For attorneys Ashley Carlile and Jennifer Side, opening Carlile & Side, P.C. wasn't simply about launching a new business in Canton. It was about creating the kind of law firm they had always envisioned, one where exceptional legal representation is matched by compassion, integrity, and a genuine commitment to the people they serve every day.
Just one year after opening their doors in Cherokee County, the women-owned firm is already making its mark by providing skilled, client-centered representation in family law, criminal defense, and juvenile law. Together, Ashley and Jennifer bring more than 30 years of combined legal experience to every case, blending extensive courtroom knowledge with a deeply personal understanding of what clients are experiencing during some of life's most challenging and uncertain moments. The partners first worked together at another law firm, where they discovered they shared a common vision for what legal representation should truly be. They wanted to build a practice where every client feels heard, supported, and empowered, not simply represented and left to navigate it all alone. At the same time, they were committed to creating a firm that allows them to be fully present for their own families while still providing exceptional, unwavering advocacy for the families they serve.
As the firm continues to grow, its mission remains unchanged: to provide trusted legal counsel, fierce advocacy, and compassionate guidance for individuals and families navigating some of the most difficult chapters of their lives together.
Two Women, One Vision
Ashley T. Carlile — Owner / Partner
Ashley, a proud Cherokee County native, has practiced family law, criminal defense, and juvenile law since 2011, earning a reputation for thoughtful advocacy and unwavering dedication to her clients throughout North Georgia. Outside the office, Ashley is a mother raising her own children in local schools, spending evenings and weekends on athletic fields, at school events, and volunteering throughout the community. Her investment in Cherokee County extends far beyond her professional role, she is raising her family here, building relationships, and contributing to the community she proudly and happily calls home.
That balance between career and family has shaped who Ashley is as an attorney and as a person. She often tells her children that they can do hard things, a philosophy that inspired her own leap of faith into entrepreneurship. She hopes her journey shows her children that with perseverance, courage, and hard work, ambitious goals are always within reach.
Jennifer G. Side — Owner / Partner
Jennifer relocated her family to Cherokee County in 2018 after serving as a prosecutor for 11 long years, bringing a unique perspective and extensive courtroom experience to her practice before transitioning to family and criminal law in 2021. Jennifer's commitment to excellence extends to the team she and Ashley have built together. She credits much of the firm's early success to the dedication of their staff, whose willingness to embrace new responsibilities and grow alongside the practice has created an environment centered on teamwork and exceptional client service.
Looking ahead, Jennifer and Ashley have ambitious goals. They aspire to grow Carlile & Side, P.C. into the largest women-owned law firm in Cherokee County, while preserving the personalized, relationship-driven approach that defines the firm today. For Jennifer, success isn't measured solely by the cases they win, it's reflected in the trust they earn and the lasting impact they make in the community they proudly serve every day.
"We wanted to create a place where people know they have someone standing beside them," Ashley and Jennifer both say.