KIMBERLY ASHMORE
Partner
Wiley Rein L.L.P.
Washington
Age: 41
When Kimberly Ashmore was studying for a law degree at George Washington University in Washington, she received a paid internship with then-law firm Ross, Dixon & Bell L.L.P. Her mentor, Richard Simpson, was a partner with the firm at the time working on interesting professional liability issues. They both joined Wiley Rein L.L.P. in 2008.
Top industry concern
All businesses are really struggling to become as efficient as possible, including insurance and law firms. It’s just a challenge to figure out how to provide services at the level that you want to provide while also being as efficient as you want to be. There’s a lot of pressure both within my environment, which is the law firm, but also my clients’ environments because they’re getting a lot of pressure. They would love to be able to spend whatever it took, but everybody has to operate within this understanding that sometimes you can’t do the Cadillac because all you need is the Ford and in the end, that’s OK.
Next big thing in insurance
The way law firms look now and the way they will look 15 years from now is going to be incredibly different. I don’t know if we’ll see the billable hour go away completely, but I think it will be a completely different structure. I don’t know that you’re going to see law firms doing the traditional associate partnership track. We’re going to be forced to streamline in ways we haven’t before.
How do you unwind?
I spend time with my kids. I love hot yoga. It’s the one place I can go and my mind just clears. That’s my way to keep stress levels down and stay focused and happy.
Something people don’t know about you
I skipped the third grade.
Business Insurance’s Break Out Awards program honors 40 top professionals on track to be the next leaders in the risk management and property/casualty insurance field.