Skip to main content

Ashley Reitz Peinhardt

When people think of a lawyer, the first image that comes to their minds might not be a woman … might not be a mother …and certainly isn’t a survivor of domestic abuse.

People don’t imagine a lawyer’s office filled with pictures of every child they’ve represented – as a reminder of WHY they do what they do.

They don’t expect a lawyer to CARE this much.

But in my experience, these are the things that give me an edge in the courtroom. The things that allow me to connect with not just my clients, but with the jury I stand before…

Click to schedule a consultation
Attorney Ashley Peinhardt | Alabama Medical Malpractice Lawyer

Ashley Reitz Peinhardt

When people think of a lawyer, the first image that comes to their minds might not be a woman … might not be a mother …and certainly isn’t a survivor of domestic abuse.

People don’t imagine a lawyer’s office filled with pictures of every child they’ve represented – as a reminder of WHY they do what they do.

They don’t expect a lawyer to CARE this much.

But in my experience, these are the things that give me an edge in the courtroom. The things that allow me to connect with not just my clients, but with the jury I stand before…

Click to schedule a consultation
Attorney Ashley Peinhardt | Alabama Medical Malpractice Lawyer

I didn’t always want to be a lawyer.

But I always wanted to work with children. 

In college, I studied psychology and advocated for changes to daycare regulations. But when I started at Cumberland School of Law, I saw something that blew me away: students my age dominating the courtroom.

I decided THAT was the kind of lawyer I wanted to be.

The trial team became my heart and soul in law school, and when I passed the bar exam, I knew I wanted to be in a courtroom – not only sitting behind a computer.

I had clerked for Hare Wynn in law school, so I walked into the managing partner’s office and asked him to find a place for me. And he did.

I knew I brought something different to the table, and not just because I was the first female lawyer at the firm.

They gave me a test run: Most lawyers try their first cases with a senior attorney…but my first time in front of a jury – I was on my own.

The result: $15 million verdict.

That’s when the firm agreed that I needed to be in the courtroom.

Many of the cases I take are medical malpractice: women and children injured by a medical professional’s negligence.

These cases are heartbreaking. I know these parents just want their children to have the best possible quality of life.

And as a mother, I know that advocating for these families is essential.

I know what it feels like to be taken advantage of… what it feels like when someone makes you feel unworthy of being safe.

But there’s a certain type of power that comes from caring – a certain type of strength from being passionate.

When it comes to these cases, it isn’t about luck.

It’s about going ALL IN.

It’s about caring about the person you’re representing…about what they’ve suffered…

And it’s about fighting like hell to get them justice for a situation that can never truly be made right.

More About Ashley:

Ashley’s work in her clients’ cases has led to multimillion-dollar verdicts and settlements, and she has successfully argued in front of the Alabama Supreme Court.

Outside of the courtroom, Ashley is a passionate servant leader in her community. She is extremely active in her local and state bar association where she has served in a variety of leadership roles. She is very proud to be an alum of Leadership Birmingham.

Ashley mentors young lawyers and law students. She teaches Trial Advocacy and Jury Selection at Cumberland School of Law, which is nationally recognized for trial advocacy- giving back and training the trial lawyers of tomorrow to be fierce and compassionate advocates. She has also coached the Hoover High School Trial Team and HASS trial teams and has taught public speaking and critical thinking skills at Restoration Academy, a school for at-risk, inner-city children.

Ashley loves being the mother of her active and brilliant eight-year-old daughter, Charlotte. She enjoys traveling – especially with her sister – to different wine regions around the world.

EDUCATION

Cumberland School of Law, Samford University, J.D. (2010)

  • National Trial Team Member- 2009 & 2010 Regional Champion TYLA
  • National Trial Competition
  • Tried Domestic Violence cases as a law clerk at the Jefferson County
  • District Attorney’s Office with 3rd Year Practice Card
  • James H. Roberts, Jr. “Best Advocate” Award, Order of the Barristers
  • American Board of Trial Advocates Award
  • Director of The James O. Haley Federal Trial Competitions
  • Trial Board Executive Committee Member, 1st Runner-up James O.
  • Haley Competition
  • 1st Runner-up Robert Donworth Moot Court Competition
  • 1st Runner-up Arbitration Competition
  • Elected Secretary & Student Justice of the Honor Court

University of Florida, B.S. (2007)

  • Hearing Officer of the Honor Court
  • Pre-Legal Honor Society
  • Psi Chi Honor Society
  • Phi Sigma Theta National Honor Society
  • Golden Key
  • Research Assistant for the Dean of the Psychology Department
  • Zeta Tau Alpha Sorority, New Member Board of the Executive Committee
BAR ADMISSIONS
  • Alabama (2010)
  • U.S. District Court for the Northern District of Alabama
  • U.S. District Court for the Middle District of Alabama
  • U.S. District Court for the Southern District of Alabama
Speaking Engagements

Ashley speaks around the country on the topics of Trial Advocacy Skills, Jury Selection, Birth Trauma, Medical Negligence, and Motherhood as a Trial Lawyer.

