PROFESSIONAL EXPERIENCE

Ms. Ashton is a shareholder with the firm. Her practice areas include: business law, franchise law, contracts, estate planning, and other related fields of law. Since 2018, Ms. Ashton has been named as one of Utah’s Legal Elite. Ms. Ashton enjoys offering first class legal guidance with a business perspective. She works directly with entrepreneurs to prepare the legal framework on which their business ideas and concepts can grow and thrive. She has had the opportunity to plan, design and implement dozens of franchise and other distribution/license programs, working directly with the clients to ensure their legal documents reflect their vision.

EDUCATION

Ms. Ashton received her Juris Doctor degree from the University of Kentucky College of Law in Lexington, Kentucky. During law school she was awarded the Provost Fellowship and received the Cali Award for Excellence in Trusts and Estates. Prior to attending law school, she was awarded a Presidential Scholarship from the University of Utah and graduated with a Bachelor of Arts in History.

PRESENTATIONS AND PAPERS

November 2019: “Copyright Law” BYU Illustration Program, Professional Practices Class, Provo, UT – Presenter
November 2019: “Estate Administration Procedures: Being Thorough to Close the Estate Without a Hitch” National Business Institute Seminars, Salt Lake City, UT – Paper and Presenter
June 2019: “Business Contracts in 10 Simple Steps” National Business Institute Seminars, Salt Lake City, UT – Paper and Presenter
April 2019: “Handling the Sale of a Business” National Business Institute Seminars, Salt Lake City, UT
June 2018: “Probate: Everything You Need to Know” National Business Institute Seminars, Salt Lake City, UT
May 2018: “Typical Contracts and Legalities of a Business” and “Dos and Don’ts of Employment” SCORE Small Business Conference, Salt Lake City, UT
April 2018: “Boilerplate Clauses in Commercial Contracts: Avoiding Unintended Consequences, Implementing Practical Solutions” Strafford Webinars
March 2018: “Model Your Business After a Franchise, Setup Systems and SOPs” SCORE Workshop, Salt Lake City, UT
February 2018: “Franchise Like a Boss” E Simplified Training Series, Provo, UT
January 2018: “Legal Update: Review of ABA Forum on Franchising” Utah State Bar, Franchise Section, Salt Lake City, UT
January 2018: “Contract Drafting Fundamentals” Strafford Webinars
April 2017: “Legal Eagles-When Do You Need Legal Advice to Start & Grow Your Business?” The Women’s Entrepreneurial Conf., Holladay, UT
April 2017: “To Franchise or License…” Business on Tap, SLC, UT
February 2017: “Practice in a Flash: Contract Drafting Tips and Negotiations.” Utah State Bar, Young Lawyers Division, SLC, UT
February 2017: “Forum on Franchising Recap: Structuring Shared Services and Affiliation Programs” Utah State Bar, Franchise Section, SLC, UT
December 2015: “Legal Needs of a New Business.” SCORE, Salt Lake City, UT
October 2015: “Non-Compete, Non-Disclosure, Non-Solicitation Agreements…Say What?…And Why?…And When? Women’s Networking Group, P.O.W.E.R., SLC, UT
June 2015: “IFA Update.” Utah State Bar, Franchise Section, SLC, UT
February 2014: “Lessons Learned -Case Study: New Franchisor vs. Unsophisticated Franchisees.” Utah State Bar, Franchise Section, SLC, UT
March 2011: “Business Growth Strategies: A Practical Guide to Advising Clients.” Utah Bar Spring Convention, St. George, UT
September 2010: “The Changing Face of Franchising: Alternatives and Surprising Trends.” Utah State Bar, Franchise Section, SLC, UT
November 2009: “Annual Update: ABA Forum on Franchising.” Utah State Bar, Franchise Section. SLC, UT
February 2008: “Essentials of Drafting Effective and Compliant Distributor Agreements.” Utah Bar Spring Convention. St. George, UT

PUBLICATIONS

2016: Co-Author, “The Laws of Franchising.” Utah Business Law for Entrepreneurs and Managers, Chapter 21
Summer 2014: “How Counsel Can Help Emerging Systems Thrive.” The Franchise Lawyer, Volume 17, No. 3.
September 2011 : “Disasters: Are you Prepared Personally and Professionally?” The Utah Bar Journal, Volume 24, No. 5.
February 2008: “Essentials of Drafting Effective and Compliant Distributor Agreements.” Utah Bar Spring Convention. St. George, UT

LEADERSHIP, AFFILIATIONS, AWARDS

2018- 2020: Utah Legal Elite – Top Lawyers in Utah, Estate Planning, Corporate Law
2017: Present Committee Member, Business Section Legislative Committee – Utah State Bar, Salt Lake City, UT
2016 – 2019: Member, Junior League of Salt Lake, MMS Committee – Salt Lake City, UT
2015: Committee of the Year, Utah Bar – Disaster Legal Response Committee, Co-Chair
2013 – 2017: Financial Officer for Room to Read – Salt Lake/Wasatch Chapter, Salt Lake City, UT
2010 – 2016: Co-Chair, Disaster Legal Response Committee – Utah State Bar, Salt Lake City, UT
2012 – 2015: Steering Committee Member, Women’s Caucus Forum on Franchising – American Bar Association, National Association
2010 – 2011: Chair, Franchise Section – Utah State Bar, Salt Lake City, UT
2009 – 2010: Vice-Chair, Franchise Section – Utah State Bar, Salt Lake City, UT