Some families pass down heirlooms—watches, recipes, or even old love letters. The Aiken family, however, has passed down a legacy based upon a passion for justice.
Wylie Aiken built his California law firm with dedication and grit, but what makes this story remarkable isn’t just the firm’s success, but rather the unconventional journeys of each of his children.
Darren, Chris and Ashleigh didn’t initially set out to follow in their father’s footsteps. In fact, each embarked on decidedly unique paths exploring their passions and callings before finding their way to the courtroom and their father’s growing firm. Now, not just a practice, Aitken Aitken Cohn is also a testament to how destiny, family, and the pursuit of justice can intertwine in the most unexpected ways.
Building a Future
Inspired by his mother’s unwavering belief in her son’s destiny for greatness, and the exciting scenes he enjoyed on programs like “Perry Mason,” Wylie determined that the law would be the best option.
“I knew I wanted to pursue something that would allow me to make a difference, and the law seemed a perfect fit,” he says. “I was fortunate to receive a full-ride scholarship to Marquette.”
That good fortune carried him into a plum position with a highly respected attorney who provided not only mentoring but the opportunity to immediately jump into the role of an aggressive trial attorney.
Less than 10 years later, he and partner John Bradshaw opened the doors to their own firm which has grown into one of California’s most respected personal injury law firms, earning a national reputation for their aggressive advocacy and exemplary trial skills as demonstrated in their record-setting multimillion-dollar verdicts.
As the firm flourished, so did Wylie’s family. He and Bette—his bride of more than 60 years—raised their two sons and a daughter.
A Detour to Destiny
“People frequently reference our family legacy,” says Wylie. “I suppose it stems from the fact that our children grew up in an environment heavily influenced by the law and my involvement.
“Over the years the question I’m asked most frequently by fellow attorneys is, ‘How did you get your kids to go to law school? I can’t get any of mine interested,’” Wylie shares with a chuckle. “My response is always the same. Number One – never suggest it and never push it; let them choose their own path. All three of ours have become very successful in their own right. What’s interesting though, is that none of them started out with a law career in mind.”
Darren, the eldest, was the first to leave the nest. With a sharp, analytical mind his path was that of earning a degree in economics and philosophy from Notre Dame. In his senior year, he surprised his father with an announcement.
“He began by telling me he’d taken the LSAT,” says Wylie. “Not surprisingly, he’d scored exceptionally high. That’s when he said he was going to law school.”
Darren earned his law degree from USC where his two younger siblings would also attend five and ten years later. While he clerked at the firm from the age of 16, he chose to begin his career at a corporate law firm. After two years, he made the decision to return to his father’s firm – building his career, reputation and exceptional skills.
Chris was blessed with an artistic flair. His creativity led him to seek an education at UCLA with the intention of working in the world of entertainment.
“Upon graduating, Chris came to me and said he just wasn’t sure exactly what he wanted to do,” Wylie said. “He indicated he’d also been giving some thought to law school. My advice was that you can never go wrong with a law degree, it would simply open more doors. Ultimately, once he had his law degree, he observed how well his brother was doing, and he joined us too!”
By the early 2000s, Darren along with his law school roommate, Rich Cohn, had made partner. Chris followed in their footsteps a few years later.
Ashleigh’s path was a little different from that of her brothers. Attending Boston College for her undergraduate degree, she followed her father in a different way. Wylie has always had an interest and been involved in politics and Ashleigh elaborated on this with an impressive career in Wa-
shington D.C.
Wylie was able to assist Ashleigh on this path because of his long-standing relationship with Senator Dianne Feinstein. The young Aitken impressed everyone with her success on the Hill, where she had a front-row seat to historical events including President Clinton’s impeachment. It took her a bit longer than her older siblings, but eventually Ashleigh also approached her father with an interest in law school.
“She told me that everyone in Washington in a position of power had a law degree,” Wylie says with a smile. “So, off she went to USC to earn her degree as well.”
Ashleigh worked as a federal prosecutor and with other firms before being elected mayor of Anaheim, California in 2022. While she never worked for the firm full time, she currently serves as of counsel.
Though each Aitken sibling set out on a different path, they ultimately found their way back—not just to the law, but to the firm their father built. What began as independent journeys became a shared commitment to advocacy, justice and family legacy. Today, Darren, Chris and Ashleigh stand not only as accomplished attorneys but as proof that sometimes, the road away from home is what leads you right where you belong
