Ashley Blake

About Ashley Blake

I am a seasoned South Dakota trust industry professional and an experienced trust and trust company lawyer. I serve as the President and General Counsel of Bridgeford Trust Company, a leading South Dakota trust company that provides direction and control to our clients. We serve as trustee on directed and discretionary South Dakota-sitused trusts for HNW and UHNW families and individuals, both international and domestic. Bridgeford is client-focussed and solutions-driven. We are known to be entrepreneurial, nimble, creative, and an industry thought leader.Prior to working at Bridgeford, I was a trust and trust company attorney, regularly providing advice to attorneys and advisors across the country and to their HNW and UHNW clients regarding South Dakota trusts. I graduated as valedictorian of my law school class and am a Harvard undergrad graduate (with Honors).Please feel free to reach out or add me as a connection if you are also in the HNW or UHNW space. I am always happy to connect with other T&E lawyers, CPAs, investment and wealth management professionals, single and multi-family offices, and others that provide services in the HNW and UHNW space. I welcome collaboration and mutual business development that creates value for both sides. We have many opportunities for synergies and collaborations at Bridgeford. Also, if you are looking to understand all of the buzz around South Dakota and why it is the preeminent trust jurisdiction and how it could be right for you or your client, please don’t hesitate to send me a message. I am always happy to help.bridgefordtrust.com

Experience

1. President and General Counsel

   Bridgeford Trust Company

   Feb 2022 — Present · Sioux Falls, SD, US

   I lead all of Bridgeford Trust Company’s South Dakota operations from our office in Sioux Falls. I specifically oversee and work closely with Bridgeford Trust Company’s trust administrative and compliance teams in both our Pierre and Sioux Falls offices, focus extensively on strategic plan implementation, and support the company’s growth, business development, and legal initiatives.I serve on our Board of Managers and Trust Administrative Committees, as well as serving on the Audit, Risk, and Compliance Committee, the Employment Committee, and the Finance Committee.

Education

• Harvard University

  Bachelor’s Degree

  2005 — 2009

• The University of South Dakota Knudson School of Law

  Juris Doctor (J.D.)

  2013 — 2016

Skills

• Trust Companies
• Business Planning
• Privacy Policies
• Contract Negotiation
• Cyberlaw
• Corporate Law
• Powers of Attorney
• Estate Planning
• Public Speaking
• Trusts
• Wills