Ashley Heslop
Biography
Ashley Heslop is a Partner in our Charleston office. She has been practicing in the area of professional liability defense for over 20 years, and Ashley enjoys getting to know her clients on a personal level and helping them navigate the litigation process. She believes that a thorough investigation of a claim is the best way to serve her clients so they understand the issues and can evaluate how to move forward based on the most complete information possible.
Ashley received her Juris Doctor from the University of South Carolina and her Bachelor of Arts from Wofford College. Between 2014 and 2017 Ashley was named a South Carolina Rising Star by Super Lawyers®. Outside of her practice, she has served as an Elder, Sunday School teacher, and member of several committees at her church, Summerville Presbyterian. She also served three terms as chairperson of the School Improvement Council (SIC) at her youngest daughter’s elementary school.
Experience
Ashley has worked with long term care providers throughout her over 15 years of practice. She has extensive experience working with and defending all types of long-term care providers including skilled nursing facilities, assisted living facilities, home health, and hospice. She actively works with clients to evaluate claims prior to suit being filed and handles all aspects of litigation.
She also assists providers directly in Medicare and Medicaid reimbursement matters and guides them through the Guardianship and Conservatorship requirements in South Carolina.
Ashley regularly speaks to South Carolina industry groups on a range of topics including COVID litigation, best practices in litigation and risk management, arbitration in long term care, South Carolina legal updates, and Medicaid reimbursement practices.
Ashley has defended numerous health care providers in the correctional setting, representing contract health care provider companies, physicians, physician assistants, nurses, and dentists in both represented and pro se matters. She has extensive experience with Section 1983 claims and has received Summary Judgment, dismissals, or favorable outcomes for her clients.
Ashley has represented dentists and dental practices in South Carolina for the majority of her practice. She defends providers in all aspects of litigation and also regularly handles complaints, investigations, and hearings before the South Carolina Board of Dentistry. She is general counsel to dental providers on risk management issues, documentation, regulatory matters, and other aspects of practice management.
Ashley has defended clients in cases involving personal injury throughout her career including premises liability and general negligence claims. These cases run the gamut in their facts, parties, and value, and she uses her experience to determine the best strategy to represent the carrier and defendant to achieve their desired resolution.
Ashley is proud to have represented medical providers throughout her career. She has defended hospitals, nurses, physicians, physician assistants, therapists, laboratories, and technicians. She has handled cases from the inception of an investigation through all aspects of litigation. Ashley also represents providers in complaint investigations and actions before licensing boards.
Credentials
Admitted
State Courts:
- South Carolina
U.S. District Courts:
- U.S. District Court for the District of South Carolina
U.S. Courts of Appeals:
- U.S. Court of Appeals for the Fourth Circuit
Education
- J.D., University of South Carolina, 2003
- B.A., English and Government, Wofford College, 1999
Memberships
- American Society for Healthcare Risk Management
- DRI: 2012-Present
- Medical and Health Care Liability, Professional Liability, Women in Law, & Diversity Committees
- South Carolina Assisted Living Association
- South Carolina Defense Trial Lawyers Association
- South Carolina Women Lawyers Association
Recognition
- South Carolina Rising Star, Super Lawyers®, 2014-2017
Presentations
- Jockey Up and Finish Strong: The Race to Achieve & Protect South Carolina Medicaid Eligibility
South Carolina Health Care Association Trade Show, April 2023 - Preparing for COVID Litigation
South Carolina Association of Community Residential Programs Fall Conference; October 7, 2020 - Batten Down the Hatches: Preparing for the Wave to COVID-19 Litigation
South Carolina Assisted Living Association, Fall Conference; September 21, 2020 - Reimbursement Matters: Connecting The Dots Between Admission and Appeals
South Carolina Health Care Association 2020 Convention; September 2, 2020
- Navigation of Employment Practice Liability Claims and the Interplay with Professional Liability
ALC Legal Round Table; February 18, 2020 - SC Legal Update: Changes to SC Probate Code and Enforcement of Arbitration Agreements
South Carolina Health Care Association Winter Conference; December 5, 2019 - Not If, But When: What to Expect in Litigation & Best Practices
SCALA; April 3, 2019 - Community Residual Care Facilities: Hot Topics in Litigation
SCACRP Fall Conference, October 2018 - Evolving Social Media: Pitfalls and Strategies for Providers
ASHRM Annual Conference, October 2017 - 2017 SCHA Legislative Update
2017 GSHRM Annual Conference; May 10-12, 2017 - Nursing Home Abuse: Is it Really Abuse
Charleston County Bar Association,“What Works” CLE; February 2016 - Medical Malpractice: Not if, but when
Medical University of South Carolina - Resident Rights v. Resident Safety: A New Frontier of Legal Claims
Argentum South Carolina Annual Convention; October 3, 2016 - Emerging Legal Trends: Employees and Social Media in Healthcare
SCONL/SC ASHRM/SCAHQ Joint Meeting; December 2, 2016