Ashley L. Orler

Overview

Ashley guides employers through the evolving workplace landscape with a focus on long-term solutions and practical risk management.

She works closely with businesses to align workplace strategies with compliance goals, culture, and operational priorities. Ashley partners with clients on a wide range of employment matters, fostering strong relationships to better support workforce and business objectives.

She regularly advises employers across industries on issues such as onboarding and terminations, employment contracts and handbooks, drug testing and background checks, wage and hour compliance, employee classifications, and leave management. Ashley conducts internal investigations involving harassment, discrimination, retaliation, leave practices, and pay equity. She also provides customized in-person and virtual training on sexual harassment prevention, documentation practices, discrimination awareness, and substance use in the workplace. With increasing interest in workplace applications of artificial intelligence, Ashley helps employers navigate legal considerations tied to emerging technologies, including hiring tools, monitoring systems, and algorithmic decision-making.

Ashley’s litigation experience includes representing employers in state and federal courts, agency proceedings, governmental audits, and arbitration. She has defended both individual and class or collective actions involving harassment, discrimination, retaliation, Equal Pay Act claims, and wage and hour disputes.

Ashley also counsels clients on protecting business interests through restrictive covenants, including non-disclosure, non-compete, and non-solicitation agreements. She advises employers on compliance with the Illinois Biometric Information Privacy Act (BIPA) and defends against BIPA-related litigation. In addition, she has worked with employers to assess how changes in cannabis laws affect workplace policies and practices.

Honors & Recognition

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

About Me

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.