Akerman LLP, a top 100 U.S. law firm today announced labor and employment associate Ashlea Edwards has been elected by the Board of Governors of The Florida Bar Young Lawyers Division (YLD) as the YLD President-Elect Designate. She will be sworn in as President-Elect during The Florida Bar’s Annual Convention in Boca Raton, Florida on June 23, 2023 and she will begin her one-year term as YLD President in June 2024.
Edwards is the second Akerman attorney in the history of the YLD to be elected into this role. Jacksonville Office Managing Partner Christian George previously served as YLD President in 2018. Outside of Florida, litigation associate Brittanie Browning was installed as President-Elect of the Young Lawyers Division of the State Bar of Georgia in 2022 and will step into her role as YLD President in June for the 2023-2024 term.
As YLD President, Edwards will lead the statewide YLD Board of Governors in her representation of approximately 25,000 members under the age of 36 or practicing five years or less, regardless of age. She will preside over all regular meetings of the YLD, serve on The Florida Bar Board of Governors, and act as an advocate for Florida’s young lawyers to accomplish the goals of The Florida Bar.
Edwards has been a member of the YLD Board of Governors since 2017 and has served on its Executive Committee since 2020. During her time on the Board, Edwards also served as the Chair for Practicing with Professionalism, Engle, Affiliate Outreach Conference, and Annual Committees, among other positions. Edwards was honored for her leadership and service to the legal profession as one of the recipients of 2021 and 2022 President’s Awards from YLD Presidents and a 2022 President’s Award from The Florida Bar President.Edwards, who is based in Akerman's Jacksonville office, focuses her practice on employment litigation and counseling. She represents employers in a variety of matters, including harassment, discrimination, whistleblowing, employee leave and reasonable accommodations, wrongful termination, and retaliation. Her practice also focuses on defending clients before the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission, the U.S. Department of Labor, and other administrative agencies. As part of her counseling practice, Edwards provides a range of support to clients, including corporate governance counseling and investigations, policy interpretation and implementation, and reviewing and drafting of employment handbooks along with employment related agreements.
In addition, Edwards represents parties in commercial litigation disputes relating to, among other areas, contract formation and enforcement, construction defects, and fraudulent transfers. She has litigated throughout Florida in state, federal, and appellate courts and represents clients operating in a variety of sectors, including veterinary practices, nursing homes, and financial institutions.
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