Ashley W. French is a partner in the firm's Charleston office.  With over 15 years of trial experience in both state and federal courts, she concentrates her practice in transportation and trucking, workers' compensation discrimination claims, claims under the Human Rights Act, deliberate intent, wage payment and collection cases, trade secret protections, RIFs, restrictive covenants, and personal injury matters.

Her practice focuses on trucking accidents, premises liability, wrongful death, blasting, and personal injury claims.  In her employment law practice, Ms. French has a particular focus on discrimination claims, sexual harassment claims, claims for wrongful discharge and retaliation, and wage payment claims.  She has also assisted employers with audits conducted by the Department of Labor.  Ms. French is frequently called upon to write articles and participate as a speaker on a variety of employment law topics.

Ms. French also has extensive experience assisting financial institutions with claims brought under the West Virginia Consumer Credit & Protection Act (WVCCPA) and the Federal Credit Union Act, as well as class action suits involving the WVCCPA and wage and hour claims under both federal and state law.

Ms. French is the 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 is a member of the Transportation Lawyers Association and the National Retail and Restaurant Defense Association.  She is also an active member of the Defense Trial Counsel of West Virginia, where she has chaired the Employment Law Group and co-founded the Creditor's Rights Committee.  Ms. French is on the Executive Board of the West Virginia Bar Association and is a former President of the Kanawha County Bar Association.  Although she has served as a board member for many philanthropic organizations over the years, she has most recently devoted her time to serving on the board of a local non-profit, Pollen8.

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.