Ashley Verdon practices in the area of professional liability defense, with an emphasis on complex matters involving accountants and attorneys. With her meticulous attention to detail, excellent legal research and writing skills, and substantial law and motion experience, much of Ashley’s practice focuses on written advocacy for her clients, both at the trial and appellate court levels. Her sharp analytical mind and ability to distill complex legal concepts into clear and concise compelling arguments have resulted in numerous favorable outcomes for her clients, including summary judgment, through the use of dispositive motion practice. 

Following her drafting of several successful anti-SLAPP (Strategic Lawsuits Against Public Participation) motions, Ashley contributed her in-depth understanding of California’s anti-SLAPP statute to the Uniform Law Commission’s anti-SLAPP drafting committee, participating for three years as an Observer to the drafting of model law intended to deter abusive lawsuits brought to silence the valid exercise of the constitutional rights of freedom of speech and petition. This model law, titled the Uniform Public Expression Protection Act (2020), has been enacted in multiple states across the country, with legislation pending in several more states.

Prior to joining the firm, Ashley was a partner at Chapman Glucksman, a full-service California litigation firm, where she represented professionals and businesses in complex civil matters. Her background includes handling general liability claims and participating in all phases of litigation including mediation and trial preparation.

Ashley earned her J.D., cum laude, from Pepperdine University School of Law, where she also received a Certificate in Dispute Resolution and was a member of the Pepperdine Law Review. She holds a B.A., cum laude, in communications with a minor in business from the University of Southern California.

Honors

  • Selected to Southern California Super Lawyers Rising Stars, 2014 – 2025

Professional & Civic Involvement

  • American Bar Association
  • Association of Southern California Defense Counsel

Practice Highlights

Representative Matters

  • Prevailed on a significant summary judgment motion in a California action involving claims of professional negligence, breach of fiduciary duty and fraud against the former accountants and business managers of a prominent screenwriter and television producer. The case was on appeal for almost two years following a dispositive demurrer in the clients’ favor, and was reversed based on a factual issue regarding application of the statute of limitations. Back before the trial court and no longer limited to the four corners of the operative complaint, a comprehensive and compelling motion for summary judgment demonstrated to the court that the statute of limitations applied, thus disposing of the action in its entirety.
  • Obtained a successful ruling on an anti-SLAPP motion, which disposed of a California malicious prosecution action against the attorney client, and ultimately resulted in a substantial attorneys’ fees award for all fees and costs incurred in connection therewith. The anti-SLAPP motion involved a highly complex statute of limitations defense subject to a split of California appellate authority and governed by new California Supreme Court case law published shortly before the filing of the reply brief.
  • Secured the dismissal of an accounting malpractice action following two successful demurrers based on a statute of limitations defense. While the plaintiff raised a tremendous argument based on the equitable tolling doctrine related to a companion State Board of Accountancy investigation, thorough and persuasive briefing convinced the court that equitable tolling did not apply to salvage the claims and that the matter was time-barred, as a matter of law.
  • Prevailed on an exceptionally complex anti-SLAPP motion in a California malicious prosecution action arising from a hotly contested underlying civil suit alleging twelve causes of action, including fraud, breach of contract and misappropriation. After securing a successful anti-SLAPP ruling striking the entire complaint against the attorney client, the trial court’s decision was appealed. Compelling briefing at the appellate court level ultimately persuaded the Court of Appeal to affirm the lower court’s decision.

Publications

Publications

  • “Employer liability expands into the wee hours,” Los Angeles Daily Journal, 2013
  • “International Travel with a ‘Digital Briefcase’: If Customs Officials Can Search a Laptop, Will the Right Against Self-Incrimination Contravene this Authority?” Pepperdine Law Review, 2009

Speaking Engagements

  • “Torpedo-Proof Your Motion for Summary Judgment,” Association of Southern California Defense Counsel Annual Seminar, 2019