Meet local attorney Ashleigh Stone, a returning member of the DLBA Economic Development Committee. Stone, who started her own law firm in Downtown six years ago, is looking forward to using her Committee position to be an advocate for the Downtown small business community. “Becoming a Committee member is a great opportunity to meet other stakeholders, better understand how our City works, and have a bigger voice in shaping DLBA’s programs and services,” she said.
A licensed attorney since 2010, Stone grew up in Palm Springs, but has strong family roots in Long Beach, coming here regularly for holidays. She discovered her passion for the law during her first job as a law clerk at a small firm in Palm Springs after high school graduation.
Stone worked in many law-related roles while earning her Bachelor of Arts degree from the University of California, Riverside. She went on to earn her Juris Doctor degree from the Thomas Jefferson School of Law in San Diego.
After college, Stone worked as a civil litigator in Los Angeles for five years, representing employees and businesses. In 2015, she started her own law firm in Downtown Long Beach.
When the COVID-19 pandemic hit, she pivoted to help the local small business community while doing her best to keep her firm’s regular grant and educational programs going. “I feel fortunate to live in a City that has a leading vaccine program, and has citizens who take the well-being and safety of others seriously,” said Stone.
“Downtown Long Beach is such a small, tight-knit community,” Stone added. “It has been tremendous to be able to run into old friends on the street again and safely resume some in-person events. I’m thankful to the many community organizers who are working to bring annual events back up and running.”
When not working to help empower her business clients, Stone enjoys her time with her nine-month-old daughter. She also works on renovating and managing two rental properties with a focus on sustainable interior design. “2020 was my year to get into real estate, and it’s been an exciting new chapter,” she said.
To learn more about the Economic Development Committee and DLBA’s other Committees, please click here.