Ashley W. French is a partner in the firm’s Charleston, West Virginia office and has significant trial experience in both state and federal court.  She has litigated hundreds of employment law cases brought under state and federal law, negligence and deliberate intent cases, personal injury, medical malpractice cases, blasting cases, construction cases, dust mask cases, trucking and transportation cases, premises liability, wrongful death, toxic torts, Fair Labor Standards Act, dram shop, and claims brought under the West Virginia Consumer Credit & Protection Act by debtors against creditors.  Ms. French has served as lead counsel on multiple class actions and has handled audits conducted by the Department of Labor for her clients on both the state and federal level.  She routinely handles cases brought before the West Virginia Human Rights Commission.

Ms. French is a former President of the Kanawha County Bar Association.  She is also a Past-President of the West Virginia Bar Association, has served on its Executive Committee, and chaired its Lobbying and Legislation Committee.   She served as the chair for the Employment Law Committee for the Defense Trial Counsel of West Virginia for two-years, as well as co-founded and chaired its Creditor’s Rights Committee.  She currently serves on the Board for Defense Trial Counsel.

Ms. French has been a member of many legal organizations including DRI, the Transportation Lawyers Association and the National Retail & Restaurant Defense Association.  She has also served on the Board of Directors for numerous local non-profit organizations.

Ms. French is a recipient of the State Journal 2010 Generation Next 40 Under 40 award and has been selected for the West Virginia Super Lawyers Rising Stars list in multiple years. More recently, she was honored as one of The Best Lawyers in America® 2027 in Employment Litigation.

Ms. French received her B.A. from West Virginia University in 1996 and her J.D. from West Virginia University College of Law in 2002.  She also attended the Trial Advocacy College at the University of Virginia in 2007.