Skip to Content

Overview

Ashley is an experienced litigator and trial lawyer who helps clients protect their business interests in disputes related to contracts, professional malpractice, business torts, product liability, premises liability, and other claims stemming from catastrophic injuries.  She also serves as national counsel for clients in toxic tort litigation.

Client engagement is central to successful defense litigation, and Ashley is committed to maintaining a high level of communication. She takes the time to identify and focus on her clients’ goals, concerns, values, and feedback. Ashley manages the relationship transparently so that her clients can see how their interests are being served at every stage of the litigation process. She collaborates with clients so they can provide valuable input to ensure that the legal strategy accounts for business realities.

Ashley has been recognized in numerous leading attorney directories, including North Carolina Leaders in the Law, Super Lawyers, Legal Elite, and maintains an AV Preeminent rating from Martindale Hubbell.

Ashley is also a leader in several professional organizations.  She is a past president of the North Carolina Association of Defense Attorneys.  Ashley serves in several leadership roles in DRI, which is a national organization of attorneys committed to representing businesses.  Her most recent appointment is to serve in the leadership of the Federation of Defense and Corporate Counsel (FDCC), an invitation-only, peer-reviewed organization of approximately 1,400 attorneys and corporate counsel around the world.

Legal Assistant

Elvi Leslie

Direct: 919-865-7040

E-mail: Elvi.leslie@elliswinters.com

Credentials

Education

  • J.D., Campbell University School of Law
  • B.A., Furman University

Bar Admissions

  • North Carolina, 2005
  • South Carolina, 2008

Court Admissions

  • Eastern District of North Carolina
  • Middle District of North Carolina
  • Western District of North Carolina
  • District of South Carolina

Professional Associations and Memberships

  • North Carolina Association of Defense Attorneys
    • President (current)
    • President Elect (2021 – 2022)
    • Executive Vice President (2020-2021) 
    • Treasurer (2018-2020)
    • Board of Directors (2015-2018)
    • Chair of Women Litigator Committee (2014-2015)
    • Co-Chair of the Women Litigator Committee (2013-2014)
  • DRI
    • Drug and Medical Device Committee; Publications Chair for the Experts/Complex Medicine Substantive Law Group
    • Women in the Law Committee; Steering Committee Liaison to the Drug and Medical Device Committee
  • Federation of Defense & Corporate Counsel (2022-Present)
  • North Carolina Society of Healthcare Attorneys
    • Co-editor of Prognosis (2009-2012)
  • North Carolina Bar Association, Health Law Section
  • 10th Judicial Bar
    • Bar Candidate Interview Committee (2006-present)
    • Board of Directors (2010-2012)
  • Wake County Bar Association
    • Current Chair; Membership Committee
    • Board of Directors (2010-2012)
  • North Carolina Supreme Court Historical Society
    • Board of Trustees (2012-2017)
  • American Bar Association
    • Women in Product Liability Committee

Experience

  • Defending clients involved in commercial and mass tort litigation in South Carolina.
  • Defending manufacturers of medical devices, including those used in the fields of urogynecology, orthopedics, and interventional radiology in national litigation.
  • Representing distributors of surgical products involved in consumer fraud litigation.
  • Defending emergency medical providers through a jury trial that resulted in a defense verdict.
  • Advising healthcare providers related to investigations initiated by the North Carolina Medical Board, the North Carolina Board of Nursing, and the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services.
  • Representing the owners and operators of assisted living, skilled nursing, and adult care facilities.

Prior Experience

Ms. Brathwaite began working with the Vice President for Marketing and Public Affairs at the largest hospital system in South Carolina while she was an undergraduate at Furman University. She continued in her role handling internal communications for more than 6,000 employees after graduation before deciding to attend law school. While in law school, she received a scholarship that allowed her to complete an internship with the Honorable Judge John M. Tyson on the North Carolina Court of Appeals. Ms. Brathwaite also competed at the regional and then national level as a member of the Campbell Law Moot Court Board and was inducted into the Order of the Barristers.

Presentations/Publications

Ashley presents to clients on a range of risk management and litigation-related issues such as personal injury claim investigation, electronic medical records, and working with local trial courts. She also provides case law updates and presentations on current legal trends to clients, medical groups, and associations. Topics have included:

  • Current trends in asbestos litigation
  • Prescription drug and medical device litigation
  • Other multi-plaintiff areas of litigation
  • Medical malpractice case law
  • South Carolina medical negligence
  • Electronic discovery issues and HIPAA

Awards/Recognition

  • North Carolina Leaders in the Law, (2023-2024)
  • The Best Lawyers in America®, Health Care Litigation (2019-2024)
  • Business North Carolina, Legal Elite, Young Guns (2011-2016), Litigation (2016-2017, 2020, 2023, 2024)
  • North Carolina Super Lawyers Magazine, Personal Injury – Medical Malpractice, Personal Injury – Products, Personal Injury – General, Business Litigation (2017-2024)
    • “North Carolina Rising Star” (2013-2015)
  • AV Preeminent Rated, Martindale-Hubbell

Updates

News Posts

All News from Ashley K. Brathwaite