ASHE brings a credential most compliance firms simply don't have — a former EEOC Administrative Judge with direct federal adjudicatory experience, backed by deep operational expertise in Title IX, HR compliance, and institutional policy. We deliver work that is legally sound, procedurally defensible, and practically implementable.
Founded in 2016 and now based in Washington DC, ASHE was built on a simple premise — that the best compliance counsel combines legal precision with operational reality.
"Most compliance firms give you legal theory or HR process. ASHE gives you both — from people who have sat on both sides of the table."
ASHE Adjudicating Services for Higher Education, LLC was founded on the West Coast in 2016 and has since grown into a nationally recognized boutique consultancy serving higher education institutions, employers, and organizations navigating complex regulatory, personnel, and equity matters.
What distinguishes ASHE is the depth behind the work. Our Managing Principal brings a background that is exceptionally rare in the consulting space — direct experience as a federal adjudicator at the EEOC, combined with active work in higher education compliance at the institutional leadership level. This means ASHE clients receive counsel informed by how federal enforcement decisions are actually made, not just how they are interpreted after the fact.
Operational HR expertise supports every engagement — ensuring that our compliance recommendations are not only legally defensible but implementable by real teams in real organizations. We build things that work, not just things that look good on paper.
ASHE is based in Washington DC and serves clients nationally.
Six integrated service areas covering the full spectrum of compliance, adjudication, and institutional consulting needs.
Neutral adjudication led by a former EEOC Administrative Judge — bringing federal-standard process integrity to institutional proceedings.
Comprehensive compliance services built on direct experience developing, auditing, and adjudicating under federal Title IX regulations.
Independent investigations and EEOC charge response strategy informed by direct knowledge of how federal enforcement decisions are made.
Operational HR expertise supporting compliance-intensive organizations — from policy development to full HR infrastructure build-out.
Customized training programs for institutional leaders, compliance professionals, and HR teams — available live and via our Learning Center.
Credentialed expert testimony and strategic litigation support for employment attorneys navigating complex HR and civil rights matters.
Most compliance firms offer one side of the equation. ASHE brings credentials and operational depth that few firms anywhere can match.
Our Managing Principal's background as a former EEOC Administrative Judge is exceptionally rare in the compliance consulting space. Institutions and employers benefit from direct knowledge of how federal enforcement decisions are made — and how to build processes that stand up to that level of scrutiny. This is not a credential that can be approximated through years of practice. It is the real thing.
ASHE's lead principal is not a former compliance professional — he is an active one, currently operating at the executive compliance leadership level in higher education. This means our counsel reflects the current regulatory environment, current institutional pressures, and the practical realities of what institutions are dealing with right now — not what they were dealing with five years ago.
ASHE does not hand engagements to junior associates or generalist consultants. When you retain ASHE, you work directly with our principals on every matter — from intake through resolution. The credential you are hiring is the credential doing the work. That is a meaningful distinction from larger firms where senior expertise is sold and junior effort is delivered.
Every investigation, hearing, and compliance deliverable ASHE produces is built to be legally defensible. Our work is documented, procedurally sound, and written with the understanding that it may be reviewed by a court, agency, accreditor, or opposing counsel. Nearly a decade of compliance consulting and federal adjudicatory experience means we know exactly what that standard requires — and we hold ourselves to it on every engagement.
ASHE brings what few consulting firms can offer: the legal precision of a former federal adjudicator, active at the institutional compliance leadership level, backed by operational expertise that ensures every recommendation is not only legally sound — but practically implementable.
Practical perspectives on Title IX, EEOC enforcement, and institutional compliance — written by practitioners who do this work every day.
Not all hearing officers are created equal. Institutions selecting a neutral adjudicator for Title IX live hearings should look well beyond availability and general legal background. The stakes — for complainants, respondents, and the institution itself — demand a specific and rare combination of credentials, temperament, and process discipline.
The landscape of EEOC charge response has shifted considerably over the past several years — in ways that many HR professionals and employment attorneys have not fully internalized. Understanding how the Commission now prioritizes charges, conducts investigations, and pursues conciliation is essential to building a response strategy that actually works.
After conducting compliance audits across higher education institutions of varying sizes and structures, certain gaps appear with striking consistency. Most are not the result of negligence — they reflect the pace of regulatory change and the genuine complexity of building grievance procedures that satisfy both legal requirements and institutional realities.
Formal institutional hearings fail for predictable reasons. Insufficient notice, procedural shortcuts, undocumented decision rationales, and inadequate training of decision-makers are the leading causes of outcomes that don't survive appeal — or worse, litigation. Understanding what a well-credentialed adjudicator evaluates can help institutions build proceedings that hold up.
Organizations operating in regulated industries face a specific challenge when building out HR functions: the infrastructure must support compliance from day one, not as an afterthought. The sequence in which HR systems, policies, and processes are built matters — and getting it wrong creates compounding risk that is difficult and expensive to unwind.
Title IX regulations have been in a state of active flux, and institutions that are not continuously monitoring their grievance procedures for compliance are accumulating risk. This piece outlines the current regulatory landscape, what remains unsettled, and the practical steps institutions should be taking regardless of which direction future guidance moves.
ASHE's Learning Center delivers practitioner-led training on Title IX, EEOC process, and institutional compliance — accessible on your schedule.
Training sessions are developed and presented by ASHE's Managing Principal, drawing on direct federal adjudicatory experience and active institutional compliance leadership. Content is designed for Title IX coordinators, HR professionals, institutional compliance officers, supervisors, and legal teams.
A comprehensive overview of compliant grievance procedure design, common procedural pitfalls, and what adjudicators look for when reviewing institutional proceedings.
How the EEOC charge process actually works — from intake through conciliation — and how to build a response strategy that reflects how the Commission evaluates charges from the inside.
The investigative standards, documentation practices, and credibility assessment frameworks that produce findings capable of withstanding legal and regulatory scrutiny.
A practical training for institutional supervisors on Title IX obligations, reporting responsibilities, and how to respond appropriately when concerns arise.
A practitioner's framework for organizations building HR functions in regulated environments — covering sequencing, documentation standards, and compliance integration from day one.
An insider's guide to what federal agencies and accrediting bodies actually evaluate when reviewing institutional compliance programs — and how to build a program designed to pass scrutiny.
Interested in institutional licensing or group training? ASHE's Learning Center content is available for institutional licensing, custom delivery, and live workshop formats tailored to your team's needs.
Inquire About Training →We welcome inquiries from higher education institutions, employers, and legal counsel. Initial consultations are confidential.