At Cape Fear Family Law, we believe that excellence extends far beyond the courtroom. It shows up in the way our team members go above and beyond—not just for our clients, but for our community and our firm. This year, we are thrilled to recognize Associate Attorney Ashley Wray Owens as the recipient of our prestigious 2025 Marketing Award.

Ashley’s contributions to brand visibility, firm marketing impact, and overall business growth this year have been nothing short of extraordinary—all while maintaining strong billable performance and exceptional client service. Her dedication exemplifies what it means to be a true team player and ambassador for our firm.

From the Courtroom to the Community

Ashley’s most remarkable achievement this year was single-handedly negotiating, organizing, and executing the firm’s participation in Wilmington’s beloved Free Concert Fridays series. What might sound like a simple marketing opportunity became a masterclass in dedication, resourcefulness, and sheer determination.

Week after week throughout the summer, Ashley could be found downtown, hauling branded swag and marketing materials through the crowds. The concerts rolled out weekly at Wilmington’s own The Eagle’s Dare, which hosted food trucks to go along with their beer garden and creative craft cocktails. Ashley dedicatedly set up our booth, decorated it with care, engaged with hundreds of community members, and then tore everything down and cleaned up when the music ended. She recruited friends and family to help, motivated fellow team members to join in, and ensured that every single person who stopped by our table walked away with a positive impression of Cape Fear Family Law.

Her colleague Allie Moore recognized this extraordinary effort, praising Ashley for “making Free Concert Fridays a success and being there when no one else is.”

Perhaps most impressively, Ashley accomplished all of this while recovering from a significant knee injury. Where others might have stepped back, she stepped up—quite literally—and maintained her rigorous marketing schedule without complaint.

Oh, and did we mention she won multiple arm wrestling contests along the way? Because of course she did. Side commentary from the CEO Janet Gemmell, her husband Tyler claims he won his match, but do we have the video to prove it?

A Wilmington Native with Deep Roots

Ashley’s passion for the Wilmington community is deeply personal. Raised right here in our coastal city, she pursued her undergraduate degree at East Carolina University before heading north to earn her Juris Doctor from New England Law in Boston, Massachusetts.

Those who know Ashley aren’t surprised by her legal career. Even as a child, she was drafting contracts for her family members and negotiating over household responsibilities like pet care and chores. With what her family lovingly describes as “the gift of gab and the ability to argue over anything,” they always knew she would end up in the legal field.

After practicing family law in Charlotte for three years, Ashley felt the pull of home. When Cape Fear Family Law’s strong reputation and exceptional team culture caught her attention, she knew she had found her professional home. And we couldn’t be more grateful that she did. Ashley, who sometimes goes by her middle name Wray, brings a joyful countenance and a deep passion for each of her clients to succeed; not just in their legal cases, but in their futures overall.

Excellence Recognized by Peers

Throughout 2025, Ashley’s contributions have been celebrated consistently by her teammates through our peer recognition program. The accolades paint a picture of someone who is not only excellent at her job but who makes everyone around her better:

• CEO Janet L. Gemmell praised Ashley as a “Master of the Craft,” recognizing her exceptional client work where “the client was well handled, all work done, and case was in the right order.”
• Wesley Taynton awarded Ashley +50 points—the highest single recognition of the year—for “coming to the rescue of a random person that needed help desperately because of the actions of a terrible driver.” Tagged simply as #superhero.
• Jessica Arthur celebrated Ashley for “getting emergency custody and helping keep a kid safe all the way in Texas!”
• Grace Measel thanked her for “stepping in and helping me with a client” with hashtags #ontime and #clientfocused.
• Cassandra Thompson recognized Ashley for “telling a specific OPC how to run business!” with the hashtag #possessintegrity.
• Melissa Bradnick praised Ashley for “always reviewing my work and providing helpful feedback and guidance!”

The recurring themes in Ashley’s recognitions tell a powerful story: #gettingitdone, #teamwork, #clientfocused, #knowledgeable, and #empathetic. She doesn’t just do her job—she elevates everyone around her.

Building Relationships Beyond the Firm

Ashley’s marketing impact extends beyond community events. She has significantly strengthened our relationships with vendors and industry partners, approaching every interaction with the same warmth and professionalism she brings to client relationships. Whether negotiating booth space at a concert venue or representing the firm at industry conferences like ClioCon, Ashley ensures that Cape Fear Family Law is seen positively by everyone she meets.

Her marketing colleague Mark John Malavega specifically recognized her contribution, thanking Ashley for “sending and helping me with the content for the Friday concerts.”

The Heart of Family Law

While we celebrate Ashley’s marketing achievements today, it’s impossible to separate her success from who she is as an attorney and as a person. As a child of divorce herself, Ashley brings genuine empathy and understanding to every client interaction. She handles cases involving divorce, custody, child support, equitable distribution, and alimony with patience, creativity, and unwavering advocacy. She also cares deeply about cases involving false allegations of domestic violence.

CEO Janet L. Gemmell recognized Ashley’s courtroom excellence, celebrating when she “won her client sole legal and physical custody at trial,” along with $800 in spousal support that would help “mom and child be able to pay the bills.”

Whether reaching resolution through amicable negotiations or zealous litigation, Ashley goes each necessary mile to ensure her clients’ needs are met. It’s this same dedication that makes her such an extraordinary ambassador for our firm in the community.

When She’s Not Saving the Day

When Ashley isn’t winning cases, arm wrestling strangers (or Janet’s husband) at concerts, or rescuing people from car accidents, gun shot wounds, and dangerous cranes (yes, these things really happened), you’ll find her enjoying life in the Wilmington area she loves so much. She spends quality time with her two dogs, Cam and Tully, visits the beach whenever possible, and loves exploring the ever-growing restaurant and entertainment scene in our coastal community.

Congratulations, Ashley!

Ashley Wray Owens represents the very best of Cape Fear Family Law. She is an exceptional attorney, a dedicated teammate, a community champion, and now—our 2025 Marketing Award recipient.

Her willingness to step up, show up, and lift up everyone around her makes our firm stronger and our community better. We are incredibly proud to have her on our team.

Join us in congratulating Ashley on this well-deserved recognition!