We’re in this together.
Ashley-Nicole Russell, Esq. is an award-winning family law attorney, author, and speaker who is changing the way divorce is perceived around the world. She is widely-known as a dedicated, passionate, and trustworthy attorney with integrity. She is committed to protecting her clients while understanding the needs of their families. As a child of divorce and divorcee, she brings a unique, relatable, and personal understanding to AN|R Law Offices and the communities it serves. As the first collaborative law firm in eastern North Carolina, AN|R Law has office locations in Greenville, Raleigh, Beaufort, and Wilmington.
When her parents divorced, she faced years of hardship and adversity due to the impact of traditional litigation and the lack of shared parenting laws. This experience inspired her to pursue law and find a better way for families to divorce.
Ashley-Nicole graduated Magna Cum Laude from Appalachian State University with a Bachelor of Science in Political Science and a Bachelor of Science in Criminal Justice. She went on to attend North Carolina Central University School of Law where she graduated Magna Cum Laude and earned a Juris Doctor and a Certificate in Dispute Resolution from the Dispute Resolution Institute. Ashley-Nicole trained and obtained membership with the International Academy of Collaborative Professionals and co-founded the North Carolina Collaborative Attorney Network.
With more than a decade of experience in collaborative law, Ashley-Nicole knows first-hand how this model benefits families during separation and divorce. This method, which Ashley-Nicole used in her own divorce, allows the couple to move forward peacefully with understanding and respect. She is the author of The Cure for Divorce Culture and the host of the Divorce, Healthy! podcast. She is an advisor for co-parenting app Fayr and is a member of the national board of directors for the National Parents Organization. She also serves as the Vice President for the Carteret County Bar Association.
As an expert in divorce culture, Ashley-Nicole has appeared on various multi-media platforms to discuss collaborative law, conflict resolution in the workplace, and the future of divorce in America. Ashley-Nicole has been featured in Forbes, The Washington Post, and ABC, NBC, and CBS news affiliates. She actively shares her mission nationwide by speaking at events, conferences, and trainings focused on family law, human resources, and mediation. She is committed to sharing information to help families navigate the emotional and legal aspects of separation and divorce.
With wide-ranging experience in the legal industry throughout North Carolina, she co-founded and co-owns two additional law firms with varying specialties. McLawhorn & Russell, PLLC, with locations in Raleigh, Greenville, and Beaufort focuses in employment law, social security disability law, family law, and civil litigation. Michael & Russell, PLLC, headquartered in Wilmington, focuses on adoption law and collaborative family law.
Ashley-Nicole is honored to be recognized with the following achievements:
- Spark Award Finalist by Better Business Bureau of Eastern North Carolina, 2021
- Super Lawyer Rising Star, 2019-2021
- Leader in the Law by North Carolina Lawyers Weekly, 2020
- Certified Collaborative Law Practice by the International Academy of Collaborative Professionals, 2020
- Certified Practice by the North Carolina Collaborative Attorney Network, 2020
- Super Lawyers, Top Rated Family Law Attorney, 2019
- Business North Carolina Legal Elite, 2019
- Greenville-Pitt County Small Business Leader of the Year, 2017
- Rated one of the 10 Best Female Attorneys in Client Satisfaction by The American Institute of Family Law Attorneys, 2016
The “Divorce, Healthy!” Podcast is now available on Amazon Music.
