Ashley L. Orler

Ashley partners with businesses to bring the best out of their workforce, applying a pragmatic approach to employment counseling in hopes of reducing risk to the organization. When counseling employers, she believes in establishing long-term relationships with her clients to fully understand the culture and goals of the business.

On a daily basis, Ashley fields questions from clients across industries on issues like drafting employment contracts, policies and handbooks; onboarding and terminations; background checks and drug testing; employee classifications and leave requirements; and wage and hour issues. She has experience in internal investigations involving current and former employees related to harassment, discrimination, retaliation, leave practices, and compensation. Further, Ashley enjoys providing in-person and virtual trainings to managers and employees on sexual harassment prevention, anti-discrimination, proper documentation of performance issues, and substance abuse concerns. As the country’s cannabis laws change rapidly, Ashley has worked with employers to understand how these changes impact their workers.

Ashley also has extensive litigation experience involving both single plaintiff or class and collective actions, representing clients in agency forums, governmental audits, arbitrations, and state and federal courts. She has defended employers against harassment, discrimination, and retaliation claims; allegations of Equal Pay Act violations; and wage and hour disputes.

Through her counseling and litigation experience, Ashley assists businesses in protecting their trade secrets by drafting and enforcing restrictive covenants, including non-disclosure, non-compete and non-solicit agreements. She also helps clients navigate the Illinois Biometric Privacy Act (“BIPA”) by advising on compliance with BIPA and defending against BIPA-related lawsuits.

• Illinois Leading Lawyers, Emerging Lawyer (2017-2021)
• Illinois Super Lawyers Rising Star^® (2012, 2018)
• Illinois Super Lawyers^® (2022-2025)
• Leading Lawyer, Leading Lawyers Magazine (2025)

• American Bar Association, Labor and Employment Law Section
• Federal Bar Association, Labor and Employment Law Section
• Illinois State Bar Association, Labor and Employment Law Section
• Chicago Bar Association, Labor and Employment Law Section
• Trusted Advisors Council

As a Michigan transplant, Ashley roots for her Wolverines and Detroit sports teams. She enjoys cooking, visiting new restaurants in Chicago, and spending time at the city’s dog parks with her chihuahua, Arlo.