About Ashley Foret
Ashley Foret Dees built her foundation in the humanities before turning to law. She earned a Bachelor of Arts in English, concentrating in creative writing, from Vanderbilt University in 2004. Four years later she received her J.D. from the Paul M. Hebert Law Center at Louisiana State University. That blend of writing discipline and legal training shaped the early years of her career.
After law school, Dees gained admission to practice in Louisiana and later added admission in Texas. She worked on matters that sat at the intersection of immigration and employment law. Over time she moved into roles that required coordination with government agencies and employers. Her practice brought regular contact with Department of Labor procedures and administrative processes.
Dees has been active in professional circles that reflect her practice interests. She holds membership in the Louisiana State Bar Association. Since 2016 she has served on the AILA National Department of Labor Liaison Committee, a post that places her among practitioners who engage on policy and procedure issues between immigration attorneys and the Department of Labor. That committee work has involved case coordination, policy discussion, and outreach to federal agencies.
Colleagues describe her as methodical in preparing filings and careful in client communications. She has handled employer-side compliance matters and assisted employers responding to wage and hour and certification questions that trigger immigration implications. Her files often require detailed evidence gathering and coordination across HR, payroll, and outside counsel.
Dees joined Berry Appleman & Leiden LLP, where she continues to practice. In that firm setting she works on cases for businesses that need visas, labor condition applications, and other immigration-related employer services. She advises clients on procedural requirements and helps them navigate administrative steps to meet regulatory obligations.
Her work remains rooted in documents, deadlines, and agency interaction. She spends much of her time preparing petitions, addressing Department of Labor inquiries, and counseling employers on compliance risks. She practices immigration and labor-related immigration matters at Berry Appleman & Leiden LLP.
