About Ashley E.
Ashley E. LaValley earned a Bachelor of Arts in Physics and Mathematics from Georgetown University in 2005. She continued her studies at The George Washington University Law School and received her Juris Doctor in 2011. Her undergraduate training in the physical sciences provided a technical foundation that has informed her legal work since she entered practice.
After law school, LaValley joined Niro, Haller & Niro as an associate in 2011. She spent her early years developing experience on patent matters, working on prosecution and related proceedings. The role at Niro gave her front-line exposure to the mechanics of drafting claims and responding to examiner actions at the Patent Office.
In 2015 she moved to Lee, Sheikh, Megley & Haan LLC and became a partner. At the firm she has taken on a broader portfolio of responsibilities, including managing client matters and overseeing patent work across different technologies. She is admitted to practice in Illinois, is registered with the United States Patent and Trademark Office, and is authorized to appear before the Federal Circuit. Those credentials allow her to handle matters at the patent office and on appeal.
LaValley’s background in physics and mathematics is evident in the kinds of matters she handles. She works on patent prosecution, participates in post-grant proceedings before the Patent Office, and handles appeals that reach the Federal Circuit. Her practice requires translating technical concepts into clear legal arguments. Colleagues describe her work as methodical and precise; she applies technical training to the drafting and review of patent claims and related filings.
Her clients have ranged from individual inventors to businesses seeking patent protection. At the firm she coordinates with inventors and in-house counsel to shape prosecution strategies and prepare for contested proceedings. She also oversees filings and advises on procedural aspects of patent practice, including deadlines, office action responses, and appeal procedures.
LaValley balances the demands of practice management and client work. She moved from associate to partner in a relatively short span, taking on responsibility for both substantive matters and client relationships. Today she practices at Lee, Sheikh, Megley & Haan LLC, where her work centers on patent prosecution, Patent Office proceedings, and appeals before the Federal Circuit.
