Attorney
Ashley's Bio
Ashley Spear is a transactional attorney licensed to practice in Arizona, with a national practice focused on advising nonprofit and mission-driven organizations. She earned her Bachelor of Arts in International Relations from Loyola University Chicago and her Juris Doctor from Rutgers University School of Law. She is also a certified tax preparer.
Ashley counsels clients on a wide range of complex legal matters, including tax-exempt bond financing, corporate restructuring, real estate transactions, governance and compliance, and contract negotiation.She has significant experience helping nonprofit organizations achieve long-term financial stability through tax-exempt bonds and other financing mechanisms. She has successfully closed more than $400 million in tax-exempt bond financings, enabling organizations to reduce or stabilize debt service and better align their financial structures with their missions. In addition, Ashley advises clients on trademark filings and brand protection, helping organizations secure and maintain their intellectual property as they grow and evolve.
Her approach is collaborative, practical, and solutions-oriented—guiding nonprofit leaders through legal complexity with clarity so they can remain focused on impact.
Prior to entering private practice in the nonprofit sector, Ashley began her legal career as in-house counsel for a national educational organization. In that role, she advised on tax-exempt bond financing, board governance, policy and compliance matters, financial and real estate due diligence, and legal disputes.
Ashley has long been passionate about service and supporting organizations that build stronger, more equitable communities. As an undergraduate, she interned with the Independent Voters of Illinois and served as Panhellenic Delegate for Alpha Chi Omega, where she helped organize and sponsor philanthropic initiatives raising funds and awareness to end domestic violence. Her studies at Universidad de Alicante and the John Felice Rome Center sparked a lifelong love of travel. During law school, Ashley furthered her commitment to service by interning with the Rutgers Domestic Violence Clinic, supporting underserved individuals seeking protection and justice in abuse-related matters.
Outside of her legal practice, Ashley enjoys golfing, staying active through aqua aerobics, and spending time with her two dogs, Frankie and Charlie.
Member, State Bar of Arizona
Coming Soon
Member, Tax Law Section, Intellectual Property Section, American Bar Association
Former Member of the Board of Directors, Hirsch Academy: A Challenge Foundation Academy
I have a lifelong love of learning, particularly learning that expands perspective and challenges how we see the world. Art has always been one of my greatest teachers. In museums, I am reminded that beauty, joy, laughter, and sorrow can coexist in balance and without contradiction. Each emotion carries meaning, and together, they tell fuller, more honest stories about humanity. Of all the museums I’ve visited, the Prado in Madrid stands out most for its ability to tell powerful stories across generations; stories of struggle, resilience, and truth that demand both reflection and action.
That pursuit of perspective shapes both my values and my work. Just as art teaches us to hold complexity – to recognize that different experiences, histories, and burdens can exist at the same time – equity requires the same awareness. Fairness cannot be achieved by overlooking those differences. I am a proud feminist and a committed supporter of women-led organizations because equity begins with visibility, voice, and leadership. This belief is one of the reasons I joined Tovella Dowling, a firm that lives its values by empowering women and creating space for them to lead.
Advancing equity has never been abstract to me. When my high school did not offer a women’s golf team, I learned firsthand that opportunity does not simply appear, but it must be created. Rather than accept that absence, I organized, petitioned, and helped re-establish the school’s ladies’ team. That experience taught me an early and enduring lesson: equity is built by those willing to speak up, take initiative, and challenge systems that overlook inclusion.
My “why” flows from that lesson. I am motivated by work that pairs learning with action and perspective with advocacy. As an attorney, I strive to help organizations navigate complexity, remove barriers, and build durable structures that allow their missions to endure. I believe meaningful change – like enduring art – is intentional, thoughtful, and designed to last.