Areas of Practice
Industries
Bar Admissions
- California
Court Admissions
- U.S. District Court, Central District of California
- U.S. District Court, Eastern District of California
- U.S. District Court, Northern District of California
- U.S. District Court, Southern District of California
Education
Pepperdine University School of Law, J.D., cum laude
- Dean's List
- Law Review
- Dean's Scholarship Recipient
Westmont College, B.A.
Language
- German
Ashley R. Fickel represents financial institutions, manufacturers, and a diverse group of businesses in complex legal disputes. Mr. Fickel has significant trial experience, including managing cases ranging from complex business disputes to catastrophic injury cases. He has also served a meaningful role in the development of legal strategy for a number of national and international corporations. Most recently, Mr. Fickel has been engaged in defending businesses, including major financial institutions and manufacturers, from a variety of consumer and privacy based claims. As a result of Mr. Fickel’s professional achievements, he has been recognized on several occasions as a California “Rising Star” by Law & Politics in the area of litigation.
Mr. Fickel earned his B.A. in History from Westmont College in 1997 and his J.D. cum laude from Pepperdine University School of Law in 2004, where he served as a senior staff member of the Pepperdine Law Review.
Experience
Mr. Fickel’s current and recent representations include the following:
Consumer Financial Services Litigation
Representation of major mortgage servicers and lenders in numerous actions seeking to circumvent residential foreclosures in both state and federal court.
Representation of loan servicers and lenders in individual and putative class action claims alleging denial or improper handling of residential loan modifications under HAMP and other federal programs.
Representation of major debt collectors in cases involving alleged violations of the Fair Credit Reporting Act (FCRA) and the Fair Debt Collection Practices Act (FDCPA), including class actions.
Data Privacy-Related Engagements
Representation of financial institutions with respect to privacy-related issues, including defense of cases brought under the Telephone Consumer Protection Act (TCPA) and consultation regarding privacy issues captured in the Graham Leach Bliley Act (GLBA).
Representation of financial institutions with respect to counsel and advice regarding the forthcoming California Consumer Privacy Act (CCPA).
Automotive Industry Litigation
Representation of auto manufacturers in cases involving breach of warranty, violation of the California Consumer Legal Remedies Act, and California Business and Professions Code section 17200.
Representation of motor vehicle and tire manufacturers and manufacturers in products liability cases involving catastrophic injuries.
Representation of auto finance companies in a variety of consumer litigation. Mr. Fickel is the author of PLI’s “Consumer Financial Services Answer Book” chapter on consumer auto finance law.
Class Action Litigation
Representation of national banks, debt collectors and other entities in defense of putative class actions alleging unauthorized call recording and monitoring under California Penal Code sections 630 and 632.
Representation of financial services companies, debt collectors and other entities in defense of putative class actions alleging “blast fax,” automated dialer, and related claims under the Telephone Consumer Protection Act (TCPA).
Representation of auto manufacturers and other manufacturers in national class action cases.
Commercial Litigation
Representation of manufacturers in Uniform Commercial Code (UCC) disputes, breach of warranty and breach of contract claims with vendors/suppliers and customers, and numerous consumer warranty claims on the individual and class level.
Representation of a Spanish toy distributor in a dispute with a supplier regarding breach of supplier agreement, resulting in a favorable settlement.
Representation of a property damage appraisal franchisor in a dispute with a franchisee regarding termination of three of the franchisee’s locations.
Representation of a real estate tech company in a dispute with a software developer over breach of a development agreement including failure to timely deliver product.
Construction Litigation
Representation of general contractors in all manner of business issues, including financing issues, mechanic's liens, and stop notices.
Representation of contractors and subcontractors in construction litigation ranging from complex construction defect and construction delay claims. In connection with construction claims, Mr. Fickel has deposed numerous expert witnesses.
Product Liability and Toxic Tort Litigation
Representation of manufacturers of specialty coatings. Mr. Fickel is a member of the Dykema team with responsibility for developing and implementing expert scientific, medical, and state-of-the-art defenses to novel contamination claims currently challenging companies that incorporate talc into their commercial and consumer products.
