Ashley L. Criss

Ashley represents insurers in connection with coverage issues and disputes arising under professional liability and general liability policies. She also serves as defense counsel for lawyers and other professionals in pending professional liability lawsuits, threatened claims, and in response to subpoenas.

Representative Matters

• Secured summary judgment for insurer in Tennessee federal court on the grounds that a specific entity exclusion applied to lawsuit against insured alleging a conflict of interest based on its affiliation with the excluded entity. Capwealth Advisors, LLC v. Twin City Fire Ins. Co., Case No. 21-cv-00036, 2023 WL 2700706 (M.D. Tenn. Mar. 29, 2023). 

• Obtained ruling by California federal court granting management liability insurer’s motion to dismiss lawsuit seeking coverage for securities class action based on prior acts exclusion barring coverage for claims arising out of wrongful acts before policy inception.  Jayhawk Private Equity Fund II LP v. Liberty Ins. Underwriters, Inc., No. 17-cv-5523 (C.D. Cal. June 7, 2018).

• Advises insurers on coverage issues, including applicability of various policy exclusions and conditions.
• Drafts pleadings addressing a wide variety of procedural and substantive issues for clients involved in complex insurance litigation.

Professional Experience

• Intern, Children’s Defense Fund, Juvenile Justice Policy Group (2015)
• Intern, U.S. Department of Education, Office for Civil Rights, Program Legal Group (2014)
• Secondary Social Studies Teacher, Teach for America, Duval County Public Schools (2010-2012)
• Intern, Richard W. Riley Institute, Diversity Leaders Initiative (2009-2010)
• Intern, Law in Action, Office of Stephen J. Henry (2008)

Affiliations

• Pathfinder, Leadership Council on Legal Diversity (LCLD) 2021

Recognitions

• Named one of DC's "Rising Stars" for Insurance Coverage by Super Lawyers magazine (2019-2020, 2022-2023)
• Included in The Best Lawyers of America directory of "Ones to Watch" for Insurance Law (2024)