  • Society of Women Trial Lawyers Seminar 2022- “Wellness Check on Trial Lawyer Moms”
  • Alabama State Bar Mid-Year Seminar 2020- “Trial Skills 101” and “The Power of Vulnerability”
  • Alliance of Women Trial Lawyers Annual Conference 2018- “What to Keep in and out of Voir Dire”
  • Alabama Association for Justice (ALAJ) Annual Seminar 2018- “What to Keep in and  out of Voir Dire”
  • Birmingham Bar Association Annual Membership Forum 2018- “Jury Selection”
  • Cumberland School of Law- Inaugural Trial Advocacy Benefit 2018- “The Next  Generation”
  • Cumberland School of Law- Prospective Students Lunch 2018- “My Cumberland Story”
  • Alabama Association for Justice (ALAJ) Annual Seminar 2018- “Birth Trauma Litigation”
  • Arkansas Trial Lawyers Association (ATLA) CLE 2017- “Birth Trauma Litigation”
  • Alabama Association for Justice (ALAJ) Annual Seminar 2017- “The Story”
  • Alabama State Bar Young Lawyers Annual Seminar 2016- “Telling Your Client’s Story”
  • Cumberland School of Law- Prospective Students Lunch 2016- “Why Cumberland”
  • Arkansas Trial Lawyers Association (ATLA) CLE 2015- “Learning to Love Direct Examination”
  • Alabama Association for Justice (ALAJ) Emerging Leaders Lunch & Learn 2015- “Direct Examination”
BAR ADMISSIONS
  • Alabama (2010)
  • U.S. District Court for the Northern District of Alabama
  • U.S. District Court for the Middle District of Alabama
  • U.S. District Court for the Southern District of Alabama
Speaking Engagements

Ashley speaks around the country on the topics of Trial Advocacy Skills, Jury Selection, Birth Trauma, Medical Negligence, and Motherhood as a Trial Lawyer.

