Ashley Kuempel
Biography
Ashley Kuempel is a partner in Norton Rose Fulbright’s Austin office and a member of the firm's regulations, investigations, securities and compliance group.
Her practice focuses on white collar criminal defense, internal corporate investigations and related civil litigation. As a part of that practice, she regularly represents companies and individuals in investigations involving allegations of bribery, securities fraud, healthcare fraud, money laundering, insider trading and other civil, criminal and regulatory matters.
Given her focus on complex, international matters, Ashley has rare insight into the unique dynamics of cross-border, multi-jurisdictional government investigations, including the importance of collaborating with attorneys across geographies to establish a strategic and coordinated response to regulators both in the United States and abroad. She is known for her success in comprehensively assessing risks and successfully defending clients with operations across the globe.
Ashley also routinely advises clients on compliance matters. Of particular note, she has experience evaluating and advising companies on their corporate compliance programs under the Department of Justice and other regulatory guidelines, in addition to engaging meaningfully with regulators on compliance-related issues.
Professional experience
Representative experience
Representative experience
Ashley’s experience includes representing:
- An international aviation company in connection with parallel US DOJ, UK Serious Fraud Office, and Canadian RCMP corruption investigations relating to transactions in Asia. Case declined by the US DOJ with no charges brought.
- An international investment bank in connection with parallel US DOJ, US SEC and UK Financial Conduct Authority investigations concerning allegations of corruption, securities fraud and embezzlement in connection with infrastructure projects in Africa.
- An oil field services company in connection with an obstruction of justice-related criminal investigation by the DOJ and related litigation of subpoenas issued as part of that investigation. Case concluded with no criminal charges brought.
- A Texas healthcare organization in connection with parallel state and federal fraud investigations.
- An individual in a US SEC investigation involving allegations of insider trading.
- An individual in a Texas Citizens’ Participation Act (TCPA) case involving the disclosure of alleged financial misdeeds of a business competitor. Secured dismissal of all counts.
Rankings and recognitions
Rankings and recognitions
- Legal 500 US, Recommended lawyer, Dispute resolution - Securities litigation: defense, The Legal 500, 2025
Education
Education
JD, cum laude, Northwestern Pritzker School of Law, 2016
BA, with honors, phi beta kappa, Government, University of Texas at Austin, 2012
Ashley is an honors graduate of the Northwestern Pritzker School of Law, where she served as a notes editor on the Journal of International Law and Business.
Admissions
Admissions
- New York State Bar
- Texas State Bar
Publications
Publications
- Co-author, "DOJ outlines white-collar focus, whistleblower results," Norton Rose Fulbright - Legal Update, September 2025
- Co-author, “FCPA Shift Is A Good Start, But There's More DOJ Should Do,” Law360, June 2025
- Co-author, “New DOJ FCPA guidance focused on vindicating US interests abroad,” Norton Rose Fulbright - Legal Update, June 2025
- Co-author, “US DOJ announces new white-collar enforcement plan,” Norton Rose Fulbright - Legal Update, May 2025
- Co-author, "The race is on … The DOJ Corporate Whistleblower Awards Pilot Program pits whistleblowers versus companies in a race to the DOJ to report criminal misconduct," Norton Rose Fulbright - Legal Update, August 2024
- Co-author, "Failed Bank Execs Could Be Targets After Biden Proposals," Law360, April 19, 2023
- Co-author, "US DC Circuit dismisses House Judiciary Committee lawsuit seeking to enforce subpoena, weakening congressional oversight powers," Norton Rose Fulbright – Legal Update, September 16, 2020
- Co-author, "US federal court holds unsponsored ADRs may be subject to US securities laws," Norton Rose Fulbright – Legal Update, February 24, 2020
Speaking engagements
Speaking engagements
- Moderator, Episode 8: Key update on anti-corruption enforcement | Global law firm | Norton Rose Fulbright, Inside investigations: Stay one step ahead Podcast, July 25, 2025
- Panelist, "Not business as usual: Legal leadership in a changing Washington," NRF Collaborative Counsel Roundtable, Austin, TX, July 17, 2025
- Panelist, Episode 7: Data privacy considerations in investigations | Global law firm | Norton Rose Fulbright, Inside investigations: Stay one step ahead Podcast, June 16, 2025
- Moderator, Inside Investigations: Legal, ethical and practical dimensions, NRF & Pekin Bayar Mizrahi Türkiye webinar series, May 14, 2025
- Panelist, "Navigating interplay between government investigations and employment issues," NRF 21st Annual Health Law Symposium, Austin, TX, February 6, 2025
Memberships and activities
Memberships and activities
- Women’s White Collar Criminal Defense Association, Austin Chapter
- Austin Bar Association
- Mother Attorney Mentor Association (MAMAs Austin)
Insights and news
Insights
News
