Ashley J.Sherwood
Partner
Construction
asherwood@seyfarth.com
Ashley represents general contractors, subcontractors, and developers of all sizes on complex private and public construction projects at the state and federal level, as well as internationally.
More About Ashley
Clients look to Ashley for counsel on an array of construction matters, including heavy civil infrastructure, fabrication, commercial and residential building construction, and government contracts.
Ashley is committed to helping clients navigate projects from start to finish - from inception of a project with contract review and project management advice, through the claims process, and litigation, if needed. Ashley’s experience includes representing clients in complex multiparty actions, as well as bringing and defending against impact and inefficiency, delay, indemnity, differing site condition, and other contract-based claims. Her litigation experience includes bench and jury trials, mediation, arbitration, and appellate arguments.
- JD, University of Washington School of Law
Order of the Barristers
Washington Journal of Environmental Law & Policy, managing editor
University of Washington Moot Court Honor Board, executive board member - BA, University of Washington
Business
- Oregon
- Washington
- US District Court, Eastern District of Washington
- US District Court, Western District of Washington
Related Key Industries
-
Represented mining contractor in claims against internationally-based mine owner, bringing and defending against counterclaims in excess of $100 million for excavation and construction of tunnel drift in southern Montana.
-
Represented a steel fabricator in a multi-week bench trial with claims in excess of $16 million related to construction of a lift-span bridge in Quincy, Massachusetts.
-
Represented a public agency in reviewing and responding to claims made by contractor in relation to utilities and infrastructure contract.
-
Represented a heavy civil contractor in a multi-week arbitration seeking $12 million in claims and defending against $7 million in liquidated damages asserted by public agency for seismic retrofit of a dam in Perris, California.
-
Provided review and advice to general contractor client on more than 10 residential and commercial construction contracts and assisted in presenting claims to the owner on behalf of general contractor and pass-through claims from subcontractors.
-
Represented electrical subcontractor bringing an impact and inefficiency claim in six-week, multi-party jury trial against general contractor related to construction of STEM high school in Tukwila, Washington.
Related News & Insights
-
Recognition
03/20/2025
Eight Seyfarth Lawyers Named to 2025 Law360 Editorial Boards
-
Firm News
08/15/2024
220 Seyfarth Attorneys Chosen as Leaders in Their Fields by Best Lawyers in America 2025
-
Recognition
06/06/2024
Seyfarth Again Earns Top Rankings in Chambers USA 2024
-
Recognition
02/14/2024
Seyfarth’s Ashley Sherwood Selected for Puget Sound Business Journal’s 2024 “40 Under 40”
- Recognized by Puget Sound Business Journal as a “40 Under 40” (2024)
- Recognized as a Recommended Attorney for Real Estate - Construction (including construction litigation), The Legal 500 (Legalese Ltd.) (2024)
- Recognized as an "Up and Coming" lawyer in Construction (Washington) by Chambers USA (2024)
- Recognized as one of the "Ones to Watch" by Best Lawyers in America (Woodward/White Inc.) for Construction Law (2021-2024) and Litigation - Construction (2023-2024)
- Recognized by Washington Super Lawyers (Thomson Reuters) as a “Rising Star” for Construction Litigation, Real Estate, and Government Contracts (2017-2024)
- Recognized as a Recommended Attorney for Government - Government contracts, The Legal 500 (Legalese Ltd.) (2023)
- CREW Seattle (board of directors, past president, 2021; president, 2020; board of directors, president elect, 2019; board of directors, Sponsorship, 2018; Leadership Series, CREW Seattle, 2017-2018)
- Women Leaders in Construction, member and sponsorship committee
- Associated General Contractors of Washington, Legal Affairs committee member
- King County Bar Association
- Washington State Bar Association
- Co-Author, "The Government Contract Compliance Handbook, 6th," Federal Publications (2024)
- Co-Author, "Making Dollars and "Cents" of Key Contractual Payment Provisions and How State Law Can Impact Your Rights," Pile Driver Magazine (Issue 3 2023)
- Co-Author, "Washington Legislature Backs Several Pro-Housing Bills Benefitting Developers and Contractors," Legal Update, Seyfarth Shaw LLP (April 24, 2023)
- Co-author, "Are Business Losses for COVID-19 Covered?" Seattle Daily Journal of Commerce (January 29, 2021)
-
Author, "Filing a claim for extra work? Contractors still bear the burden of complying with notice requirements," Construction Industry Spotlight, Seattle Daily Journal of Commerce (September 29, 2016)
- Moderator, "Effective Cross-Examination and Delivering a Winning Closing Argument," ABA The Future of Construction Law, Vancouver BC (April 12, 2023)
-
Moderator, "What’s Next? Technology for the Construction Litigator," ABA Forum on Construction Law, Seattle, WA (October 13-15, 2021)
-
Presenter, "Contract Clauses for Small Businesses," Washington Center for Women in Business, webinar (July, 26, 2017)
- "She’s Deeply Involved in Representing the Construction Community on Complex Matters at the State & Federal Level. Meet Seattle Attorney, Ashley J. Sherwood," Americas Women Magazine (November 2020)
-
Construction for Change
-
Seattle Humane Society
Ashley represents general contractors, subcontractors, and developers of all sizes on complex private and public construction projects at the state and federal level, as well as internationally.
