Ashleigh Harrold

Profile

Ashleigh has a broad practice in administrative and public law, including regulatory and disciplinary prosecutions, as well as criminal law.

Administrative & Public Law

Ashleigh has a particular interest in areas of administrative and public law which overlap with the criminal jurisdiction, including:

• Civil penalty prosecutions: Ashleigh has a special interest in cases where parallel criminal and civil penalties are contemplated by regulatory agencies. She is particularly experienced in relation to prosecutions arising under the Therapeutic Goods Act 1989.
• Professional disciplinary proceedings and licensing matters in relation to all professions, including teachers and health practitioners. 
• Inquisitorial proceedings including Royal Commissions and other Inquiries, as well as coronial inquests. 
• Coercive powers applications at both state and federal levels: Ashleigh has appeared on behalf of investigative agencies before the Administrative Appeals Tribunal and Supreme Court in relation to such applications.  
• Disclosure and privilege matters, particularly in relation to public interest immunity claims and disclosure considerations as they apply to investigative agencies.
• Whistleblower and public interest disclosure protections.

Ashleigh has also appeared as counsel assisting in numerous private examinations before the Independent Broad-based Anti-corruption Commission (IBAC) and provides advice in relation to IBAC matters. She has a thorough understanding of investigative processes and procedures, particularly in relation to anti-corruption investigations. 

In 2021, Ashleigh was hand-picked by the Honourable Geoffrey Nettle AC KC, former Justice of the High Court, to act as Assistant Counsel to the Office of Special Investigator (OSI). In this role she developed expertise in issues of disclosure, public interest immunity and whistleblower protections, particularly as they apply to criminal investigations.

Ashleigh is also available to advise and appear in human rights and discrimination cases. She has previously acted in applications for review of NDIS decisions, and in discrimination claims brought against government and private bodies. 

Criminal Law

Ashleigh's practice encompasses all areas relating to criminal and quasi-criminal law. She is experienced in both state and federal jurisdictions and appears at all levels of the court hierarchy in trials, pleas, appeals, committal hearings, summary contests and bail applications.

Ashleigh's criminal practice extends to indictable and summary prosecutions arising from WorkSafe and EPA investigations. She regularly provides advice and appears in trials and summary prosecutions for such matters, acting for both prosecution and defence.

Ashleigh accepts briefs to appear and advise in post-sentence applications, including supervision and detention orders, compensation applications, and proceeds of crime / confiscation matters. 

Ashleigh is a contributing author of Federal Offences, published by Thomson Reuters. She is a member of the Commonwealth DPP External Junior Counsel Panel and holds an Indictable Crime Certificate. Ashleigh is also a former participant of Victoria Legal Aid's Trial Counsel Development Program, having been selected in 2020 for inclusion in the program.