Administrative and Regulatory Law
The firm offers a full-service administrative and regulatory law practice based on extensive experience in the field.  The firm’s attorneys regularly appear before state and federal agencies, including the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission, the Regulatory Commission of Alaska, the Alaska Labor Relations Agency, the Alaska Department of Natural Resources, the Alaska Oil and Gas Commission, various Municipality of Anchorage boards and commissions, and many others.  The firm’s attorneys likewise have extensive experience handling administrative appeals.  The firm was recognized as a Band One Leader in Environment, Natural Resources & Regulated Industries by Chambers USA America’s Leading Lawyers for Business.

Antitrust Law
The firm has been involved in antitrust litigation and advice for over twenty-five years, advising clients on the requirements of state and federal antitrust statutes, coordinating with authorities’ investigations of corporate actions, and defending clients against charges of antitrust violations.  Ashburn & Mason attorneys have also represented private citizens bringing their own independent antitrust suits.

Arbitration and Mediation Services
Several Ashburn & Mason attorneys are skilled mediators and arbitrators.  The State of Alaska hired Julian Mason to serve as settlement counsel in its disputes with oil companies over North Slope royalty and tax issues and later in the Mental Health Lands Trust dispute.  His current mediation and arbitration practice involves primarily large commercial cases that necessitate complex financial arrangements.  The State of Alaska has also selected Mark Ashburn to be an arbitrator in a royalty reopener case and as an arbitrator in several Early Neutral Evaluation proceedings.  Finally, Don McClintock regularly arbitrates commercial cases involving real estate issues.

Business Law
The firm provides a broad range of services to local businesses, including business formation, corporate compliance, and commercial transactions.  Ashburn & Mason’s clients include small and large businesses that are representative of Alaska’s major industries.  Many of our clients have worked with us since their formation.   Our attorneys have assisted stakeholders in negotiating and resolving issues regarding corporate dissolution or withdrawal from a company.  The firm has a proven track record of successfully resolving complex multi-party issues without litigation.

Complex Litigation
Ashburn & Mason attorneys are skilled litigators with extensive experience handling large and complex litigation matters.  The firm’s attorneys are able to take cases at any stage of litigation.  They have been recruited mid-trial to assist counsel in cases that have unexpectedly widened in scope, and have also managed complex matters from inception through trial, appeal, and in remand proceedings, as well.  Firm attorneys have litigated complex litigation matters in both state and federal court and have handled numerous jury trials, bench trial, and appeals.  Ashburn & Mason’s complex litigation practice encompasses virtually all of its practice areas.  The firm was recognized as a Band One Leader in Litigation by Chambers USA America’s Leading Lawyers for Business, and Benchmark Litigation has praised the firm’s litigators.

Education Law
The firm’s attorneys have significant experience in education law representing K-12 school districts, individual educators, and the University of Alaska. Attorneys at the firm have represented school districts in all aspects of their operations, including but not limited to labor negotiations, unfair labor practice charges, layoffs, non-retentions, terminations, special education claims, construction disputes, superintendent contracts and terminations, claims under the Open Meetings and Public Records Acts, as well as litigation in state and federal court regarding employment and discrimination claims. Attorneys at the firm also have defended individual educators in claims before the Professional Teaching Practices Commission and have assisted private developers working with school districts to construct teacher housing in rural communities utilizing Denali Commission funding.

Family Law and Collaborative Divorce
Ashburn & Mason handles all aspects of family law, including pre-nuptial agreements, divorce, dissolution, child support, child custody and visitation, adoption, guardianships, and other legal issues that impact Alaskan families. Ashburn & Mason is also pleased to offer a form of divorce that oftentimes proves less expensive, less stressful and less damaging to families than a litigated divorce through our focus on collaborative law. For more information on this topic visit our Collaborative Divorce page.

Fisheries
Ashburn & Mason represents individuals and organizations involved in all aspects of Alaska’s fisheries, including fishermen, processors, guides and lodge owners, hatcheries, and fishing organizations.  The firm was actively involved in the litigation over the Exxon Valdez oil spill and has represented the Prince William Sound Aquaculture Corporation for many years.

Labor and Employment Law
The firm’s attorneys represent employers and employees in every stage of employment law disputes.  Ashburn & Mason has assisted public and private employers, including its long-time client, the University of Alaska, in developing sound policies and practices and in litigating employment matters.  Ashburn & Mason attorneys regularly appear before administrative bodies, in state and federal court, and in arbitrations and mediations as part of their employment law practice.  Attorneys at the firm have also represented employers in collective bargaining negotiations and in litigation arising out of collective bargaining agreements. 

Local Government Law
Municipalities, villages, and municipal officials have long turned to Ashburn & Mason for in-house and contractual representation.  The firm’s attorneys, all of whom are longtime Alaskans, understand the unique challenges facing Alaska’s communities.  Attorneys at the firm have served as general counsel to rural villages, have represented public clients in Open Meetings Act litigation, and have assisted clients in responding to Public Records Act requests.

Oil and Gas Litigation
Ashburn & Mason maintains a wide-ranging oil and gas practice.  The firm represents major public utilities and has represented the State of Alaska in a number of oil and gas matters.  As part of its public utility practice, Ashburn & Mason has handled numerous regulatory issues, including securing gas supply and addressing disputes with customers, suppliers, and the State of Alaska.  The firm has negotiated numerous gas sales agreements and other contracts with producers on behalf of its client.  Ashburn & Mason attorneys have also gained expertise in oil and gas leasing, unitization, and oil and gas royalty law.  The firm was recognized as a Band One Leader in Environment, Natural Resources & Regulated Industries by Chambers USA America’s Leading Lawyers for Business.

Real Estate Business
Ashburn & Mason maintains a distinguished real estate practice and has earned recognition as a Band One Leader in Real Estate by Chambers USA America’s Leading Lawyers for Business.  The firm’s real estate practice includes land use, zoning, real estate and development, commercial landlord-tenant law, and construction litigation.  The firm is particularly skilled in representing clients in condemnation disputes.  Ashburn & Mason’s clients include developers, commercial landlords, design professionals, real estate brokers, landowners, real estate appraisers, contractors, subcontractors, agencies with the power of condemnation, and landowners.  The firm has handled numerous complex real estate transactions and development deals, and has extensive experience appearing before various local government planning bodies and assemblies.

Telecommunications and Public Utilities
The firm’s abilities in the highly-specialized area of public utilities law have also received special recognition in the 2009 Chambers USA review.  Ashburn & Mason has long represented Alaska’s largest long distance telephone and natural gas utilities. The firm also has experience with electric power, water, sewer, district heat, cellular telephone and solid waste utilities throughout the state.  Ashburn & Mason has close working relationships with local and national experts on utility issues in Alaska.

Pro Bono Legal Services
The firm’s attorneys take seriously their obligation to dedicate part of their practice to pro bono service.  Ashburn & Masonhelped found the Alaska Immigration Justice Project and regularly represents clients referred to the firm by Alaska Pro Bono Project, the Alaska Immigration Justice Project, and the Alaska Network on Domestic Violence and Sexual Assault, among others.  Over the years, Ashburn & Mason attorneys have received numerous individual and firm awards from the Alaska Bar Association for their dedication to public service.  In 2008, Ashburn & Mason became only the second firm to receive the Alaska Bar Association’s Lifetime Achievement Award in recognition of its unsurpassed commitment to the provision of legal services to those with limited access to justice.  And in 2009, the Alaska Immigration Justice Project awarded Ashburn & Mason with its Pro Bono Legal Services Award.