Ashley Waters joined the New York City Police Department as special counsel for intelligence affairs in 2013. More recently, she served as counsel to the police commissioner of the NYPD. A primary focus of both roles was negotiating a variety of important policy changes that involved balancing public safety and civil liberties. In each matter, Waters Gundersen participated in extended discussions with internal and external stakeholders with divergent opinions and competing interests to craft policy solutions amenable to the parties involved.
She began her law career in private practice at a firm in New York City, where she focused on white collar matters and internal investigations, commercial litigation and arbitration. In addition, she was acknowledged by the firm for her extensive pro bono practice.
Waters graduated in 2000 from Harvard College, where she studied history and literature, and she graduated from Harvard Law School in 2005. She teaches Balancing Public Safety and Civil Liberties: Effective and Fair Policy Making by Local Law Enforcement at the Law School.