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Tess volunteers with Louisville Metro Animal Services, taking shelter dogs on field trips to give them breaks from the shelter environment and increase their chances of adoption. Having grown up involved in 4-H and FFA, community service and working with animals remain important to her.
She studied abroad at Maynooth University in Ireland, earning a certificate in Irish Cultural Heritage from Maynooth’s Centre for Irish Cultural Heritage, School of Celtic Studies. Outside of work, she enjoys baking and trying new recipes.
Published in the West Virginia Medical Journal
Published in ABA Landslide Magazine while in law school
Tess L. Hardesty is an associate at Gray Ice Higdon focusing on commercial litigation and intellectual property litigation. She works with clients of all sizes—from individual artists and inventors to large companies—assisting them through the complexities of litigation involving intellectual property and commercial disputes.
Tess is known for her detail-oriented approach while maintaining focus on the broader issues that matter most to clients. She prioritizes clear communication and works to ensure clients feel heard, informed, and supported throughout the litigation process, while also providing practical guidance on next steps.
● Commercial Litigation
● Intellectual Property Litigation
● Trademarks
● Copyrights
● Patents
She is client-focused and calm under pressure, helping clients understand legal concepts clearly and navigate litigation decisions with confidence. Clients have noted her ability to explain complex legal issues and ensure their concerns are addressed throughout the process.
Member, Kentucky Bar Association
Member, Louisville Bar Association
Tess officially began her legal career in 2024, starting in civil litigation at Phillips Parker Orberson & Arnett, where she focused on insurance defense and medical malpractice matters. She joined Gray Ice Higdon in December 2025.
During law school, Tess developed a strong interest in intellectual property and health law litigation. Her legal training included:
● Summer experience with a boutique patent prosecution firm in Virginia
● Serving as a legal extern with WVU Health Systems’ in-house counsel
● Representing veterans as a student attorney in the WVU Law Veterans Advocacy Law Clinic, where she handled civil litigation matters and drafted claims for Veterans Affairs disability benefits
Additional experience includes serving as a Summer Judicial Law Clerk for the Honorable Debra McLaughlin of the Twenty-Third Judicial Circuit of West Virginia and working as a Research Assistant for Associate Professor and Clinic Director Nicole McConlogue.
Kentucky Bar
United States District Court for the Western District of Kentucky
United States District Court for the Eastern District of Kentucky
J.D., West Virginia University
B.S., Biology, Magna Cum Laude
Minors in Public Law and Political Science
Old Dominion University
Tess L. Hardesty is an associate at Gray Ice Higdon focusing on commercial litigation and intellectual property litigation. She works with clients of all sizes—from individual artists and inventors to large companies—assisting them through the complexities of litigation involving intellectual property and commercial disputes.
Tess is known for her detail-oriented approach while maintaining focus on the broader issues that matter most to clients. She prioritizes clear communication and works to ensure clients feel heard, informed, and supported throughout the litigation process, while also providing practical guidance on next steps.
● Commercial Litigation
● Intellectual Property Litigation
● Trademarks
● Copyrights
● Patents
She is client-focused and calm under pressure, helping clients understand legal concepts clearly and navigate litigation decisions with confidence. Clients have noted her ability to explain complex legal issues and ensure their concerns are addressed throughout the process.
Member, Kentucky Bar Association
Member, Louisville Bar Association
Tess officially began her legal career in 2024, starting in civil litigation at Phillips Parker Orberson & Arnett, where she focused on insurance defense and medical malpractice matters. She joined Gray Ice Higdon in December 2025.
During law school, Tess developed a strong interest in intellectual property and health law litigation. Her legal training included:
● Summer experience with a boutique patent prosecution firm in Virginia
● Serving as a legal extern with WVU Health Systems’ in-house counsel
● Representing veterans as a student attorney in the WVU Law Veterans Advocacy Law Clinic, where she handled civil litigation matters and drafted claims for Veterans Affairs disability benefits
Additional experience includes serving as a Summer Judicial Law Clerk for the Honorable Debra McLaughlin of the Twenty-Third Judicial Circuit of West Virginia and working as a Research Assistant for Associate Professor and Clinic Director Nicole McConlogue.
J.D., West Virginia University
B.S., Biology, Magna Cum Laude
Minors in Public Law and Political Science
Old Dominion University
Kentucky Bar
United States District Court for the Western District of Kentucky
United States District Court for the Eastern District of Kentucky
Published in the West Virginia Medical Journal
Published in ABA Landslide Magazine while in law school
Tess volunteers with Louisville Metro Animal Services, taking shelter dogs on field trips to give them breaks from the shelter environment and increase their chances of adoption. Having grown up involved in 4-H and FFA, community service and working with animals remain important to her.
She studied abroad at Maynooth University in Ireland, earning a certificate in Irish Cultural Heritage from Maynooth’s Centre for Irish Cultural Heritage, School of Celtic Studies. Outside of work, she enjoys baking and trying new recipes.
