Delaneys’ gift supports advocacy competitions

DELANEYS’ GIFT SUPPORTS TRIAL AND APPELLATE COMPETITIONS, ENCOURAGES WOMEN TO PARTICIPATE

A major gift from two prominent Indianapolis litigation attorneys, Kathleen A. DeLaney, ’95, and Ann M. DeLaney, ’77, will provide support for student participation

in internal and external trial and appellate competitions. In honor of their support,

the Moot Court Room in Baier Hall has been named in their honor.

Both mother and daughter have actively supported the Law School for many

years. Ann served on the school’s board of visitors from 1997–2019, and Kathleen was

elected to the board last year after serving on the law alumni board for six years. When

Dean Parrish presented them with the opportunity to support trial and appellate

competitions, they were intrigued. Linking these competitions with the names of two

experienced litigators heightened their enthusiasm.

ANN M. AND KATHLEEN A. DELANEY

“I have always been a strong proponent of the Law School,” Kathleen said, “and I be

lieve in philanthropy involving women. Although there are more of us than there used

to be, female litigators are still less predominant in our profession. This gift helps fill

that gap by encouraging women to participate in moot court and related competitions.”

Ann agreed. “It’s so important for our profession to have women litigators because

selves more effectively as lawyers.

Kathleen participated in the Law School’s Sherman Minton Moot Court Competi

tion, placing in the semi-finals, and on the school’s national moot court team, which

traveled to the regional competition in Milwaukee and then to the nationals in New

York City. “Our team watched [Associate Justice] Ruth Bader Ginsburg preside at the

nationals, which was a great experience,” she recalled. “I wouldn’t have been able to

take any of these trips without funding from the school.”

Kathleen describes her participation in internal and external competitions as

formative. “They helped me solidify my desire to go into litigation as a career,” she said.

“Arguing before moot court judges helped solidify me for what was ahead in practice.”

After graduation, Kathleen joined the Indianapolis firm Ice Miller. In January

2002, she and Ann founded DeLaney & DeLaney, one of the first mother-daughter firms

in the state. The firm’s litigation and appellate practice spans many areas, from indi

viduals and businesses to government entities, with a commitment to diversity in both

practice specialties and clients.

Ann pointed out that the Law School has been a big part of their family’s life. “In

addition to Kathleen, my son [Timothy, ’96], son-in-law [Jim Strenski, ’94], and grand

daughter [Emma Strenski, ’22] are all graduates or soon will be.” In fact, when Emma

walks across the Auditorium stage, it will be the first time that three generations of

women from the same family have received degrees from Indiana Law.

“My career would not be what it is today without the opportunities law school

afforded me,” Kathleen concluded. “Our gift is a way for my mother and me to pay back

the generosity and support others have shown to us.”

The Kathleen and Ann DeLaney Moot Court Room will be formally dedicated at an

event when the campus reopens for public gatherings.

REEDS GIFT LAW SCHOOL WITH SUBSTANTIAL UNRESTRICTED DONATION

In addition to the DeLaneys’ gift, the Law School received another significant contri

bution in the spring of 2020. Allen R. Reed, ’84, and his wife, Denise (Dede) Rippetoe-Reed, made a substantial estate gift for unrestricted use. Allen has spent his

career in the financial services industry, beginning with Lincoln National Corporation

in Fort Wayne, Ind., and ultimately moving to Charles Schwab & Co., Inc. in Chicago,

where he currently serves as director and corporate legal counsel in the corporate legal

services department. The Reeds met as undergraduates at the University of Illinois.

They live in Wadsworth, Ill., and enjoy riding horses in Illinois and Wisconsin during