More About Ashley
Clients look to Ashley for counsel on an array of construction matters, including heavy civil infrastructure, fabrication, commercial and residential building construction, and government contracts.
Ashley is committed to helping clients navigate projects from start to finish - from inception of a project with contract review and project management advice, through the claims process, and litigation, if needed. Ashley’s experience includes representing clients in complex multiparty actions, as well as bringing and defending against impact and inefficiency, delay, indemnity, differing site condition, and other contract-based claims. Her litigation experience includes bench and jury trials, mediation, arbitration, and appellate arguments.
- JD, University of Washington School of Law
Order of the Barristers
Washington Journal of Environmental Law & Policy, managing editor
University of Washington Moot Court Honor Board, executive board member - BA, University of Washington
Business
- Oregon
- Washington
- US District Court, Eastern District of Washington
- US District Court, Western District of Washington
Related Key Industries
-
Represented mining contractor in claims against internationally-based mine owner, bringing and defending against counterclaims in excess of $100 million for excavation and construction of tunnel drift in southern Montana.
-
Represented a steel fabricator in a multi-week bench trial with claims in excess of $16 million related to construction of a lift-span bridge in Quincy, Massachusetts.
-
Represented a public agency in reviewing and responding to claims made by contractor in relation to utilities and infrastructure contract.
-
Represented a heavy civil contractor in a multi-week arbitration seeking $12 million in claims and defending against $7 million in liquidated damages asserted by public agency for seismic retrofit of a dam in Perris, California.
-
Provided review and advice to general contractor client on more than 10 residential and commercial construction contracts and assisted in presenting claims to the owner on behalf of general contractor and pass-through claims from subcontractors.
-
Represented electrical subcontractor bringing an impact and inefficiency claim in six-week, multi-party jury trial against general contractor related to construction of STEM high school in Tukwila, Washington.
Related News & Insights
-
Recognition
03/20/2025
Eight Seyfarth Lawyers Named to 2025 Law360 Editorial Boards
-
Firm News
08/15/2024
220 Seyfarth Attorneys Chosen as Leaders in Their Fields by Best Lawyers in America 2025
-
Recognition
06/06/2024
Seyfarth Again Earns Top Rankings in Chambers USA 2024
-
Recognition
02/14/2024
Seyfarth’s Ashley Sherwood Selected for Puget Sound Business Journal’s 2024 “40 Under 40”
- Recognized by Puget Sound Business Journal as a “40 Under 40” (2024)
- Recognized as a Recommended Attorney for Real Estate - Construction (including construction litigation), The Legal 500 (Legalese Ltd.) (2024)
- Recognized as an "Up and Coming" lawyer in Construction (Washington) by Chambers USA (2024)
- Recognized as one of the "Ones to Watch" by Best Lawyers in America (Woodward/White Inc.) for Construction Law (2021-2024) and Litigation - Construction (2023-2024)
- Recognized by Washington Super Lawyers (Thomson Reuters) as a “Rising Star” for Construction Litigation, Real Estate, and Government Contracts (2017-2024)
- Recognized as a Recommended Attorney for Government - Government contracts, The Legal 500 (Legalese Ltd.) (2023)
- CREW Seattle (board of directors, past president, 2021; president, 2020; board of directors, president elect, 2019; board of directors, Sponsorship, 2018; Leadership Series, CREW Seattle, 2017-2018)
- Women Leaders in Construction, member and sponsorship committee
- Associated General Contractors of Washington, Legal Affairs committee member
- King County Bar Association
- Washington State Bar Association
- Co-Author, "The Government Contract Compliance Handbook, 6th," Federal Publications (2024)
- Co-Author, "Making Dollars and "Cents" of Key Contractual Payment Provisions and How State Law Can Impact Your Rights," Pile Driver Magazine (Issue 3 2023)
- Co-Author, "Washington Legislature Backs Several Pro-Housing Bills Benefitting Developers and Contractors," Legal Update, Seyfarth Shaw LLP (April 24, 2023)
- Co-author, "Are Business Losses for COVID-19 Covered?" Seattle Daily Journal of Commerce (January 29, 2021)
-
Author, "Filing a claim for extra work? Contractors still bear the burden of complying with notice requirements," Construction Industry Spotlight, Seattle Daily Journal of Commerce (September 29, 2016)
- Moderator, "Effective Cross-Examination and Delivering a Winning Closing Argument," ABA The Future of Construction Law, Vancouver BC (April 12, 2023)
-
Moderator, "What’s Next? Technology for the Construction Litigator," ABA Forum on Construction Law, Seattle, WA (October 13-15, 2021)
-
Presenter, "Contract Clauses for Small Businesses," Washington Center for Women in Business, webinar (July, 26, 2017)
- "She’s Deeply Involved in Representing the Construction Community on Complex Matters at the State & Federal Level. Meet Seattle Attorney, Ashley J. Sherwood," Americas Women Magazine (November 2020)
-
Construction for Change
-
Seattle Humane Society