Representation of manufacturers and distributers of consumer products in cases involving serious injuries.
Representation of manufacturers, property owners, and others in a variety of toxic tort claims.
Seminars & Speeches
- January 12, 2021
- "Legal Issues Webinar," California MBA Legal Issues CommitteeFebruary 25, 2020
- “Hot Topics in Mortgage Class Actions and High-Profile Litigation,” California Mortgage Bankers Association Legal Issues and Regulatory Compliance ConferenceDecember 3, 2019
- Are You Prepared for the CCPA?, CLA Financial Institutions CommitteeMay 14, 2019
- March 27, 2019
- February 27, 2019
- Technology Update/E-Notes/Social Media Compliance, Panel Moderator, California MBA Legal Issues and Regulatory Compliance ConferenceDecember 4, 2018
Publications
- “Consumer Automotive Finance Law"2019-2020Consumer Financial Services Answer Book 2020, Practising Law Institute
- August 25, 2020The Firewallhttps://www.thefirewall-blog.com/2020/08/ccpa-regulations-are-now-final/
- March 27, 2020The Firewallhttps://www.thefirewall-blog.com/2020/03/ccpa-july-1-2020-attorney-general-enforcement-start-date-looms-despite-covid-19/
- March 12, 2020NextGen Financial Services Reporthttps://www.nextgenfinancialservicesreport.com/2020/03/federal-financial-institutions-examination-council-issues-statement-on-pandemic-planning/
- February 27, 2020The Open Road - Automotive Law Bloghttps://www.openroadlawblog.com/2020/02/ccpa-keeping-the-wheels-on-the-road/
- October 24, 2019NextGen Financial Services Reporthttps://www.nextgenfinancialservicesreport.com/2019/10/trend-analysis-rise-in-automotive-repossession-class-actions/
- October 11, 2019The Firewallhttps://www.thefirewall-blog.com/2019/10/the-regs-are-in-californias-attorney-general-releases-the-long-awaited-ccpa-regulations/
- September 17, 2019The Firewallhttps://www.thefirewall-blog.com/2019/09/california-legislative-sessions-closes-and-brings-finality-to-ccpa-amendments-for-now/
- July 26, 2019The Firewallhttps://www.thefirewall-blog.com/2019/07/february-27-2019-ccpa-webinar-qas-private-claims-under-the-ccpa/
- July 25, 2019Credit Union Management
- July 1, 2019The Firewallhttps://www.thefirewall-blog.com/2019/07/new-york-data-privacy-proposal-more-stringent-than-californias-ccpa/
- May 8, 2019The Firewallhttps://www.thefirewall-blog.com/2019/05/ccpa-watch-proposed-sweeping-overhaul-withdrawn-three-amendments-providing-key-clarifications-remain-pending/
- April 12, 2019The Firewallhttps://www.thefirewall-blog.com/2019/04/february-27-2019-ccpa-webinar-qas-third-parties-due-diligence/
- March 19, 2019The Firewallhttps://www.thefirewall-blog.com/2019/03/february-27-2019-ccpa-webinar-qas-out-of-state-b2b-and-glba-covered-businesses/
- March 4, 2019The Firewallhttps://www.thefirewall-blog.com/2019/03/ccpa-watch-february-marked-by-heavy-legislative-activity-proposal-to-expand-private-right-of-action-under-the-ccpa/
- January 28, 2019The Firewallhttps://www.thefirewall-blog.com/2019/01/different-viewpoints-represented-latest-california-attorney-generals-office-public-forum-california-consumer-privacy-act/
- November 22, 2017Law360
News
- February 11, 2020
- October 9, 2019
Alerts
- April 3, 2020
- December 20, 2019
- October 16, 2019
Press Releases
- June 9, 2020
- June 3, 2019
- June 7, 2018
- June 5, 2017
- June 6, 2016
- January 27, 2016
- July 18, 2011
Awards & Recognition
Recognized in Southern California Super Lawyers® as a Rising Star in General Litigation, 2009-2013, 2016-2020