Ashley is practice group leader of the Regulatory Compliance and Government Litigation practice group and a member of the firm's Executive Committee and Partner Compensation Committee.

Ashley's practice focuses on multistate regulatory work, consumer protection, civil litigation and administrative law matters. Drawing upon his experience as a Deputy Attorney General he has developed an extensive consumer practice with regard to advertising, marketing, and privacy related issues. He also represents clients' interests in single or multistate enforcement activities by state attorneys general. In 2008, Ashley founded and currently co-chairs the American Bar Association committee on state attorneys general matters.

Ashley previously served as a Commissioner on the United States Commission on Civil Rights, appointed by President Bush from 2004-2010. Ashley's current experience involves the representation of a large publicly traded company in a 32 state attorneys general investigation.

Representative Experience

Multi-State State Attorneys General Investigations

Representation of data broker regarding 44-state investigation into data breach.

Representation of a leading pharmacy benefit manager in a 33-state investigation involving "undisclosed" rebates.

Representation of national trade association in connection with NAAG "model" legislation.

Representation of national pharmaceutical company in multi-state investigation involving off-label marketing.

Litigation

Counsel to manufacturer challenging Tax and Trade Bureau regulation.

Counsel to distributor in RICO action (R.J. Reynolds Tobacco Company v. Market Basket Food Stores, Inc., Civil Action No. 05-253).

Counsel to national ministry in defense of action alleging various Constitutional challenges ( Americans United for Separation of Church and State, et al., Appellees v. Prison Fellowship Ministries, Inc., et al., 509 F.3d 406 (8th Cir. 2007); 2007 U.S. App. LEXIS 27928).

Counsel to real estate developer in land acquisition dispute (Ventures Development, LLC and Lakeside Commons, LLC v. B.D. Ashe, Case No. 025CL06000137-00).

Publications and Speaking Engagements

Presenter, "Promotions in Rhode Island & New York," The Global Regulatory Year in Review, Tobacco Merchants Association's 98th Annual Meeting & Conference, Williamsburg, VA, Thursday, May 16, 2013.

"Walking a Tightrope: State Attorney General Enforcement Authority and Private Counsel Contingency Fee Arrangements," American Bar Association State and Local Government Law News, Vol. 36, No. 3, Spring 2013.

"Working with your State Attorney General," 8th Annual Credit and Collection News Conference, Half Moon Bay, California, April 3, 2013.

"State Attorneys General: Chief Deputy Attorneys General Panel," 8 th Annual Credit and Collection News Conference, Half Moon Bay, California, April 2, 2013.

"State Attorneys General and Consumer Protection Agencies: Emerging State Privacy Initiatives, Settlement and Enforcement Trends and Security Breach Notification Requirements," American Conference Institute's 13th Annual Legal and Compliance Forum on Privacy and Security of Consumer and Employee Information, Washington, DC, February 5, 2013.

"Top 8 Rules for Dealing with State Insurance Regulators," presented to in-house legal department of Fortune 500 company, Richmond, Virginia, January 29, 2013.

"New Voter Registration Laws: Fighting Voter Fraud or Suppressing the Vote?" ABA Section of State and Local Government, Criminal Justice Section, and the Center for Professional Development, Webinar and Teleconference, November 5, 2012.

"Working with your Attorneys General," Credit and Collection News 7th Annual Credit Grantor Consortium, Washington, DC, August 8, 2012.

"New Voter Registration Laws: Fighting Voter Fraud or Suppressing the Vote?" ABA State & Local Government Law Section, Annual Meeting, Showcase Panel Presentation, Chicago, IL, August 5, 2012.

"Attorneys General and Consumer Protection Agencies Speak Out on Emerging State Privacy Initiatives, Settlement and Enforcement Trends and Security Breach Notice Requirements," American Conference Institute's 12th National Legal and Compliance Forum on Privacy and Security of Consumer and Employee Information, San Francisco, CA, July 30, 2012.

"The Removability of Consumer Protection Lawsuits Filed by State Attorneys General," American Bar Association State & Local Law News, Vol. 35, No. 3, Spring 2012.

"The Ten Most Significant Attorney General Investigations/Settlements Involving Technology," The University of Dayton School of Law's Twentieth Annual Seminar on Significant Developments in Computer and Cyberspace Law, Dayton, OH, June 11, 2010.

