Ashley is passionate about working with clients in construction, insurance coverage, and professional liability matters. Over the years, Ashley has cultivated a reputation of being known for her hands-on approach to her work with her clients. From working with North Carolina farmers at a pro bono office in Durham at the start of her career to crawling through a crawl space to understand a key issue in a construction case, or defending a salvage claim on a high-dollar vessel, Ashley’s priorities have always been to best serve those she represents in communities throughout the state. Complementing her hands-on approach, Ashley also has experience advocating for her clients before various state and professional licensing boards.
Ashley also has experience with motor vehicle and admiralty negligence claims, both commercial and personal. Whether it is a vessel or a vehicle, Ashley is well versed in negligence arising out of collisions, allisions, cargo, and passengers. She has handled numerous cases involving vessels and vehicles resulting in cargo claims, bodily injury claims, employer liability and corporate veil piercing, and multi-policy applications.
She is a multi-faceted lawyer with many talents, including experience litigating in state and federal courts across North Carolina. Ashley has a strong business acumen from her years of experience coupled with her advanced certificate in international business law. Her areas of focus and results are described below.
Construction Law
In her Construction law practice, Ashley often represents subcontractors on both sides of the dispute. She is proficient at asserting and perfecting liens against property and funds for job payments owed. She is also well experienced in defending contractors from negligent construction allegations and construction defect claims.
Insurance Coverage
Before responding to claims, sometimes clients face challenges in determining whether an insurance policy is required to provide a defense or, in the case of multiple policies, how to read those policies to simultaneously apply to the claims at hand. Insurance coverage can provide a way to offset client costs either through providing defense counsel or by absorbing some of the costs of settlement. Ashley is experienced in walking her clients through a coverage analysis, determining if coverage applies, and helping implement a plan based on that analysis.
Professional Liability
Helping other lawyers, construction specialists such as surveyors and engineers, insurance brokers, realtors, and other licensed professionals, Ashley provides a vigorous defense to the common standard of care allegations these professionals face. She has worked with professionals in both licensing board and civil litigation scenarios. As a licensed professional herself, Ashley understands the nuances of the additional regulations and standards expected of those similarly situated and how to provide the best defense possible to her clients.
- North Carolina (2015)
- U.S. District Court, Eastern District of North Carolina
- U.S. District Court, Middle District of North Carolina
- U.S. District Court, Western District of North Carolina
- Reading University – Advanced Certificate in International Business Law (2014)
- North Carolina Notary Public
- North Carolina Electronic Notary
- Campbell University School of Law (JD, 2015)
- Appalachian State University (BA, 2010)
- Appalachian State University (BS, 2010)
- AV® Rating from Martindale-Hubbell
- North Carolina Super Lawyers Rising Star, 2024
- Admiralty and Maritime Law Continuing Education instructor
- Construction Law Continuing Education instructor
- North Carolina Pro Bono Honor Society – 2021
- Addison Hewlett Jr. Award for Exceptional Pro Bono Service from the New Hanover County Bar Association and Legal Aid of North Carolina – 2021
- Cranfill Sumner LLP
- Bryant & Lewis, P.A.
- Land Loss Prevention Project
- North Carolina State Bar
- North Carolina Bar Association
- Wilmington, NC