Ashley
Amell
Associate
“Clients come to us with sensitive, high-stakes matters requiring not only legal skill, but discretion, care, and sound judgment. I approach each case with close attention to detail, strategic clarity, and a deep sense of responsibility – I care deeply about our clients and the outcomes that impact their lives.”
Education
- Pepperdine Caruso School of Law, J.D.
- University of California, Santa Barbara, B.A. Economics
Admissions
- California
- U.S.D.C. Central District of California
- U.S.D.C. Northern District of California
- U.S.D.C. Southern District of California
Ashley’s practice primarily centers on white-collar criminal defense, government and internal investigations, regulatory enforcement matters, and complex civil litigation in both federal and state courts.
She has represented clients in high-stakes matters involving the Department of Justice (DOJ), Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC), Commodity Futures Trading Commission (CFTC), and Federal Trade Commission (FTC), and she regularly advises whistleblowers in qui tam and retaliation actions under the False Claims Act and Dodd-Frank Act.
Ashley has gained broad courtroom experience, including second-chairing trials in criminal, civil, and administrative proceedings. She handles all aspects of litigation – from conducting internal investigations and developing strategic defenses to engaging in motion practice, preparing for trial, and trial advocacy. Her work often involves navigating sensitive government inquiries and complex regulatory issues.
Prior to joining Larson, Ashley was an associate at a boutique white-collar criminal defense and litigation firm in Los Angeles. She previously clerked at multiple divisions within the DOJ, including the Public Integrity Section (PIN), the Office of Information Policy (OIP), and at the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the District of Columbia. In these roles, she contributed to matters involving public corruption, FOIA litigation, and violent crime prosecutions.
Ashley earned her J.D. from Pepperdine Caruso School of Law, where she was an Associate Editor of the Pepperdine Law Review, served as a teaching assistant for first-year law students in Legal Research and Writing, and appeared in court as a court-certified student attorney with the Restoration and Justice Clinic. She remains active in the legal community and serves as a preceptor to law students. Prior to law school, Ashley gained additional government experience as a legislative intern in the United States Senate.
Higher Education Honors and Achievements
- Pepperdine Law Review, Associate Editor
- Pepperdine Caruso School of Law Dean’s Merit Scholar
- UCSB College of Letters and Science Honors Program
Education
- Pepperdine Caruso School of Law, J.D.
- University of California, Santa Barbara, B.A. Economics
Admissions
- California
- U.S.D.C. Central District of California
- U.S.D.C. Northern District of California
- U.S.D.C. Southern District of California
- Achieved a full dismissal at jury trial on behalf of the inventor of a payment ring technology, who was accused of fraudulently assigning a patent in a case alleging $30 million in damages.
- Represented a client in an SEC inquiry concerning alleged securities violations related to cryptocurrency; the investigation concluded with no enforcement action taken or referrals made.
- Represented a high-ranking federal law enforcement official in a whistleblower retaliation case resulting in one of the highest compensatory damages awards issued against a federal law enforcement agency.
- Successfully opposed discovery requests under 28 U.S.C. § 1782 (foreign discovery), securing denial of the requests and dismissal on appeal following the magistrate judge’s report and recommendation.
- Advised and represented multiple SEC whistleblower clients, including on a matter that resulted in one of the SEC’s most significant recoveries under the Whistleblower Program.
- Represented a company under investigation by the U.S. Attorney’s Office in connection with a qui tam complaint alleging misappropriation of PPP funds. Following representation, the U.S. Attorney’s Office declined prosecution, and the case was ultimately dismissed by the court pursuant to a motion to dismiss after the relator continued to pursue litigation.
- Represented clients in California Air Resources Board (CARB) investigations involving allegations of improper equipment use and sales of equipment exceeding state emissions standards, achieving favorable settlements.
- Defended a ship engineer in the U.S. District Court for the Southern District of California in a criminal prosecution related to alleged vessel record-keeping violations.
- Advised a California university on a cybersecurity incident involving unauthorized access to an SQL database containing student information.
Ashley's
Associations
- Women’s White Collar Defense Association, Member
- Women Lawyers Association of Los Angeles, Member