Ashley M. Emery, counsel in the firm’s Albany office, recently spoke at the 2025 New York Women in Law Enforcement (NYWLE) Annual Training Conference, held Nov. 5–7, 2025, at the Marriott Syracuse Downtown in Syracuse, New York.

New York Women in Law Enforcement (NYWLE) hosted the three-day conference, which featured a range of criminal justice speakers presenting topics within their fields, a leadership panel with live Q&A, and several networking opportunities. Sessions included Resilience & Leadership, Legal Updates, Collective Bargaining & Union Representation, Strength in Sisterhood, Wellness for Women First Responders, Blue Lives NYC, and Qualities of Women & Life After Law Enforcement.

Emery presented on Nov. 7 alongside Kurt Nolan, executive director and counsel for the Police Benevolent Association of New York State (PBANYS). Their session, titled Collective Bargaining & the Importance of Union Representation, examined practical strategies for labor negotiations and emphasized the role of union representation in protecting public sector employees’ rights.

About Ashley M. Emery

Ashley M. Emery serves as counsel in the Albany office of Lippes Mathias. Emery focuses her practice on representing public sector labor unions. This includes representation in disciplinary arbitrations and other administrative hearings, including before the New York State Justice Center; assistance with filing contract grievances; filing improper employer practice charges before the New York State Public Employment Relations Board (PERB); defending against duty of fair representation claims; and filing complaints with the New York State Department of Labor relating to unsafe working conditions.

Emery also helps public sector labor union members navigate Civil Service Law leaves of absence and hearings relating to fitness for duty. She represents employees in appeals before the New York State and Local Retirement System (NYSLRS) and has argued before the Appellate Division, Third Department, to challenge denied disability retirement benefits.

She works with public sector labor unions and their members to file litigation in state and federal courts challenging improper terminations, unfair employment practices, unsafe working conditions (including those related to the COVID-19 pandemic), and violations of members’ constitutional rights, including due process, freedom of speech, and equal protection rights, among other matters.

About Lippes Mathias LLP

Lippes Mathias is a full-service law firm with 220-plus attorneys serving clients regionally, nationally, and internationally. With offices in Buffalo, Clarence, Albany, Long Island, New York, Rochester, Syracuse, and Saratoga Springs, N.Y.; Greater Toronto Area; Chicago, Ill.; Jacksonville, Tampa Bay, and West Palm Beach, Fla.; Cleveland, Ohio; San Antonio, Texas; Oklahoma City, Okla.; and Washington, D.C., the firm represents publicly and privately owned companies, private equity and venture capital firms, independent sponsors, real estate developers, financial institutions, municipalities, governmental entities, and individuals.

Ranked No. 204 on The National Law Journal’s NLJ 500 list of the largest law firms in the United States by attorney headcount, Lippes Mathias is proud to be recognized year after year by The Best Lawyers in America®, U.S. News – Best Lawyers®, Super Lawyers, and Chambers USA. For more information, visit www.lippes.com.