June 3, 2025
JACKSONVILLE, Fla. – GrayRobinson is pleased to announce Ashlea Edwards, a GrayRobinson alumnus, recently named 2025 Woman Lawyer of the Year by the Jacksonville Women Lawyers Association (JWLA) and currently serving as the president of The Florida Bar Young Lawyers Division (YLD), has rejoined the firm as shareholder in its Labor and Employment practice. Based in the Jacksonville office, Edwards focuses on labor and employment litigation, due diligence, and compliance counseling, while also representing clients in complex commercial litigation across industries, such as health care and financial services.
“We are thrilled to welcome back Ashlea Edwards to GrayRobinson,” said GrayRobinson General Counsel and Labor and Employment Deputy Section Chair Stephanie Marchman. “I’ve had the honor of working with Ashlea on The Florida Bar Board of Governors. She brings genuine heart to everything she does. Whether supporting a client day-to-day or offering guidance periodically, Ashlea achieves strong outcomes and builds lasting relationships.”
Edwards’ practice is built on a diverse legal foundation shaped by both domestic and international experience. She represents employers in labor matters, such as wrongful termination, harassment, discrimination, retaliation, while also defending clients in proceedings before the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission, the U.S. Department of Labor, and other administrative bodies. In her advisory role, she provides day-to-day guidance on corporate governance, due diligence in corporate transactions, internal investigations, policy development, and enforcement, and drafting and reviewing employment handbooks and agreements.
Early in her career, Edwards served as a judicial intern for the U.S. District Court for the Middle District of Florida, completed an internship at the World Health Organization in Geneva, Switzerland, and worked as a senior paralegal in complex litigation. These experiences helped shape her rigorous preparation, practical counsel, and consistent communication style, as well as instill a core belief that professionalism and kindness are not mutually exclusive, but essential to strong advocacy and lasting impact—an approach she brings to every case with deep responsibility.
“I am excited to rejoin GrayRobinson in what feels like a homecoming,” said Edwards. “I look forward to bringing my passion and experience in labor and employment to an already established superstar team to support Florida employers in every way.”
Edwards earned her Juris Doctor from the Florida Coastal School of Law. She also holds dual undergraduate degrees in Psychology and Spanish and a paralegal certificate in continuing education from Louisiana State University (LSU). Edwards is licensed to practice in Florida and the District of Columbia. For eight years, she has served on The Florida Bar Young Lawyers Division and is currently the president, representing 23,000 young lawyers in the state of Florida. In addition to recently being honored as the JWLA 2025 Woman Lawyer of the Year, Edwards has been named a Florida Super Lawyers, Rising Star Honoree (2019-2025); appeared on the 40 Under 40 lists by both the News Service of Florida (2024) and Jacksonville Business Journal (2023); and was selected by Best Lawyers®, Ones to Watch in America™ (2021-2025): Labor and Employment Law-Management and Litigation-Labor and Employment.
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About GrayRobinson
GrayRobinson is a multidimensional team of attorneys, advisors, and consultants recognized as one of the most influential firms in Florida. Its nearly 300 professionals partner with successful businesses and enterprising individuals to resolve disputes, anticipate industry shifts and harness forward momentum. The firm serves clients nationally from 16 offices across Florida and Washington, D.C. Learn more at Gray-Robinson.com.
CONTACT
Kristen Bridges, kristen.bridges@gray-robinson.com, 850.545.1917
Malissa Sitter, malissa.sitter@gray-robinson.com, 407.484.8338