"Emerging State Enforcement Activities and Investigations and the Growing Authority of the State Attorneys General," American Conference Institute's National Advanced Forum on Litigation and Enforcement Preparedness for Data Privacy & Information Security, Dallas, TX, June 2010.

"Federalism - The Ever Evolving Relationship Between the Federal and State Governments," American Bar Association State and Local Government Annual Meeting, San Francisco, CA, August 2010.

"Working With AGs to Maneuver Your Way Through the Investigation Process," American Conference Institute's 9th Annual Conference on Consumer Finance Class Actions & Litigation, January 2010.

"State Attorneys General: Responding to Multi-State Regulatory Compliance Investigations," American Bar Association Panel Seminar, July 2009.

"Troutman Sanders' Ashley Taylor on the Rise of the State Attorneys General,", Corporate Crime Reporter, July 2009.

"From Cradle to Grave: Regulatory Investigations Which Beget Complex Business Litigation," Washington Metropolitan (WMACCA) Chapter of Association of Corporate Counsel, May 2009.

"Multi-State Investigations and Suits: How to Address the Expanding Authority and Ambition of State Attorneys General," Washington Legal Foundation's Web Seminar Series, March 2009.

"State Attorneys Investigation," American Legislative Exchange Council, November 2008.

"State Attorneys General: The Robust Use of Previously Ignored States Powers," Co-Author, The Urban Lawyer, The National Journal on State and Local Government Law, Summer 2008.

"ChoicePoint Official: Experienced Counsel Key for Multi-State AG Probes," The Bureau of National Affairs, Inc., July 2007.

"Cases Involving Government Agencies Present Unique Discovery Issues," Co-Author, Atlantic Coast In-House Counsel, July 2005.

"Effectively Responding When the State Attorneys General Are Arrayed Against Your Company," Atlantic Coast In-House, March 2004.

Consumer Financial Protection Bureau

Speaker, "Understanding the CFPB and State Attorneys General Regulatory Issues Relating to Debt Collection," Credit and Collection News Webinar, March 7, 2013.

"The Consumer Financial Protection Bureau and State Attorneys General Compliance," Credit and Collection News Webinar, November 13, 2012.

"The Consumer Financial Protection Bureau (CFPB): The New World Order - Enforcement by State Attorneys General and the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau," American Conference Institute, September 20, 2011.

"State Attorneys General: Responding Successfully to Regulatory Compliance Matters and Investigations," Credit and Collection News Conference - Collection Agency Consortium, August 18, 2011.

"The Consumer Financial Protection Bureau and the State Attorneys General: A Force Multiplier in Consumer Protection Matters," Bloomberg Law Reports, May 25, 2011.

Firm Management Responsibilities

Member, Executive Committee

Member, Partner Compensation Committee

Other Distinctions

Recognized in The Best Lawyers in America in Corporate Law (2011-2013).

Recognized as a Virginia Super Lawyer in Civil Litigation Defense (2006-2012); Super Lawyers Corporate Counsel Edition for Civil Litigation Defense (2009-2011).

Named to Virginia Business magazine's Legal Elite in Legislative and Regulatory Law (2004, 2010), Civil Litigation (2005, 2007, 2009), and Young Lawyer (2006, 2008).

Recognized as one of "The 50 Most Influential Minority Lawyers in America" by the National Law Journal (2008)

Named as Style Weekly's Top 40 under 40 (2007).

Named by the American Bar Association State and Local Government Section as the "Up and Comer" of the Year (1999).

Work Experience

Partner, Troutman Sanders LLP (2003-present)

Commissioner, United States Commission on Civil Rights, Appointed by President George W. Bush (December 2004-2010)

Associate, Troutman Sanders LLP (2001-2002)

Deputy Virginia Attorney General (1998-2001)

Associate, Kaufman & Canoles, Norfolk, VA (1995-1998)

Law Clerk, United States District Court (1993-1995)

Memberships

· Chair of State Attorneys General Sub-committee, American Bar Association

· Member, Virginia Bar Association's Committee on Federal Judgeships, Eastern District

· Member, Commission on Virginia Courts in the 21st Century, appointed by Chief Justice Hassell

· Former Member, Executive Counsel, American Bar Association, Young Lawyers Division

· Former Member, Executive Committee, Virginia Bar Association, Young Lawyers Division

· Former Director, Virginia Military Institute Athletic Association (The Keydet Club)

 (Also at Washington, District of Columbia Office)