A former computer designer, Ashley is a fintech and privacy Partner within the Data Group of the Firm's Innovation Department. He advises on financial regulation, encryption and export control, data protection, privacy and cyber security matters with an emphasis on Blockchain, virtual currencies, and payment systems.
He advises extensively on the impact of privacy and information security law on cloud services, financial technology, telecommunications and international data transfers and has a particular focus on the intersection of competing laws, which can occur in the context of lawful interception of data, corporate investigations, government investigations or international litigation.
For many years Ashley has advised the online behavioral advertising industry in Europe and has represented that industry in relation to its dealings with the European Commission, the Article 29 Working Party, the European Parliament and various national governments.
Ashley is a Ponemon Institute Fellow and for many years has been the Chairman of the Data Protection Forum, the largest independent data protection group in the UK. He regularly speaks at industry and academic conferences.