Ashley D. Adams

Founder and principal of Adams & Associates, Ashley D. Adams, PLC is a former prosecutor with the United States Attorney’s Office with over 30 years experience.

Ms. Adams specializes in white collar criminal defense cases, representing corporate and individual clients in federal and state criminal trials, investigations, health care qui tam cases, and regulatory and administrative matters.  Ms. Adams is a former United States Assistant Attorney, and a former partner of the law firms of The Phoenix Law Group, and O’Connor Cavanagh.  She received her J.D. from Arizona State University in 1991 and her undergraduate degree from the University of Oklahoma in 1988.  Ms. Adams currently serves as the American Bar Association’s co-chair for the Southwest Region’s Subcommittee on White Collar Crime, and is a member of the ABA’s Heath Care Fraud Subcommittee.  She also has been selected as one of “Arizona’s Best Lawyers” and “Southwest’s Super Lawyers” Since 2010.  Ms. Adams was recently selected to be a member of “Arizona’s Finest Lawyers”, and by National Trial Lawyers as one of the “Top 100” in Criminal Defense.

Affiliations & Awards

  • Named as Top 25 Female Attorneys in Arizona by Southwest Super Lawyers in 2021
  • Southwest Super Lawyers, White Collar Criminal Defense and Criminal Defense, 2011-present
  • Best Lawyers, White Collar Criminal Defense, 2010 through the present
  • Fellow, American Bar Association
  • Named Top 100 Trial Lawyers in Arizona
  • Arizona Finest Lawyers, Member of Board of Trustees
  • National Academy of Criminal Defense Attorneys, Nationally Ranked Top Ten Attorney
  • Women’s White Collar Defense Association, Secretary, Phoenix Chapter
  • Co-Chair, American Bar Association Southwest Region White Collar Crime Committee, 2009-present
  • Northeast Valley Top Criminal Defense Attorney
  • Cambridge’s Who’s Who 2010-present
  • Arizona Attorneys for Criminal Justice Legislation Committee Member
  • State Bar of Arizona, Judicial Review Committee
  • Adjunct Professor at Sandra Day O’Connor College of Law
  • Criminal Justice Act Panel Member-representing indigent defendants
  • Columnist, So Scottsdale
  • Columnist, Scottsdale Health
  • University of Oklahoma Alumni Association
  • Fiesta Bowl Committee Member and Coach 2002-2009
  • Fiesta Bowl, Rookie of the Year Award, 2002
  • Head Soccer Coach for Scottsdale Soccer Youth Association-2010-2014
  • Founder of “Maddie’s Daddy” Charitable Foundation

Prior Work Experience

  • RYAN RAPP & UNDERWOOD, Phoenix, AZ, Partner, July 2007-August of 2009.
    Practiced in the areas of white collar criminal defense, governmental investigations, quasi-governmental investigations, administrative securities matters, corporate internal investigations, and complex civil litigation. Obtained a large verdict following a jury trial in a discrimination case which arose out of the clients’ dispute with their Home Owner’s Association.
  • THE PHOENIX LAW GROUP OF FELDMAN, BROWN, WALA, HALL & AGENA, Phoenix, AZ. Member, February 2005 to July of 2007
    Practiced in the areas of white collar criminal defense, governmental investigations, quasi-governmental investigations (BOMEX and nursing board), administrative securities matter, corporate internal investigations, and complex civil litigation.
  • UNITED STATES ATTORNEY’S OFFICE, Phoenix, AZ. Assistant United States Attorney, June 1999 – January 2005
    Prosecuted False Claims Act matters including health care and defense procurement fraud and well as fee fraud in National Parks and Forests. Obtained the largest recorded settlement for the District of Arizona against Boeing/McDonnell Douglas in a False Claim Act case. Prosecuted white collar crime matters including tax evasion and tax fraud, investment fraud, and securities fraud. First chaired two complex criminal health care fraud trials.
  • O’CONNOR, CAVANAGH, ANDERSON, KILLINGSWORTH & BESHEARS, Phoenix, AZ. Member, December 1996 – June 1999; Associate, September 1991 – December 1996
    Practiced in the area of insurance defense, commercial litigation, and Indian law litigation.

Education

J.D., Sandra Day O’Connor School of Law, Arizona State University, 1991

  • Outstanding Graduation Oral Advocate
  • Best Brief, Best Oral Advocate, Best Overall Advocate – Canby Competition
  • Winner of Jenckes Cup Closing Argument Competition
  • Winner of Trial Advocacy Competition
  • Represented ASU in Regional Competition
  • Member of ASU National Moot Court Team/Winner of Regional Competition
  • Order of the Barristers
  • Executive Moot Court Board Chairperson-1990-1991

B.A., University of Oklahoma, 1988

  • G.P.A. 4.0
  • Phi Beta Kappa
  • Outstanding Senior in The College of Arts and Sciences
  • Golden Key Honor Society Outstanding Senior
  • Dean Bass Memorial Scholarship
  • Scholarship Chairperson and Treasurer of Delta Delta Delta Sorority