Ashley is chair of the Global Privacy Group and leads the firm in relation to data protection, privacy, document retention, e-disclosure, and information security matters. Prior to his career as a lawyer, Ashley designed computers.

In the outsourcing arena he advises financial institutions and other multinational enterprises on the outsourcing of technology and business processes, including the establishment of electronic market places, e-commerce portals and negotiating Mobile Virtual Network Operator arrangements. He also advises companies in the public sector in relation to outsourcing and strategic partnerships.

His intellectual property related work involves advising companies on domain name and confidentiality issues as well as dealing with complex licensing issues, particularly those with an antitrust component. He also advises in relation to technology transfer, joint ventures, distribution structures and agency arrangements.

Ashley advises a number of UK and US headquartered multinationals on their export control compliance issues, particularly in relation to encryption technologies, and on the implementation of effective policies.

His clients include global financial institutions, global travel providers, leading computer and consumer goods manufacturers, one of the world’s largest electronic component distributors, as well as many other multinational corporations. He also advises medium sized corporates with particularly innovative products or services.

Ashley is recognised as an expert in his field by the Legal 500 Directory and Global Counsel and has been noted as a leading individual in the Chambers Guide to the Legal Profession.

He has been the European editor of the IFCLA Bulletin for ten years.

Ashley joined White & Case in 2006 from another major US firm. And has previously also been European General Counsel for a Fortune 500 company.

Examples of representations prior to joining White & Case include:

Outsourcing and Technology

• Advising a national police force on the outsourcing of fingerprint matching technology;
• Outsourcing of key business processes for the creation of the leading consumer travel portal;
• Advising on the implementation of email systems as part of the NPfIT; and
• Advising on the business process outsourcing for a leading electronics manufacturer.

Electronic Money

• Advising a niche electronic money provider on its UK implementation;
• Advising the market leading electronic wallet provider; and
• Advising a significant new entrant to the European market place with a full electronic money licence.

Encryption and Export Control

• Advising a number of technology vendors on their compliance with encryption regulation;
• Advising a mutlinational software vendor on export control compliance in relation to technology for the aerospace industry; and
• Advising a multinational provider to the oil industry in relation to export compliance for specialist equipment.

Data Protection, Privacy and Information Security

• Advising a leading financial institution on global data privacy compliance in relation to a number of their businesses;
• Advising a well known financial institution in relation to data privacy and information issues for their key products;
• Advising a leading global energy utility in relation to global compliance for a number of their businesses;
• Advising various multi-nationals on data privacy aspects of internal, government and regulatory investigations; and
• Advising a leading global provider of manufacturing services in relation to data privacy issues in connection with a business process outsourcing.