Ashley W. French is a partner in the firm's Charleston office.  She has trial experience in both state and federal court.  Ms. French has litigated hundreds of employment law cases brought under state and federal law, negligence and deliberate intent cases involving personal injury, blasting cases, construction cases, trucking and transportation cases, premises liability, wrongful death, toxic torts, cases brought under the Fair Labor Standards Act, and claims brought under the West Virginia Consumer Credit & Protection Act (WVCCPA) against creditors.  She has served as lead counsel on multiple class actions.

In addition to cases involving claims for personal injury, deliberate intent, MSHA, OSHA, wrongful death, discrimination, and wrongful discharge, Ms. French has handled audits conducted by the Department of Labor for her clients in the Energy Industry on both the state and federal level.

Ms. French has had a particular focus on employment law over the years and has served as the chair for professional employment law committees.  She has represented employers at trial in discrimination cases brought under the West Virginia Human Rights Act, workers' compensation discrimination claims, the West Virginia Wage Payment and Collection Act, restrictive covenants, trade secret protection and wrongful discharge and retaliation cases.  Ms. French also has trial experience in trucking, personal injury and deliberate intent cases.

Ms. French is a recipient of the 2010 Generation Next: 40 Under 40 award and has been selected as a West Virginia Super Lawyers Rising Star.

She is admitted to practice in all West Virginia state and federal courts, as well as the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Fourth Circuit.

Ms. French has been a member of many legal organizations over the years including the Transportation Lawyers Association and the Defense Trial Counsel of West Virginia, where she chaired the Employment Law Group and co-founded and chaired the Creditor's Rights Committee.  She is the President of the West Virginia Bar Association and has served on its Executive Committee.  She is also a former President of the Kanawha County Bar Association.

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.