Fred Ashley, Esq.
Fred Ashley is an attorney with over 25 years of experience
representing both plaintiffs and defendants in complex business and
employment litigation. He possesses a national reputation as an expert
on the substantive law and in the field of alternative dispute
resolution. Having practiced as a mediator and arbitrator since 1993,
Mr. Ashley is widely recognized for his skill in bringing difficult
matters to resolution.
He has been designated a “Super Lawyer” and listed among the top ADR
practitioners in Southern California by the Los Angeles Magazine for the
past three years (2005, 2006, 2007). He has also been named a “Diplomat
Member” of the California Academy of Distinguished Neutrals, listed in
the Bar Register of Preeminent Lawyers (2007), and provided
Martindale-Hubbell’s highest rating (“AV”) for his legal ability and
ethical standards.
Mr. Ashley has the knowledge, tenacity, and interpersonal skills to
bring even the most acrimonious dispute to resolution. He also has the
ability to effectively manage mediations involving multiple parties with
divergent interests.
AREAS OF EXPERTISE
• Employment: Including class actions, wage & hour, FLSA/Labor Code
violations, overtime, meal and rest periods, discrimination, harassment,
retaliation, wrongful termination, invasion of privacy, defamation, and
intentional/negligent infliction of emotional distress
• Commercial Contract/General Business: Including breach of
contract/warranties, bad faith, partnership dissolution,
franchisor/franchisee disputes, intellectual property, trade name/mark
infringement, anti-trust, price fixing, unfair business practices,
fraud/deceit, defamation, interference with contractual relations and
lending practices
• Personal Injury: Including negligence, intentional torts, assault and
battery, product liability, and mass torts
• Construction: Including breach of contract, construction defect,
architecture, insurance, case management orders, and mechanic’s liens
• Professional Liability: Including legal, medical, broker, accounting,
and architectural malpractice
• Insurance Coverage and Bad Faith: Including scope of policy, failure
to tender payment, refusal to defend or indemnify, and bad faith
practices
• Real Property: Including breach of contract, specific performance,
quiet title, adverse possession, fraudulent conveyance, failure to
disclose, division of property, boundary disputes, easements, water
rights, lateral and subjacent support, liquidated damages, commission
disputes, and RESPA violations
• Civil Rights: Including Section 1983 claims, police abuse, unlawful
search and seizure, false arrest, discrimination, ADA violations, and
failure to accommodate
• Class Actions: Including wage & hour, discrimination, anti-trust,
consumer fraud, product liability, and mass torts
MEDIATOR/ARBITRATOR EXPERIENCE
1993-Present – Engaged as a mediator and arbitrator in the resolution of
complex business and employment disputes.
Present or Former Panel Member: American Arbitration Association
(“AAA”); California Academy of Distinguished Neutrals; United States
District Court for the Central District of California – Settlement
Officer Panel; San Diego County Superior Court Civil Mediation Panel.
LEGAL EXPERIENCE
Ashley Mediation Centers (2005-07)
Law Offices of Fred T. Ashley (1987-2004)
Paul, Hastings, Janofsky & Walker LLP (1983-87)
Ashley & Honn (1982-83)
Hill, Farrer & Burrill (1978-82)
EDUCATION
University of California at Santa Barbara (B.A. 1972)
University of California at Los Angeles (M.P.A. 1975)
Loyola Law School (J.D., cum laude, 1978)
ADR TRAINING
Pepperdine University School of Law – Straus Institute for Dispute
Resolution (“Straus Institute”) – “Mediating Complex Construction
Disputes” (2007)
Influence at Work – Principles of Persuasion (2006)
National Conflict Resolution Center – Advanced Mediator Training Seminar
(2006)
JAMS/Endispute – Advanced Mediation Training (1997)
Straus Institute – “Mediating the Litigated Case” (1996)
AAA Mediator Training (1995)
AAA Employment Arbitrator Training (1995)
AAA Arbitrator Training (1995)
On-going ADR education
CURRENT AFFILIATIONS
State Bar of California – Labor & Employment Law Section
Orange County Bar Association (“OCBA”) – Labor & Employment law,
Business Litigation, and ADR Sections
San Diego County Bar Association (“SDCBA”) – Business & Corporate Law,
Labor & Employment Law, and Small Firm Sections
Southern California Mediation Association (“SCMA”)
California Employment Lawyers Association (“CELA”)
California Academy of Distinguished Neutrals
SPEAKING EXPERIENCE
Frequent speaker on substantive legal and ADR topics at seminars
conducted by the State Bar of California, the Continuing Education of
the Bar (“CEB”), the Los Angeles County Bar Association (“LACBA”), the
OCBA, the William P. Grey Inn of Court, Cornell University, Pepperdine
University, the AAA, Lorman, the Continuing Education in Management
Council (“CEM”), the Employer Advisory Council (“EAC”), the CELA, and
the SCMA.
ACADEMIC EXPERIENCE
Adjunct Professor, California State University, Fullerton (Courses:
“Business Law” and “Collective Bargaining and Labor Relations”).
HONORS & WRITINGS
Designated a “Diplomat Member” of the California Academy of
Distinguished Neutrals; Author of various published articles on
substantive legal and ADR topics; Contributing Editor: “Employment Law
Practice Guide,” Rutter Group (2002, 2003, 2005, 2006).
PROFESSIONAL RATING
Designated a “Super Lawyer” and listed among the top ADR practitioners
in Southern California by the Los Angeles Magazine (2005, 2006, 2007).
Listed in the Bar Register of Preeminent Lawyers (2007)
Highest rating for ethics and professional competence (“AV”) by
Martindale-Hubbell
LEADERSHIP POSITIONS
OCBA – ADR Section (Chair Elect – effective 2008); SCMA – Labor &
Employment Law Section (Co-Chair – 1997-98); Fair Housing Council of
Orange County (Director – 1997-98); CELA (Chair – 1993-95); OCBA – Labor
& Employment Law Section (Chair – 1990).
This page was last modified in March 2008
Disclaimer: Please be advised that the contents of this web site and any other statements contained herein are for informational purposes only and are not intended to be represented as legal advice in any way.