BIOGRAPHY
Anna F. Ballard joined the firm in 2025 as Of Counsel. Ms. Ballard’s practice is focused primarily on civil defense litigation. She has represented many businesses, state agencies, government entities, and individuals in various types of legal matters, including employment discrimination, negligence, wrongful death, construction law, and transportation litigation.
Ms. Ballard graduated from the University of Arkansas, magna cum laude, with a Bachelor of Arts degree in Political Science/Pre-Law. While attending the University of North Carolina School of Law at Chapel Hill, Ms Ballard was an active member of the Holderness Moot Court national team. After earning her degree with honors, Ms. Ballard served as a federal law clerk for two years.
Ms. Ballard currently resides in Morgantown, West Virginia, with her husband, a fellow attorney, and her two children. In her spare time, she enjoys watching her children’s many sports events, hiking the local trails, reading, watching college basketball, and walking with her favorite Cavapoo, Clove.
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Education / Admissions
Admissions
Ms. Ballard is licensed to practice law in West Virginia and North Carolina. She is also admitted to practice before the United States District Courts for the Southern and Northern Districts of West Virginia and the United States Court of Appeals for the Fourth Circuit.Education
Ms. Ballard received her Juris Doctor with Honors from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill School of Law in 2001. While in law school, she was a member of the Holderness National Moot Court Team, competing in Richmond, Virginia, at the Fourth Circuit. In addition, she served as a member of the Executive Committee to the Holderness Moot Court Bench and proudly received the Judge Heriot Clarkson Award for the highest grade in professional responsibility. Ms. Ballard received her Bachelor of Arts in Political Science, magna cum laude, from the University of Arkansas in 1998. While in college, Ms. Ballard was selected for a National Science Foundation grant. In addition, she received the J. William Fulbright Prize for Distinction in Liberal Arts (awarded to top rising senior in the College of Arts and Sciences). She was also inducted into Phi Beta Kappa.
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Experience & Involvement
Prior to joining Shuman McCuskey Slicer, Ms. Ballard worked at two large defense firms. During that time, she developed a specialization in labor and employment law, representing clients from the counseling stage through trial. Ms. Ballard has extensive experience before the EEOC, State and Federal Courts, and the West Virginia Human Rights Commission. Her expertise includes all employment statutes, including the Family Medical Leave Act, The Americans with Disabilities Act, The Warn Act, The Fair Labor Standards Act, Occupational Safety and Health Act, Age Discrimination in Employment Act, and the Pregnant Workers Fairness Act. In addition, Ms. Ballard defends all forms of employment litigation claims, from discrimination, wage and hour violations, and whistleblower/retaliation claims. Directly before coming to Shuman McCuskey Slicer, Ms. Ballard served as senior corporate counsel, employment litigation, for Gabriel Brothers, Inc., d/b/a Gabe’s for five years, representing and counseling Gabe’s in all employment-related matters, including representation before various state human rights commissions and the EEOC, and is an effective and efficient negotiator in all employment matters. Ms. Ballard also has extensive experience in general litigation matters, including representation in transportation litigation and nursing home matters. Ms. Ballard spent five years developing a niche in construction law, defending and settling major claims.
Judicial Clerkships
Ms. Ballard served as a law clerk to the Honorable R. Clarke VanDervort, United States Magistrate Judge for the Southern District of West Virginia from 2001 to 2002, and to Chief Judge Kenneth B. Kramer of the United States Court of Appeals for Veterans Claims from 2002 to 2003.
