); Vice President, President Elect (1997); President (1998-2001)
  • Board of Trustees of the Sacramento Law Foundation (1995-2004)
  • Sacramento County Bar Association, Bar Council Member

Education

  • Boston University School of Law, Boston, J.D., 1975, cum laude,  Boston University Law Review, Editorial Board
  • University of California, Berkeley, CA, B.A., cum laude, 1968

Publications

  • Author, California Affirmative Defenses (West Expert Series, three volumes, ~4500-6000 pages (1997-2016, annually updated), also earlier editions (1995/96) (five volumes), (1988/89/90, four volumes). Now updated by Martin D. Carr (2017-)
  • Author, Open Meeting Laws (3d ed. 2011) (national treatise analyzing law and cases of 50 states requiring open meetings by public bodies) (also 1st ed. 1994 and 2ed. 2000, sponsored by the National Institute of Municipal Law Officers).
  • Co-Author of Second Edition, The Regulation of Money Managers, with Tamar Frankel (1st ed. 1978-80) (4 volume treatise on federal regulation ofinvestment companies, mutual funds, investment advisers) (now co-authored by Arthur B. Laby, annually updated).
  • Editor of Second Edition, Securitization (2005), authored by Tamar Frankel (1st ed. 1991) (two volume treatise on structured financing, financial assets pools and asset-backed securities).
  • Contributing editor, Black’s Law Dictionary (7th-10th eds. Bryan Garner, ed. 1999, 2004, 2009, 2014).
  • California Discovery Practice Chap. 4 (CEB 2d ed. 1998) (CEB 1st ed. 1987).
  • Insurance Holding Company Regulatory Statutes and Related Legislation: A Comparative Analysis, 27 Fed. Ins. Counsel Q. 96 (1976).
  • Qualification Requirements Applicable to Alien Stock Insurers, to Surplus Line Insurers, and to Reinsurers, 1976 Ins.L.J. 649.
  • The Federal Power Commission’s Noncompliance with the National Environmental Policy Act; Statutory Impossibility and Delegation, 55 B.U.L.Rev. 575 (1975).
  • Statutory Circuit Court Review and the National Environmental Policy Act: The Proper Forum, 55 B.U.L.Rev. 530 (1975).
  • Eisen v. Carlisle and Jacquelin—Fluid Recovery, Mini-Hearings, and Notice in Class Actions, 54 B.U.L.Rev. 111 (1974).