Ashlee Difuntorum is an entertainment and business litigator who resolves breach of contract, copyright and trademark infringement, and false advertising disputes in film, music, television, and the creator economy. She has been quoted as a legal expert in entertainment in Page Six, USA Today, and TechCrunch, and was recently named to the Daily Journal’s Top 40 Under 40 list recognizing California’s top rising lawyers.

Ashlee’s practice focuses on the entertainment industry, where her clients include celebrities, production companies, brands, influencers, and other creatives. She helps clients resolve disputes before litigation is filed, working closely with them on pre-lawsuit strategy to protect their projects, relationships, and bottom line. For the disputes that end up in litigation, Ashlee is a skilled and effective advocate who litigates with precision and purpose. She has achieved terminating sanctions on behalf of a multi-platinum, Grammy Award-winning recording artist.

Ashlee has led presentations and written several articles on litigation lessons for transactional entertainment attorneys. Her presentation to the Beverly Hills Bar Association drew over 900 registrations, and led to an invitation to author a three-part series in the Daily Journal and in The Licensing Journal.

In addition to her entertainment practice, Ashlee conducts workplace investigations. She has led dozens of neutral investigations involving internal employee complaints of discrimination, harassment, retaliation, and policy violations. This work has informed her litigation practice and made her a sharper, more effective attorney.

Ashlee also has significant pro bono experience, including serving as outside pro bono counsel to GLAAD, a national organization with a mission to garner full acceptance of the LGBTQ+ community through accurate media and entertainment representation. She regularly works with Casa Cornelia to assist people in need of pro bono immigration assistance. Ashlee helped a family gain asylum in the U.S., and recently helped a same-sex couple gain employment authorization while they await a decision on their asylum application.

Ashlee is active in the community and dedicated to public service. She is on the Board of Directors for Casa Cornelia Law Center, and is on Naturally San Diego’s Planning Committee. She has also served as a volunteer mentor for Promises2Kids and on an LGBTQ+ resource center’s event committee as a fundraising lead.

While in law school, Ashlee externed for the Honorable Manuel L. Real of the United States District Court, Central District of California and for the United States Attorney’s Office, Central District of California. Prior to joining Kinsella Holley Iser Kump Steinsapir LLP, Ashlee worked at two international AmLaw 100 firms.

• Admitted to practice in California State and Federal Courts
• Association of Workplace Investigators, Certificate-Holder (AWI-CH)
• Board Member, Casa Cornelia Law Center
• Planning Committee Member, Naturally San Diego
• Fundraising Lead (former), North County LGBTQ Resource Center
• Volunteer (former), Promises2Kids Guardian Scholars

• Author, “Litigation lessons for entertainment transactional attorneys: Unexecuted work-for-hire agreements,” Daily Journal, April 2026
• Author, “Litigation lessons for entertainment transactional attorneys: Influencer marketing,” Daily Journal, April 2026
• Speaker, “Lawyers Behind the Big Screen,” Loyola Law School, April 2026
• Author, “Litigation lessons for entertainment transactional attorneys: Nuanced contracting pitfalls,” Daily Journal, March 2026
• Speaker, “From Deal to Dispute: Litigation Lessons for Entertainment Transactional Attorneys,” Beverly Hills Bar Association, March 2026 (900+ registrants)
• Speaker, “From Deal to Dispute: Litigation Lessons for Entertainment Transactional Attorneys,” Schulz Entertainment Law PC, January 2026
• Author, “Employee complaints are inevitable. It’s up to HR to ensure proper investigation,” HR Dive, March 2025
• Speaker, “LGBTQ+ Allyship for Legal Professionals,” Association of Corporate Counsel and others, June 2023
• Co-author, “A Checklist for the U.S. Food Retail Industry in Light of COVID-19,” JD Supra, May 2020
• Co-Author, “FDA Issues Guidance on Alcohol-Based Hand Sanitizer Production in Response to COVID-19,” JD Supra, April 2020
• Co-Author, “Year in Review: 2019 Food, Beverage and Supplement Litigation Roundup,” JD Supra, March 2020
• Co-Author, “FDA and USDA Guidance on Worker Safety and Sanitation in Food Production Facilities,” JD Supra, March 2020
• Speaker, “The ABC’s of AB-5,” Association of Corporate Counsel, November 2019
• Co-Author, “What Rules Will Govern Claims Relating to CBD in Food, Beverages and Supplements?,” JD Supra, November 2019
• Co-author, “California Franchisors Need to Minimize Risk Before ‘Employee’ Storm Hits,” Bloomberg Law, October 2019
• Co-author, “New California Law Disrupts Franchise Relationships,” Bryan Cave Leighton Paisner LLP, September 2019
• Co-Author, “Food Suppliers: Understand What Your Contamination and Recall Insurance Policies Do and Don’t Cover – Then Plan Accordingly,” JD Supra, September 2019