Ashley Cannady Headshot | Large

Ashley Eley Cannady

Partner
  • (601) 965-8180
Download Resume acannady@balch.com
Education
  • University of Mississippi School of Law
    J.D., 2003, summa cum laude
  • University of Mississippi
    B.A., Political Science, 2000, cum laude
Bar Admissions
  • Mississippi, 2003
About Ashley
Ashley uses her depth of experience to provide us with expert advice that helps our business move towards our goals.

- Chambers USA

Q&A
  • What do you see on the horizon in your area of practice?

    Labor law is constantly evolving. Even in employment-at-will situations and in non-union workplaces, employers must ensure its actions are not prohibited by the National Labor Relations Act in addition to traditional employment discrimination laws.

    Agencies such as the National Labor Relations Board (NLRB), Department of Labor (DOL), Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC), and others are beginning to collaborate and share information that will lead to an increase in enforcement efforts and new types of claims being brought by agencies that you typically would not expect.

  • Which Courts or agencies do you most often appear before on behalf of your clients?
  • How are you involved in your community?
  • What legal challenges are you looking forward to tackling in the future?

Select Matters

  • Developed compliance plan for the recommissioning and associated construction of a nuclear power plant subject to the Davis-Bacon Act and the Prevailing Wage and Apprenticeship requirements to qualify for tax credits under the Inflation Reduction Act. (2024)
  • Represented employer and obtained attorneys' fees against EEOC in disability discrimination case brought by the EEOC. (2009, EEOC v. Agro Distribution, LLC, 555 F.3d 462 (5th Cir. 2009))
  • Developed Davis-Bacon Act compliance program for nuclear power plant. (2013)  
  • Represented housing authority in suit based on age and race discrimination claims in which district court granted summary judgment in favor of client. (2016, Bivins v. Miss. Reg'l Housing Authority, 2016 U.S. App. Lexis 2590 (5th Cir. 2016))
  • Represented heavy industrial construction company in a case involving Union's unlawful repudiation of contract. (2016, Turner Industries Group, LLC v. Local 450, Int'l Union of Operating Engineers. 2016 U.S. App. LEXIS 2278 (5th Cir. 2016))
  • Represented power company in race discrimination and retaliation suit brought by former employee which was dismissed on summary judgment. (2014, Johnson v. Miss. Power Co., 2014 WL 5847521 (S.D. Miss. 2014))
  • Represented third party administrator and actuary in pension plan litigation. (2015-2023) 
  • Labor Arbitration: Represented aerospace company in labor arbitration involving claims of pay discrimination which resulted in a finding of no discrimination. (2016)
  • Non-competition / Trade Secrets Litigation:
    • Represented home health care agency and employee in suit claiming breach of non-competition agreement. Gentiva Certified Healthcare Corp v. St. Luke Home Health Services, LLC (2015).
    • Filed suit against former manager and others for violation of non-competition and trade secrets which was successfully resolved in favor of client. (2014, Canon Solutions America, Inc. v. William Pittman, Jr., Thomas Napier, and Gulf Copy Systems, LLC, No.1:14-cv-00149 (S.D. Miss. 2014)) 
  • FLSA Collective Actions:
    • Represented construction company and achieved early resolution in two FLSA cases filed as a collective action. (2014, Goss v. Southern Construction Group LLC, No. 13-0566 (S.D. Ala. 2014)); (2015, Cumberland v. Southern Construction Group LLC, No. 3:15-cv-900 (S.D. Miss. 2015))
    • Represented business and achieved early resolution with named plaintiff in collective action. (2015, Womack v. Complex People Leasing, LLC, No., 3:15-cv-306 (S.D. Miss. 2015)) 
    • Represent the largest lift-boat operator for the Gulf of Mexico market in FLSA collective action
  • Represented power company in a retaliation and age discrimination suit brought by former Operations Team Leader which was dismissed on summary judgment (Muller v. Mississippi Power Co., 2019 WL 1937584 (S.D. Miss. 2019), aff’d 780 Fed. Appx. 457 (5th Cir. 2020))
  • Obtained summary judgment in favor of production company in case alleging multiple violations of the Americans with Disabilities Act (Jackson v. Oil-Dri Corporation of America; 2018 WL 1996476 (N.D. Miss. 2018), aff’d 761 Fed. Appx. 356 (5th Cir. 2019))
  • Defended and achieved a favorable resolution for a community hospital against claims brought by former physician alleging breach of contract and retaliation for being a whistleblower (2019)
  • Represent multiple employers in the energy sector in a variety of labor arbitrations, NLRB charges, and collective bargaining
     

Publications

    News

      Speaking Engagements

        Credentials

        Education
        • University of Mississippi School of Law, J.D., 2003, summa cum laude
        • University of Mississippi, B.A., Political Science, 2000, cum laude
        Courts
        • U.S. Court of Appeals, Fifth Circuit, 2003
        • U.S. District Court, Southern District of Mississippi, 2003
        • U.S. District Court, Northern District of Mississippi, 2003
        • U.S. Supreme Court, 2014
        • U.S. District Court, Western District of Michigan, 2024
        • U.S. Court of Appeals, Eleventh Circuit, 2021
        Bar Admissions
        • Mississippi, 2003
        Awards & Accolades
        • Chambers USA, Labor & Employment 
        • American College of Labor & Employment Lawyers, Fellow
        • Mississippi Business Journal, Top 50 under 40, 2017
        • Mid-South Super Lawyers, Rising Star, 2010-2018
        • AV rated by Martindale-Hubbell
        • The Best Lawyers in America®, Litigation - Labor and Employment
         
        Community Involvement
        • Mississippi Commission for Volunteer Service, Board of Commissioners
        • Junior League of Jackson
        • Girl Scout Troop Leader
        • Stewpot Legal Services