ATTORNEYS
BRIAN M. ASHTON, Esq.
PARTNER
BIO
Brian obtained his law degree from The Thomas M. Cooley School of Law. He previously worked as a judicial assistant for Judge Judy Hunter and a law clerk for Judges Lynn Callahan and Clair Dickinson in Summit County Common Pleas. Brian opened his own law practice in 2010 and partnered with Justin Barnhart in 2020.
Brian's undergraduate degree is a Bachelor of Arts in Political Science and History from Hiram College. Brian was born and raised in Cuyahoga Falls, where he currently serves as a city councilman.
Brian is licensed to practice law in the State of Ohio.
Brian enjoys unwinding by being a T.V. junkie and watching sports, particularly the Cleveland Browns. He is also a craft beer connoisseur.
EDUCATION
Juris Doctor (J.D.), The Thomas M. Cooley School of Law, 2009
Bachelor of Arts, Hiram College, 2004
JUSTIN P. BARNHART, Esq.
PARTNER
BIO
Justin obtained his law degree from the University of Akron School of Law, where he was a member of the Akron Law Review and Phi Delta Phi (International Legal Honor Society). He completed his coursework in the evening while working full-time as a forensic scientist for the Ohio Bureau of Criminal Investigation (BCI). After seven years in the forensic biology/DNA section of the crime laboratory, Justin opened his own law practice in 2014 and partnered with Brian Ashton in 2020.
Prior to law school, Justin obtained a Bachelor of Science Degree with Distinction in Forensic Biology, with a minor in Biochemistry, from Ohio Northern University. While at ONU, he held several leadership positions in various academic, social and athletic organizations.
Justin is licensed to practice law in the State of Ohio. He is also an active member of the Akron Bar Association where is involved with several committees, as well as a member of the Ohio State Bar Association.
In his free time, Justin enjoys coaching his sons' little league teams (and being a board member of the local youth baseball/softball league), camping, and woodworking.
EDUCATION
Juris Doctor (J.D.), University of Akron School of Law, 2013
Bachelor of Science, Ohio Northern University, 2007
WYATT S. NOLKER, Esq.
OF COUNSEL ATTORNEY
BIO
Attorney Wyatt Nolker earned his Bachelor’s degree from University of Akron at 20 years old and earned his law degree from Duquesne University in Pittsburgh, PA at 23 years old. Wyatt passed the Ohio Bar Exam at the height of Covid-19 in May of 2020.
After passing the bar exam, Wyatt joined Amato Law Office in Wellsville, Ohio as an associate attorney. At Amato’s, Wyatt primarily handled criminal defense and juvenile delinquency cases. Additionally, Wyatt handled domestic relations cases, small business advising, child support defense, landlord-tenant disputes & evictions, adoptions, expungements, appeals and judicial releases. He was also a Columbiana County Public Defender in both Columbiana County Juvenile Court and the former East Liverpool Municipal Court.
Wyatt then returned to the greater Cleveland area, where he worked in the Summit County Prosecutor's Office as a felony prosecutor and then spent time at the Summit Legal Defenders' office before joining Ashton & Barnhart, LLC. In Fall of 2025, Wyatt completed the NHTSA SFST DWI Detection and Standardized Field Sobriety Testing Certification course. This is the same course police officers and highway patrol troopers complete to detect OVI/DUI in Ohio.
In his free time, Wyatt likes to attend live music, spend time with his family, and slowly check off all the movies he has on his Letterboxd watchlist. Weather permitting, he enjoys golfing and skiing. His typical Tuesday night involves hanging out at home with his 2 cats.
EDUCATION
Juris Doctor (J.D.), Duquesne University Kline School of Law, 2019
Bachelor of Science, University of Akron, 2016