  • Society of Women Trial Lawyers Seminar 2022- “Wellness Check on Trial Lawyer Moms”
  • Alabama State Bar Mid-Year Seminar 2020- “Trial Skills 101” and “The Power of Vulnerability”
  • Alliance of Women Trial Lawyers Annual Conference 2018- “What to Keep in and out of Voir Dire”
  • Alabama Association for Justice (ALAJ) Annual Seminar 2018- “What to Keep in and  out of Voir Dire”
  • Birmingham Bar Association Annual Membership Forum 2018- “Jury Selection”
  • Cumberland School of Law- Inaugural Trial Advocacy Benefit 2018- “The Next  Generation”
  • Cumberland School of Law- Prospective Students Lunch 2018- “My Cumberland Story”
  • Alabama Association for Justice (ALAJ) Annual Seminar 2018- “Birth Trauma Litigation”
  • Arkansas Trial Lawyers Association (ATLA) CLE 2017- “Birth Trauma Litigation”
  • Alabama Association for Justice (ALAJ) Annual Seminar 2017- “The Story”
  • Alabama State Bar Young Lawyers Annual Seminar 2016- “Telling Your Client’s Story”
  • Cumberland School of Law- Prospective Students Lunch 2016- “Why Cumberland”
  • Arkansas Trial Lawyers Association (ATLA) CLE 2015- “Learning to Love Direct Examination”
  • Alabama Association for Justice (ALAJ) Emerging Leaders Lunch & Learn 2015- “Direct Examination”
  • Society of Women Trial Lawyers Seminar 2022- “Wellness Check on Trial Lawyer Moms”
  • Alabama State Bar Mid-Year Seminar 2020- “Trial Skills 101” and “The Power of Vulnerability”
  • Alliance of Women Trial Lawyers Annual Conference 2018- “What to Keep in and out of Voir Dire”
  • Alabama Association for Justice (ALAJ) Annual Seminar 2018- “What to Keep in and  out of Voir Dire”
  • Birmingham Bar Association Annual Membership Forum 2018- “Jury Selection”
  • Cumberland School of Law- Inaugural Trial Advocacy Benefit 2018- “The Next  Generation”
  • Cumberland School of Law- Prospective Students Lunch 2018- “My Cumberland Story”
  • Alabama Association for Justice (ALAJ) Annual Seminar 2018- “Birth Trauma Litigation”
  • Arkansas Trial Lawyers Association (ATLA) CLE 2017- “Birth Trauma Litigation”
  • Alabama Association for Justice (ALAJ) Annual Seminar 2017- “The Story”
  • Alabama State Bar Young Lawyers Annual Seminar 2016- “Telling Your Client’s Story”
  • Cumberland School of Law- Prospective Students Lunch 2016- “Why Cumberland”
  • Arkansas Trial Lawyers Association (ATLA) CLE 2015- “Learning to Love Direct Examination”
  • Alabama Association for Justice (ALAJ) Emerging Leaders Lunch & Learn 2015- “Direct Examination”
PROFESSIONAL AFFILIATIONS AND HONORS
  • Leadership Birmingham, Class of 2019-2020
  • Higher Academic Summer School (HASS) Trial Coach, 2016-2019
  • Birmingham Bar Association Executive Committee, Member 2018-2020
  • Birmingham Bar Foundation, Board of Directors, Member 2017-2020
  • AL.com Women Who Shape the State 2015
  • Multi-Million Dollar Advocates Forum
  • National Trial Lawyers “Top 40 Under 40” 2015- 2020
  • Alabama State Bar Leadership Forum, Class 12 2015-2016
  • Alabama Civil Justice Foundation Board of Directors, Member, 2017-2019
  • Birmingham Business Journal, Rising Star of Law 2016
  • Birmingham Inns of Court, 2016
  • Birmingham Bar Association, Future Leaders Forum Committee, Co-chair 2016, Chair 2017
  • B-Metro “Top Women Lawyers” 2015-2020
  • Business Alabama, Top Attorneys in Alabama, “Rising Star” 2015-2018
  • Super Lawyers, Alabama “Rising Star” 2014-2020
  • Alabama Association for Justice, Emerging Leaders, President 2016-2017
  • Birmingham Bar Association, Secretary Treasurer of the Young Lawyers Board 2014
  • Birmingham Bar Association, Young Lawyers Executive Board 2012, 2013, 2014, 2015
  • Chair of the YMCA Noojin & White Race to the Courthouse 2012, 2013, 2014, 2015
  • Leadership Alabama Initiative 2013
  • Birmingham Bar Association Future Leaders Forum Class of 2013
  • Birmingham Bar Association, Mentoring Committee and Public Service Committee 2013
  • ROTARACT Club of Birmingham, Fundraising Committee 2012-2013
  • B-Metro “Rising Star” of the Birmingham Bar 2012
  • Alabama Association for Justice, Emerging Leaders Executive Board 2013-2018 (Chair 2018)
  • YMCA Downtown Branch Board Membership Program Committee 2012 & 2013
  • Hoover High School Trial Team Coach, Top 10 in Alabama YMCA Competition 2011 & 2012
  • Leadership Birmingham, Class of 2019-2020
  • Higher Academic Summer School (HASS) Trial Coach, 2016-2019
  • Birmingham Bar Association Executive Committee, Member 2018-2020
  • Birmingham Bar Foundation, Board of Directors, Member 2017-2020
  • AL.com Women Who Shape the State 2015
  • Multi-Million Dollar Advocates Forum
  • National Trial Lawyers “Top 40 Under 40” 2015- 2020
  • Alabama State Bar Leadership Forum, Class 12 2015-2016
  • Alabama Civil Justice Foundation Board of Directors, Member, 2017-2019
  • Birmingham Business Journal, Rising Star of Law 2016
  • Birmingham Inns of Court, 2016
  • Birmingham Bar Association, Future Leaders Forum Committee, Co-chair 2016, Chair 2017
  • B-Metro “Top Women Lawyers” 2015-2020
  • Business Alabama, Top Attorneys in Alabama, “Rising Star” 2015-2018
  • Super Lawyers, Alabama “Rising Star” 2014-2020
  • Alabama Association for Justice, Emerging Leaders, President 2016-2017
  • Birmingham Bar Association, Secretary Treasurer of the Young Lawyers Board 2014
  • Birmingham Bar Association, Young Lawyers Executive Board 2012, 2013, 2014, 2015
  • Chair of the YMCA Noojin & White Race to the Courthouse 2012, 2013, 2014, 2015
  • Leadership Alabama Initiative 2013
  • Birmingham Bar Association Future Leaders Forum Class of 2013
  • Birmingham Bar Association, Mentoring Committee and Public Service Committee 2013
  • ROTARACT Club of Birmingham, Fundraising Committee 2012-2013
  • B-Metro “Rising Star” of the Birmingham Bar 2012
  • Alabama Association for Justice, Emerging Leaders Executive Board 2013-2018 (Chair 2018)
  • YMCA Downtown Branch Board Membership Program Committee 2012 & 2013
  • Hoover High School Trial Team Coach, Top 10 in Alabama YMCA Competition 2011 & 2012

Ashley Has Over

100,000,000

in Verdicts and Settlements

“Ashley Peinhardt is a fantastic attorney. She fought so hard for my case and was understanding and sympathetic. She checked on my family constantly and kept us updated on everything. Anyone who went through what I went through that is able to have her as their attorney will be so blessed. Not only do I view her as an extraordinary attorney – now I consider her part of my extended family.”

- Michele Williams

“Ashley is truly an angel sent down from heaven!! She has blessed my family's lives in more ways than one. She is so caring, kindhearted, and concerned about their clients and about getting their client's needs met. She goes above and beyond to make it possible. I am so grateful that God placed this gifted, passionate, and remarkable lawyer in our lives. She will forever hold a special place in our lives and in our hearts! May she be continually blessed!!”

- L.R.
Skip to content