Ashley Philen

Ashley E. Philen was nominated and named as one of Louisiana’s “Top 40 Under 40” Attorneys, by the National Trial Lawyers, beginning in 2013. The Top 40 under 40 is a professional organization composed of the top trial lawyers from each state who are younger than the age of 40. Membership is by invitation only and is extended exclusively to those trial lawyers practicing civil plaintiff and/or criminal defense law. Invitees must exemplify superior qualifications, trial results, and leadership as a young lawyer under the age of 40.

Ashley received her B.S. degree in 2001 from Louisiana State University and her J.D. degree in 2007 from Southern University Law Center in Baton Rouge, where she made Law Review and graduated magna cum laude. Ashley was also elected Marshal, and later elected Justice (President) of Phi Alpha Delta Law Fraternity, International Tureaud Chapter – a position that she held in high regard. The purpose and goals of this organization encourage us all to serve the greater good.

While in law school, Ashley studied abroad at London City University taking courses in International Public Law and International Criminal Law.

Ashley became a practicing member of the Louisiana Bar in 2007, and began working on the historic lawsuit, Robinson v. United States. This was the lawsuit filed in federal court Eastern District of Louisiana brought by the citizens of New Orleans against the United States Army Corps of Engineers for damages caused by the Mississippi River Gulf Outlet during Hurricane Katrina. And, in 2009, she started her own law practice, focusing on environmental law and advocating for Louisiana, its citizens and its environment.

Through a joint venture with Simien & Simien, LLC, in 2010, Ashley became of counsel with a firm in Lake Charles, where she continued to represent landowners in state and federal court, whose property had been damaged by oil, gas and pipeline companies’ operations.

And 2012, she became part of another historic lawsuit Southeastern Louisiana Flood Protection Authority-East v. Tennessee Gas Pipeline, et al. The lawsuit was filed in the Eastern District of Louisiana and alleges that more than ninety defendants compromised the integrity of Louisiana’s coastal lands, whose activities tied to hundreds of wells and pipelines, heighten the risk of storm surge and flooding associated with hurricanes in the region.

Ashley is licensed to practice in Louisiana and has been admitted to practice in the United States Eastern, Middle, and Western Districts of Louisiana, as well as, the Fifth Circuit United States Court of Appeals.

She is also a member of the American Bar Association, Louisiana Association of Justice, the Baton Rouge Bar Association, The National Trial Lawyers Environmental Trial Lawyers Association, and National Women Trial Lawyers Association.

Since 2013, Ashley has continuously received an annual award for “Top Lawyers in Louisiana – Highest in Ethics Standards & Professional Excellence,” as well as the Martindale-Hubbell “Client Distinction Award.” The Client Distinction Award is a distinction of honor based on her Client Review Ratings of 5.0 out 5.0.