ashley marie engels

Founder

Working on highly publicized projects and closely scrutinized issues, there is much I have seen and little that surprises me. I respect the value and importance of full exploration of issues and options, understand the impact even the seemingly smallest of decisions can have on an organization or an outcome, and apply this attention to detail in all aspects of my work.

I am confident in my ability to make a difference for you because I have been in your shoes and experienced the challenges. Through wholistic thinking, detailed analysis, and balanced decision making that weights both legal considerations and business interests, I help my clients think outside the box, push beyond what might be comfortable, and strategize solutions that provide confidence and results.

I am committed to learning about you and hearing your opinions, dedicated to understanding your thought process, and determined to help you prioritize issues, analyze risk, and problem solve to achieve success.

Expertise

Ashley is a committed and passionate leader with extensive experience advising on business affairs and legal matters across all areas of a professional sports franchise and affiliated real estate and development projects. Ashley has spent years developing her expert craft of meticulously marrying legal nuance with business guidance, supporting individuals and businesses on a multitude of projects in various stages of growth and development, from strategic startup planning, to major project and milestone management, to facilitating difficult conversations amongst leadership, collaborating with department heads to ensure proper analysis and decision making, and managing legal exposure and risk in operations and action.

Before launching AME Consulting and AME Legal, Ashley spent 15 seasons as a member of the leadership team of the Minnesota Vikings, where she acted as the organization’s point of contact on all legal matters and served as the bridge to daily functions, business affairs, and operations, which included drafting contracts, relationship negotiations, advising on international market expansion, serving as a branding and entertainment/event production liaison, crisis management and strategic planning.

Ashley is accustomed to wearing many hats, with an acquired skillset to being flexible and adaptable to the changing needs of advising on the day to day operations of the team, interests of ownership, and affiliated entities and projects. During her tenure, she contributed to many major milestone projects, including serving as the internal legal representative for new stadium and practice facility design and construction, drafting and negotiating all naming rights, founding partner, branding partner, sponsorship, management and service agreements. She also took on responsibility for legal management and operational oversight of select real estate projects, including the operational, licensing, technology and infrastructure relationships necessary for the success of mixed use residential, retail, hospitality, recreation, and commercial developments. In addition, Ashley advised on the acquisition of MLS and NWSL Orlando soccer franchises and related assets, and served as a key member of the due diligence, business evaluation, ownership transition, and ongoing management and operations team.

Education

Ashley attended the University of Minnesota for her undergraduate schooling, holding a B.A. in Political Science and Sociology, high distinction, and obtained her professional J.D. degree from the University of Minnesota Law School.

Bar Admissions

Minnesota
South Dakota

Testimonials

Ashley is respected and valued as a collaborative partner and fierce advocate, with operational integrity and recognized communication skills. She is known amongst her colleagues and peers for excelling at balancing legal considerations, risk tolerance/management positions, and business objectives, while emphasizing the importance of knowledge sharing and building others up.