Ashley Wharton

Education

Wharton studied at the University of Melbourne, where he completed a Bachelor of Arts with Honours and a Bachelor of Laws with Honours. His legal education preceded a career in commercial litigation and dispute resolution.

Career

Wharton developed his career as a commercial litigation lawyer in Melbourne and became a partner of Blake Dawson Waldron. He joined the Bell Group litigation in 1998 as the matter expanded, later spending approximately three years in Perth during the trial before returning to Melbourne and continuing to travel between Melbourne and Perth as the proceedings progressed. He was part of the team representing the Bell Group liquidators in the long-running litigation, which concluded at first instance in 2009 after a 404-day trial and extensive written reasons. Following the transition of Blake Dawson's Australian practice to Ashurst, Wharton continued as a Melbourne partner in disputes. He led teams acting for ANZ in the exception-fees class action in the Federal Court of Australia and represented clients in significant commercial, banking, corporate and shareholder disputes. His work has included matters before the Federal Court and the High Court of Australia, including the Bell Group appeal and litigation concerning penalties, shareholder claims and financial-services disputes.

Achievements

• Led the legal team representing the liquidators in the Bell Group litigation, one of Australia's longest-running and most significant commercial disputes.

• Led Ashurst's team representing ANZ in the defence of the exception-fees class action in the Federal Court of Australia.

• Recognised as a leading individual by Chambers Asia Pacific, APL 500 and Best Lawyers Australia.

Works

• legal case commentary

  • Caason Investments Pty Ltd v Cao [2015] FCAFC 94

    (Co-authored commentary on the Full Court of the Federal C...)

    2015
  • Caason Investments Pty Ltd v Cao [2014] FCA 1410

    (Co-authored commentary on the Federal Court of Australia'...)

    2015

References

• Ashley Wharton | Hot 40 2014 Profiles Wharton's career as an Ashurst partner, his leadership in the ANZ exception-fees class action and Bell Group litigation, his University of Melbourne education, and professional recognitions.
  2014
• The bell tolls on, and on, and on Describes Wharton's role as lead partner in the Bell Group litigation, including his involvement from 1998, his work in Perth during the trial and the case's major judgment.
  2009
• Ceremonial sitting of the Full Court to welcome the Honourable Justice Cheeseman Records Wharton's participation on the solicitors' side of the Bell Group trial.
  2021