Ashley was born and raised in Fort Erie, Ontario and is a proud graduate of Fort Erie Secondary School. After high school Ashley attended McMaster University and obtained an Honours Bachelor of Arts in Political Science with a minor in Anthropology. Ashley graduated from McMaster in 2004, Summa Cum Laude. Ashley thoroughly enjoyed her time in Hamilton and considers the city a second home.
After undergrad, Ashley attended the University of Windsor for law school where she developed a passion for social justice. Ashley graduated in 2007 and was called to the bar in 2008. After articling at Chown Cairns, Ashley accepted a position with David Hurren in her hometown of Fort Erie. In order to continue to grow her practice and expand her business, Ashley partnered with Anthony Reitboeck in January of 2020 to form the firm Gibson & Reitboeck LLP.
Ashley’s passion for social justice and equality along with her desire to succeed saw her starting out her career taking on many different areas of law, from real estate to family and criminal law. In 2012, Ashley was appointed as a panel member of the Office of the Children’s Lawyer and this caused her to focus her practice on family law. Ashley still maintains a busy solicitor practice and she is forever grateful to her staff for keeping her organized. Representing children and advocating for their rights in court is Ashley’s favourite part of law and she is passionate about children’s rights. Ashley’s practice, whether she is representing a child or a parent, is child focused. Ashley is a strong advocate for all her client’s and she excels in the courtroom while knowing when to stay out of it!
Ashley has experience in the Ontario Court of Justice, Superior Court of Justice, the Unified Family Court, Divisional Court and the Ontario Court of Appeal. Ashley approaches each and every case with common sense based and logic, often reminding her clients that it is not what she believes that matters, it is what she can prove. Ashley does not allow her clients to waste their time or money on senseless litigation, and as such she has become an accredited member of the Ontario Collaborative Law Federation.
Ashley works closely with family and financial professionals to bring all of her clients an expeditious resolution that causes the least amount of trauma to each and every family she serves. Ashley prides herself on her ability to come to amicable resolutions in an expeditious manner rather than commencing complicated and expensive litigation.
Ashley is currently the President of the Welland County Law Association and has been an executive member since 2008. Ashley also sits on the Superior Court of Justice Judicial Liaison Committee, after years of sitting on the Ontario Court of Justice bench bar committee where she liaises with other lawyers, judges and family law participants in order to streamline access to justice for all. In 2012 Ashley was named “Young Professional of the Year” by the Fort Erie Chamber of Commerce and in 2013 she was named one of the “Top 40 under 40” by The Business Link Media Group.
When Ashley is not in the court or board room, she can be found at the arena watching her children play hockey, or at the dance studio with her long time ballet friends, still learning from Miss Lorna! Ashley and her husband Mark, along with their two children, are all lifelong Fort Erie residents and are proud to call Fort Erie home. Ashley and Mark can often be found at the Golf Course, the beach, traveling the world, spending time with their ever-growing circle of friends and family, that is, when the hockey and dance schedule permit free time.
Memberships and Accolades
2008-2017: President of the Fort Erie Bar Association.
2008- present: Lincoln County Law Association.
2008- present: Welland County Law Association 2008- present. President from 2017- present.
2011: Greater Fort Erie Chamber of Commerce Young Professional of the Year.
2012-2014: Fort Erie Young Professionals.
2012-2019: Welland Ontario Court of Justice’s Bench Bar Committee.
2013: Business Link Media Group- Top 40 Under 40 Business Achievement Award.
2018-Present: Association of Family and Conciliation Courts.
2019 – Present: Collaborative Practice Niagara.
2020- Present: Welland Community Liaison and Resources Committee.
2020- Present: Superior Court of Justice Family Law Working Group.
January 2022- Present: Dispute Resolution Officer
2022- Planned and delivered presentation to the Fort Erie Junior B Meteors regarding sexual assault, harassment, pornography and consent.