Eleanor Ashford
Founding Partner — Estate Planning & Probate
Eleanor has counseled Greater Boston families on estate planning and administration for more than two decades, with a focus on clear, durable plans that hold up across generations.
Our Firm
About Ashford & Vale
A boutique firm built on a simple belief: that sound legal counsel should feel personal, not transactional.
Our Story
Twenty-five years of counsel, and the same families still call.
Ashford & Vale was founded in 1998 by Eleanor Ashford and James Vale, two attorneys who believed a law firm could be both rigorous and deeply personal. Three decades later, we still represent many of our first clients — and now their children and grandchildren.
That continuity shapes everything we do. We keep our practice deliberately small so that a named partner can work directly on every matter, know your family, and be reachable when circumstances change. We are large enough to handle sophisticated estate, business, and real estate work, and small enough that you are never a case number.
Our Partners
The attorneys who will handle your matter.
James Vale
Founding Partner — Business & Real Estate
James advises business owners and buyers on formation, contracts, and residential and commercial real estate, guiding transactions from first draft to final closing.
Nadia Okafor
Partner — Trusts & Estates
Nadia works closely with trustees and beneficiaries on trust administration and estate settlement, known for translating complex matters into plain, practical guidance.
What We Stand For
Principles that outlast any single matter.
Continuity
We build relationships meant to last decades, not transactions meant to end at closing.
Clarity
We explain the law in plain language and quote our fees up front.
Discretion
Your affairs are private. We treat them that way, always.
Begin the Conversation
We would be glad to meet you.
Every relationship begins with a conversation. Let's start yours.
Request a Consultation