Ashley Joyner Chavous

Ashley Joyner Chavous is a congressional investigations and white collar defense attorney in Holland & Knight's Washington, D.C., office, advising clients on high-stakes matters at the intersection of law, policy and public scrutiny. Ms. Chavous represents public companies, financial institutions and nonprofit organizations in complex investigations, enforcement matters and governance challenges.

Ms. Chavous is a trusted counselor to senior executives navigating congressional oversight, regulatory exposure and enterprise risk. She leads strategic responses to congressional inquiries, including subpoenas and hearing demands, as well as partners with clients to assess and mitigate risk across business lines and jurisdictions. Her practice is particularly focused on the technology sector, where she advises on export controls, economic sanctions, supply chain integrity and government contracts. She also counsels clients on matters involving diversity, equity and inclusion (DEI) where such matters intersect with congressional scrutiny and enterprise risk, and she leads comprehensive reviews of compliance systems, ethics programs and organizational culture to strengthen governance and drive institutional accountability.

Ms. Chavous brings deep experience guiding clients through every stage of congressional investigations, from initial outreach and information requests to hearings and post-inquiry engagement. She develops and executes strategy, oversees complex document productions and internal fact development, and prepares senior executives for interviews, depositions and public testimony. Her work spans committees across the U.S. House of Representatives and U.S. Senate, including select, standing and investigative committees covering issues such as commerce, financial services, competition, national security, technology and government oversight. She is known for integrating legal, political and reputational considerations to help clients navigate the pace, visibility and complexity of congressional scrutiny.

In addition to her investigations practice, Ms. Chavous maintains an active litigation practice, advising on trial and appellate strategy in complex, high-profile disputes. She brings a practical and strategic perspective to litigation risk, informed by her experience managing parallel proceedings involving congressional, regulatory and enforcement dynamics.

Ms. Chavous is actively engaged in community and nonprofit leadership, with a sustained focus on domestic violence, civil rights and institutional accountability. Her work reflects a broader commitment to strengthening systems that serve vulnerable communities.

Prior to joining Holland & Knight, Ms. Chavous practiced at a multinational law firm in Washington, D.C., where she developed a broad investigations and litigation practice. She began her career as a journalist covering crime and the courts, an experience that continues to inform her approach to advocacy, fact development and the broader public context in which legal issues unfold.