Dinsmore Partner Cliff Ashburner was named to this year's Louisville Business First 20 People to Know in Real Estate list. He spoke with the publication about his roots, his city and his profession, an excerpt of which can be found below:

Cliff Ashburner, partner, Dinsmore & Shohl, LLP

What attracted you to real estate?

My father was the sales manager for a building materials company so, from the time I could walk, I was exposed to big construction projects. I always loved going to my dad’s office or riding with him to job sites and seeing what he was “building.” When I was at UK for law school, I was the law clerk to the LFUCG Planning Department. That’s where I learned a lot about land use and permitting from the planner’s perspective and developed a taste for land use law.

What makes Louisville an interesting real estate market?

Neighborhoods, neighborhoods, neighborhoods. Louisville has so many neighborhoods with distinct identities. The desire of people and businesses to take advantage of the special feeling that a neighborhood with a lot of character can provide has led to some friction between longtime residents and those seeking to join the neighborhood as a resident or business owner.

What’s your favorite piece of real estate in the Louisville area and why?

There are so many places in Louisville that are special, but my personal favorite is Bernheim Arboretum. Every time I visit Bernheim, I come back relaxed and refreshed, whether I’ve been hiking, walking around looking at art or just hanging outside with my family. It’s just one of the most intentionally beautiful places you can experience in Kentucky.

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