- Anti-Bribery & Corruption
- Corporate Governance & Compliance
- Corporate Litigation & Risk Management
- Employment, Benefits & Incentives, and Industrial Relations
- Insolvency & Restructuring
- Insurance & Reinsurance
- Advocate and Solicitor of the High Court of Malaya
- LL.B (Hons), University of Adelaide
English, Malay, Mandarin
Ashley regularly acts and appears before all levels of the Malaysian courts and in arbitration proceedings. Her diverse dispute resolution practice spans corporate and commercial disputes, land and property matters, employment and industrial relations, and insurance and reinsurance claims.
Ashley has represented a wide spectrum of clients — from major corporations to professionals — across sectors including banking, insurance, property development, telecommunications, healthcare, IT solutions, and education.
With extensive experience representing employers and corporations, Ashley is a key figure in the firm’s Employment and Industrial Relations Practice Group, which she co-leads. Her employment work includes drafting and reviewing employment contracts and handbooks; advising on disciplinary proceedings and termination for misconduct, poor performance, medical incapacity, and retrenchment; addressing matters involving trade union recognition and collective agreements; and representing both employers and senior employees in litigation and industrial disputes.
Under her leadership, the firm has gained notable recognition in the employment law space — including a Tier 3 ranking in Labour & Employment by Benchmark Litigation Asia-Pacific 2025, and a win in the Labour & Employment category at the Asia Business Law Journal’s Malaysia Law Awards 2025. Her practice has received high praise from clients, with Benchmark Litigation describing it as “timely, attentive, and rigorous” and “commercially sound and effective, largely due to their strong understanding of what the client’s priorities are.”
Her legal acumen and client-focused approach have earned strong praise. Benchmark Litigation who describe her as “easy to approach” with “commendable attention to detail, and strong analytical and presentation skills”. Meanwhile, the Legal 500 has described her as “meticulous”, “able to plan ahead and provide sufficient and appropriate guidance”, “smart solicitor with a great grasp of how to balance business and legal concerns”, “responsive, efficient, and clear in advice”, and “knowledgeable on employment law”.
Ashley has co-authored a chapter on strikes and picketing in a leading employment law textbook and is a frequent contributor to legal publications. Following the introduction of Section 17A of the Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission Act 2009, she has advised numerous commercial entities on corporate liability, including anti-bribery policies, and has co-authored articles and a book chapter addressing corporate responsibilities in bribery-related matters.
Graduating from the University of Adelaide, Australia, under a prestigious Public Service Department scholarship from the Government of Malaysia, Ashley completed the Certificate in Legal Practice (CLP) with a Second Class Upper and was awarded the Book Prize for Criminal Procedure. She was then admitted as an Advocate and Solicitor of the High Court of Malaya.
Some significant matters which Ashley was involved in:
Corporate / Civil Disputes
- Acted for a vessel-owning company in a breach of charter party agreement, which began in arbitration and proceeded up to the Federal Court. The Federal Court’s decision is reported in Master Mulia Sdn Bhd v Sigur Rus Sdn Bhd [2020] 12 MLJ 198.
- Acted for a quarry company in a complex RM12 million claim arising from the breach of a quarry agreement. The High Court’s judgment is reported in Sunway Quarry Industries Sdn Bhd v Pearl Island Vista Sdn Bhd & Anor [2019] MLJU 40.
- Acted for the directors and shareholders of a leading technology company in an oppression action against another director and corporate shareholder. Successfully defended the action in both the High Court and the Court of Appeal. The High Court’s decision is reported in Case No. BA-24NCC-89-09/2020.
- Acted for a shipping company in the Court of Appeal in opposing an application by its former director to inspect the company’s accounting records. The Court of Appeal overturned the High Court’s decision and ruled that the company was not required to allow its former director to inspect the accounting records. The High Court’s decision is reported in Heng Keng Thiang v Ban Hoe Leong Marine Supplies Sdn Bhd & Ors [2021] MLJU 2431.
