Ashley Harding is a Partner and the Practice Group Head of the Melbourne Insurance group at HWL Ebsworth. He has over 18 years’ experience acting for and advising general insurers, self-insured entities and corporate clients in a wide range of disputes. Ashley’s practice spans personal injury, professional indemnity, property damage and recovery claims, with a focus on complex liability and multi-party litigation.
He has particular expertise in public and product liability, intentional torts, dust disease claims, and statutory actions brought by injured workers and insurers. Ashley also advises on professional indemnity matters involving construction professionals, financial advisors and property managers, and regularly acts in claims involving fire, water damage and consequential loss. His clients value his strategic insight, technical precision and ability to deliver commercially sound outcomes.
Expertise
Experience
- A principal contractor A claim for common law damages and statutory recovery claim brought against his client, the principal contractor of a multi-purpose complex, in relation to physical injuries suffered by a labour hire worker who fell from a scaffolding plank.
- Accounting firm Supreme Court proceeding involving a group of related individuals and companies who alleged that his client, a firm of accountants, failed to identify and draw to the plaintiffs’ attention an elaborate theft committed by their administrative manager.
- Manufacturer and supplier to the food industry A claim for business interruption losses against his client, a manufacturer and supplier of equipment to the dairy industry, stemming from the failure of storage bags that contaminated products during their production rendering them unfit for human consumption.
- Architectural and design firm A disciplinary complaint made against his client, an architectural and design firm, relating to the design and construction of a residential housing project. Following extensive submissions, the disciplinary body determined that no regulatory action would be taken.
- Security company A County Court proceeding issued by the patron of a nightclub who was injured after making threats and initiating a physical confrontation with front of house employees of his client, a security contractor.
- Plumbing contractor Supreme Court and VCAT proceedings pertaining to the design and construction of several townhouses, including allegations of defective sewerage and stormwater works against his client, a plumbing contractor, that affected the structural integrity of the dwellings.
- Cruise ship operator County Court proceedings brought by a group of passengers of a cruise ship who alleged that they suffered physical and psychiatric injury as a result of a physical altercation with crew members on board.
- Independent adjudicator A Supreme Court of Appeal proceeding involving a judicial review of a number of determinations made by his client, an adjudicator, in relation to progress and final payment claims associated with the development and construction of a retirement village project.
