Stephen S. Ashley

Stephen S. Ashley Jr. is an accomplished attorney with more than twenty-five years of legal experience, focusing for over two decades exclusively on intellectual property law. He has dedicated his career to helping clients secure and protect patents, trademarks, and copyrights across North Carolina and beyond. His practice includes both prosecution and litigation.

Stephen began his academic path by earning a Bachelor’s degree in chemistry from North Carolina State University. He later obtained his Juris Doctor from Mississippi College School of Law in 1997. His foundation in science and law gives him a strong edge in handling complex intellectual property matters, especially in technical and regulated fields.

Stephen launched his legal career in Mississippi, spending three years handling high-stakes civil litigation, including wrongful death, product liability, and environmental claims. This early trial experience honed his advocacy skills and gave him a strong foundation for navigating complex intellectual property disputes. In 2000, he returned to North Carolina and has focused exclusively on intellectual property law ever since.

Stephen has worked on hundreds of patent applications involving technologies such as mechanical systems, chemical formulations, medical devices, consumer products, and textiles. He also represents clients in infringement lawsuits, whether protecting their rights or defending against claims. His clients range from individual inventors to established businesses.

Stephen has earned repeated recognition, being named to Business North Carolina’s “Legal Elite” in intellectual property fifteen times. His commitment to the field extends to education, having taught intellectual property courses at Central Piedmont Community College’s Institute for Entrepreneurship and led continuing legal education programs.

Stephen S. Ashley is a registered patent attorney with the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office and admitted to practice law in North Carolina and Mississippi. He also contributes to the academic community through his service on the alumni advisory board for North Carolina State University’s College of Sciences.

Law Office Affiliations

• Founder, Ashley Law Firm P.C.
• Member, State Bars of North Carolina

Licensed State

• North Carolina
• Mississippi

Education

• Mississippi College School of Law
  Juris Doctor (JD)
• North Carolina State University
  Bachelor of Science (BS)

Awards & Badges