About Ashley Cote
Ashley Cote is an attorney in the Tax, Trusts, and Estates department focused on Foundational Estate Planning and Ultra-High-Net-Worth Planning. Her practice involves everything from helping families create revocable living trusts uniquely tailored to their needs to assisting ultra-high-net-worth individuals in navigating complex gift and estate tax issues.
Ashley graduated summa cum laude from Pepperdine Caruso School of Law, where she distinguished herself through academic excellence and leadership. She served as Lead Articles Editor of the Dispute Resolution Law Journal and earned top marks in her Property, Federal Estate and Gift Taxation, and Community Property classes. In recognition of her exceptional performance in tax law, Ashley was awarded the Scott H. Racine Award for Excellence in the Study of Taxation.
Ashley clerked at Brown & Streza during her second summer in law school and is excited to return as an associate attorney. Prior to working at Brown & Streza, Ashley served as a law clerk for two semesters in the Pepperdine Legal Aid Clinic on Skid Row where she provided needed legal services to individuals in the area. Ashley also spent one semester counseling clients on various income tax matters in the Pepperdine Low-Income Taxpayer Clinic.
In her free time, Ashley enjoys going to the beach, paddleboarding, spending time with her family, and playing with her tiny Maltese named Lily.
Professional Background
Brown & Streza, LLP, Irvine, California
Associate Attorney, 2025 – Present
Juris Doctor, summa cum laude, Pepperdine Caruso School of Law, Malibu, 2025
Pepperdine Faculty Scholar Scholarship (full ride plus stipend)
Recipient of eight Cali Awards for the highest grades in Property, Federal Gift and Estate Taxation, Community Property, Evidence, Criminal Law, Juvenile Rights: Substance and Procedures, California Civil Procedure, and Bar Exam Workshop,
Scott H. Racine Award for Excellence in the Study of Taxation
Legal Research and Writing Teaching Assistant
Lead Articles Editor for Pepperdine Dispute Resolution Law Journal
Bachelor of Science, summa cum laude, Exercise Science, Minor in Political Science, California Baptist University, Riverside, 2022
Exercise Science Student of the Year