Ashleigh Cole

Associate, Melbourne
[email protected]

Biography

Overview

Ashleigh is a specialist construction lawyer with exposure to top-tier private practise environments in Melbourne and London. Ashleigh has a unique understanding of the lifecycle of a project with experience ranging from project inception to advising on contentious disputes at mediation, adjudication, arbitration and litigation.

Ashleigh has extensive in-house experience, including with INPEX, the National Broadband Network, the Telecommunications Industry Ombudsman and Boral Australia.

Bars and Courts
Supreme Court of Victoria
Education
LLB (Hons) / BA
Monash University
Languages
English

Experience

Commercial Litigation
Construction
Australia

Ashleigh's relevant experience includes:

  • Acting for INPEX in relation to disputes regarding the offshore facilities for the Ichthys LNG project off the coast of Western Australia.
  • Acting for the principal in relation to a $250 million wind farm project. Advising on injunctive proceedings at the Supreme Court of Victoria and preparing for arbitration of disputes.
  • Advising a government energy company in relation to defective sub-sea electricity infrastructure. Prepared for and acted at arbitration including managing a team of lawyers to prepare technical claims and submissions.*
  • Advising a contractor on a $350,000,000 project relating to a 420km liquid natural gas pipeline. Advised on time and money claims under the EPC contract, reviewed evidence and prepared witness statements in preparation for arbitration.*
  • Drafting and negotiating all construction documentation including building contracts, bonds, guarantees, collateral warranties, professional appointments, BIM protocol and related documentation in relation to the Brent Cross, Croydon, Stratford and White City Shopping Centre developments in the UK.* 
  • Negotiating contracts with key stakeholders including Transport for London, Highways England, London Borough of Barnett and Network Rail and advised on request for proposals, tendering, public procurement obligations, non-disclosure agreements, foreign counsel legal opinions and Brexit-risk.*
  • Advising a contractor in relation to a water treatment facility. Advised on mediation and Supreme Court proceedings in relation to the dispute concerning defective works. Drafted defect position papers and prepared research memoranda.*
  • Advising a company regarding misuse of joint venture funds in relation to the construction of a shopping centre. Prepared for and advised at the 21-day Supreme Court hearing. Drafted summons, pleadings, affidavits, submissions and technical analysis and provided advice on legal issues including admissibility of evidence.*
  • Defending the State of Victoria in an $8 billion infrastructure dispute regarding a claim that it misled the public. Conducted investigative research, drafted memoranda relating to injunctive relief and prepared briefs to counsel.*
  • Acting for the State of Victoria in relation to the design and construction of a biosciences facility. Provided strategic advice in relation to expert determination proceedings.*

*Experience prior to joining White & Case.