Anthony J. Ashley

With over 30 years of experience, Anthony Ashley is widely recognized for his work in complex commercial litigation, employment law, and as outside general counsel to organizations across a variety of industries.

He represents a broad and diverse client base—from Fortune 100 companies to startups, as well as C-suite executives, company founders, and high-net-worth individuals—in high-stakes matters in U.S. federal and state courts, international courts and tribunals, and arbitration forums.

Tony is known for helping clients navigate sensitive executive transitions and complex business disputes, particularly those involving restrictive covenants, trade secrets, unfair competition, and shareholder conflicts. He regularly litigates and tries matters involving breach of contract, defamation, minority shareholder oppression, civil conspiracy, and product liability. Clients also turn to him for practical, business-focused counsel during critical transitions such as hiring, separation, investment, and acquisition. As a founding member and Co-Chair of the firm’s Restrictive Covenants & Trade Secrets subgroup, Tony has deep experience prosecuting and defending against temporary restraining orders and preliminary injunctions, including in cross-border matters.

While he prides himself on his ability to achieve strategic business resolutions to most commercial and employment disputes, Tony is equally skilled at trial work. He has tried numerous cases to verdict in courtrooms and arbitration forums across the country and internationally, consistently securing favorable outcomes. He has appeared or argued before the Illinois Appellate and Supreme Courts, the Fifth, Seventh, and Tenth Circuit Courts of Appeals, and is licensed to practice before the United States Supreme Court.

In addition to his litigation practice, Tony serves as outside general counsel to several high-growth companies in industries such as logistics, transportation, and software. He advises on matters including private equity investment, acquisition and divestiture, corporate structure, employment, intellectual property, contract negotiation, and dispute resolution. Several clients he has supported have achieved billion-dollar valuations or exits. Tony also frequently advises employers and executives on transitioning between competitors, hiring protocols, and strategies for avoiding or invalidating restrictive covenants. He has extensive experience negotiating executive employment and separation agreements and protecting key business assets, from trade secrets to customer relationships.

Tony also serves on Vedder's Associate Management Committee, helping shape the development of the firm’s next generation of legal talent.

Experience

Restrictive Covenants, Trade Secrets, and Executive Mobility

• Represented a high-ranking executive of Canadian National Railway in a bench trial resulting in the invalidation of restrictive covenants, allowing him to accept a senior role with Canadian Pacific Railway.
  Tracy Miller v. Canadian National Railway Corporation, et al., 19-CH-3259 (Cook County, IL 2021)
• Served as lead U.S. trial counsel in the Royal Courts of Justice in London and obtained a declaratory judgment invalidating restrictive covenants that prevented a senior Black & Decker executive from joining Ryobi Technologies.
  Duarte v. Black & Decker Corporation, 2007 EHWC 2720 (QB)
• Obtained a seven-year injunction against a former executive and a five-year worldwide injunction against a Chinese manufacturer in a major trade secrets case on behalf of consumer products manufacturer GLJ, LLC.
  GLJ, LLC v. Yung Chen et al., 08-CH-29453 (Cook County, IL 2007)
• Successfully defended the former CTO of American Backhaulers against claims he violated post-acquisition restrictive covenants after the company’s sale to C.H. Robinson.
  Jeffrey Silver v. C.H. Robinson, Inc., 06-cv-2070 (N.D. IL 2007)

Employment, Privacy, and Business Torts

• Obtained dismissal of a $110 million defamation suit brought against a political action committee by a former Illinois judicial candidate. The decision was affirmed by the Illinois Appellate and Supreme Courts.
  Maag v. Illinois Coalition for Jobs, Prosperity, and Growth, 368 Ill. App. 3d 844 (2006)
• Achieved voluntary dismissal of a putative class action under the Illinois Genetic Information Privacy Act brought against Canadian Pacific Railway.
  Meeks v. Soo Line Railroad Company, 23-CH-08763 (Cook County, IL 2023)
• Obtained favorable resolution of a multimillion-dollar employment dispute brought by the former President of Leor Energy, L.P., with dismissal affirmed by the Fifth Circuit.
  Sullivan v. Leor Energy LLC, 600 F.3d 542 (5th Cir. 2010)

Minority Shareholder Oppression

• Represented a minority shareholder of a privately held food company in a shareholder oppression case that resulted in a favorable confidential settlement.
  Kevin J. Van Eekeren v. Land O’Frost, Inc., 19 CH 06507 (Cook County, IL 2019)
• Obtained a pre-suit settlement exceeding $5 million in a shareholder oppression matter on behalf of minority shareholders of a privately held bread company.