- Acted for a developer and its marketing company in defending a misrepresentation claim by purchasers and successfully overturned the High Court’s decision at the Court of Appeal. The High Court’s decision is reported in Mukesh Kumar a/l MS Kapoor dan lain-lain lwn Terang Murni Sdn Bhd dan satu lagi [2023] MLJU 605.
- Acted for direct-selling distributors in defending a suit brought by a direct-selling company involving multiple claims. The High Court’s decision is reported in E&F Essential Sdn Bhd & Anor v Harmony Network Plt & Ors [2024] MLJU 177.
- Acted for a renowned developer in a tenancy dispute at both the High Court and the Court of Appeal. The Court of Appeal affirmed the High Court’s decision, which is reported in Sunway Seafront Sdn Bhd v Onecle Solution Sdn Bhd [2021] MLJU 2856.
- Acted for a developer in a claim brought by its agents for commission and successfully defended a Mareva injunction sought by the agents. The High Court’s decision on the Mareva injunction is reported in Lim Kan Leong & Anor v Safetags Solution Sdn Bhd [2022] MLJU 2653.
- Acted for a bank in a negligence claim brought by its customers, who alleged that the bank had honoured forged cheques. Successfully defended the bank in both the Sessions Court and the High Court.
Employment, Benefits and Incentives & Industrial Relations Disputes
- Acted for a senior employee of Avago Technologies (M) Sdn Bhd and succeeded in an unjust dismissal claim that went up to the Federal Court. In the subsequent assessment of damages, successfully distinguished the Federal Court decision in Unilever (M) Holdings Sdn Bhd v So Lai @ Soo Boon Lai & Anor [2015] 4 MLJ 326, and the Court of Appeal awarded compensation in lieu of reinstatement to the employee notwithstanding that he had passed his retirement age.
- Acted for a tertiary education group and successfully defended an unfair dismissal claim lodged by its former employee involving issues of conflict of interest. The Industrial Court Award is reported as Award No. 2382/2019.
- Acted for a bank and successfully defended an unjust dismissal claim based on alleged forced resignation by its former Head of Commodities Desk Trading, both at the Industrial Court and the High Court. The Industrial Court Award is reported as Award No. 3178/2019.
- Acted for a company that is an e-money issuer and successfully defended an unjust dismissal claim initiated by its former Chief Operating Officer. The Industrial Court Award is reported as Award No. 1126/2020.
- Acted for a bank and successfully defended an unjust dismissal claim related to the misconduct of its Service Manager. The Industrial Court Award is reported as Award No. 1221/2023.
- Acted for a developer and succeeded in defending an unjust dismissal claim based on misconduct and poor performance by its Site Supervisor. The Industrial Court Award is reported as Award No. 2244/2023.
- Acted for an oil and gas company and succeeded in defending an unjust dismissal claim by an employee who was retrenched during COVID-19. The Industrial Court Award is reported as Award No. 1270/2024.
- Acted for an oil and gas company and succeeded in defending an unjust dismissal claim by an employee who was terminated due to misconduct. The Industrial Court Award is reported as Award No. 274/2024.
Insurance and Reinsurance
- Acted for insurers in respect of a claim against Malaysian solicitors arising from a fraudulent cryptocurrency transaction worth over RM20 million.
- Acted for insurers on coverage matters involving various claims made by Malaysian banks against insured property valuers.
- Advised professional indemnity insurers on coverage in respect of claims made by owners and residents against insured property management agents.
- Acted for insurers and insured shopping mall owners/management in defending a personal injury claim arising from a high-profile escalator incident in a renowned Malaysian shopping mall.
- Acted for an insurer in initiating a subrogation claim under an industrial all-risks insurance policy.
- Advised and acted for an insurer in defending a claim by an insured arising from policy coverage issues.
- Advised and acted for an insurer and the insured in a claim made by a management corporation against the insured under a professional indemnity policy.
Ashley has co-authored various publications, including:
- Sweet & Maxwell – Law and Practice of Employment Law in Malaysia
- LexisNexis Malaysia (March 2021) – Manoeuvring Corporate Governance in Malaysia: Litigation Perspectives