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Ashley J. Heilprin

Partner

Areas Of Focus
LitigationEmerging BusinessesGovernment Relations and Public Policy

Clients turn to Ashley Heilprin for her trial experience and her ability to think creatively and efficiently. As a trial lawyer with a wide range of experience in commercial and tort litigation, she helps clients resolve First Amendment, intellectual property, privacy, casualty and general business issues. She advises and advocates for clients in many industries, including:

    • Energy
    • Media
    • Entertainment
    • Transportation
    • Education

A leader in the legal community, Ashley has built a reputation as a talented litigator, successfully trying cases to verdict and negotiating favorable settlements. She takes the time to truly understand how particular businesses and industries operate, so she can accomplish desirable results for clients that not only mitigate their risk, but also align with their business objectives and culture.

Ashley leverages her courtroom experience and ability to “begin with the end in mind” when representing media companies in defamation defense, privacy law, right of publicity and other First Amendment issues. She also handles intellectual property law matters, including copyright and trademark counseling, litigation, registration, and proceedings before the U.S. Copyright Office and the Trademark Trial and Appeal Board.

Ashley also serves as a member of Phelps' Operations Committee.

Experience

First Amendment and Media Law

  • Actively involved in the enforcement of First Amendment rights, including the successful defense of a government contractor against subcontractor in claim in excess of $2 million.
  • Successfully defended media outlet in suit involving alleged breach of online advertising contracts.
  • Litigated anti-SLAPP motions on behalf of news media defendants.

Intellectual Property Law

  • Secured and defended early dismissal of copyright infringement claims against best-selling musicians brought by an artist claiming his work influenced one of the group’s songs.

Commercial and Tort Litigation

  • Served as first chair counsel in multimillion-dollar breach of contract dispute.
  • Obtained successful verdict at trial as first chair counsel on behalf of unpaid subcontractor against general contractor and owner in breach of contract and detrimental reliance action.
  • Obtained favorable judgment at trial as first chair counsel in election challenge case involving an Orleans Parish School Board seat.
  • Achieved a defense verdict in federal bench trial, with the damages awarded at less than 10% of the damages sought by the plaintiff.
  • Obtained defense verdict following jury trial and successfully excluded plaintiff’s claims for future medical expenses and dramatically reduced plaintiff’s alleged economic damages.
  • Defended and obtained summary judgment for commercial lessee in breach of lease dispute.
  • Obtained a favorable settlement for lawyer and professional liability insurer in legal malpractice case involving a $700,000 claim.
  • Litigated and obtained favorable settlement after winning motions for partial summary judgment and a Daubert motion, leading to the dismissal of several claims and punitive damages, as well as the exclusion of the plaintiffs’ causation expert.
  • Obtained summary judgment on behalf of defendant in multimillion-dollar breach of contract claim.

Education

  • Serve as outside general counsel for the Orleans Parish School Board since 2021. Advise board members on contracts, policies, regulations, compliance with state and federal laws, employment matters, litigation and parliamentary processes. 
  • Handle general liability litigation for St. Charles Parish School Board.
  • Counseled national educational reform organization on compliance with state lobbying laws.
  • Conducted high-profile internal investigation of public charter school.
  • Counseled local education agencies in dispute regarding changes to legislative funding scheme.

Insights

Recognition

  • Litigation - First Amendment (2025), Commercial Litigation (2021-2022), The Best Lawyers in America
  • Louisiana Super Lawyers Rising Stars list, Super Lawyers (2017-2023)
  • Leadership in Law, New Orleans CityBusiness (2023)
  • Fellow, American Bar Foundation
  • 40 Under 40, National Bar Association (2018)
  • Outstanding Young Lawyer, National Bar Association Women Lawyers Division "Women of Achievement" (2018)
  • Top Attorneys in Louisiana Rising Stars, Louisiana Life (2016-2018)
  • Louis Westerfield Award, Loyola University Black Law Students Association (2018)

Education

  • William & Mary Law School, J.D., 2013
  • College of William and Mary, M.P.P., 2013
  • University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, B.A., Public Policy and Economics, 2007

Credentials

  • Louisiana
  • Texas
  • U.S. Court of Appeals for the Fifth Circuit
  • U.S. District Court, Eastern District of Louisiana
  • U.S. District Court, Middle District of Louisiana
  • U.S. District Court, Western District of Louisiana

Memberships and Affiliations

  • Collegiate Academies – Board member (2015-2021)
  • ACLU of Louisiana – Board member
  • ADL South Central Region - Board member
  • Tulane University School of Law - Moot Court Practitioner Advisory Board (2022-2024)
  • Greater New Orleans, Inc. - NextGen Council
  • Media Law Resource Center – NextGen Committee
  • Louisiana Law Institute – Constitutional Laws Committee
  • American Bar Association, Section of Litigation - 2023 Women in Litigation Conference (Co-Chair), Forum on Communications Law - Governance Committee
  • Louisiana State Bar Association, Intellectual Property Section - President, (2023-present), Secretary (2020-2021)
  • American Bar Foundation - Fellow
  • New Orleans Bar Association
  • State Bar of Texas

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