Ashley Watson
Principal
Adelaide
Profile
Ashley’s extensive experience is Australia wide and covers mining, oil and gas, extractive industry, electricity, waste management, wine making, brewing, hospitality, the automotive industry, telecommunications, tyre making, petroleum refining, steel making and many other industries, businesses, government and local government bodies.
Ashley advises resources and energy companies across Australia on all aspects of project development including regulatory approvals, tenements and environmental matters.
Ashley has particular expertise with Aboriginal and other land access, Native Title and Aboriginal heritage matters.
He advises on all aspects of environmental law compliance and breach including prosecutions and civil action.
Ashley conducts environmental, Native Title and regulatory due diligence for all types of corporate, property and business transactions.
He acts as an advisor to corporate, government and local government bodies and actively participates in policy advice and government lobbying processes.
He also advises on agribusiness and related activities primarily for the pastoral industry across Australia.
Ashley has extensive experience in advising local government authorities, particularly on project development, planning, regulatory and environmental issues.
Expertise
Recognition
Accolades
- The Legal 500 Asia Pacific: Australia – Recommended for Environment and Planning – since 2024 edition
- The Legal 500 Asia Pacific: Australia – Recommended for Natural resources (transactions and regulatory) since 2021 edition
- The Legal 500 Asia Pacific: Australia – Recommended for Energy (transactions and regulatory) – 2020 edition
- Best Lawyers in Australia – Planning and Environmental Law “Lawyer of the Year” (Adelaide, AU) – 2018 edition
- Best Lawyers in Australia – Native Title “Lawyer of the Year” (Adelaide, AU) – 2020 & 2024 edition
- Best Lawyers in Australia – Oil and Gas Law “Lawyer of the Year” (Adelaide, AU) – 2024 edition
- Best Lawyers in Australia – Recognised for Commercial Law (Adelaide, AU) – Since 2019 edition
- Best Lawyers in Australia – Recognised for Mining Law (Adelaide, AU) – Since 2016 edition
- Best Lawyers in Australia – Recognised for Native Title (Adelaide, AU) – Since 2017 edition
- Best Lawyers in Australia – Recognised for Natural Resources Law (Adelaide, AU) – Since 2026 edition
- Best Lawyers in Australia – Recognised for Oil and Gas Law (Adelaide, AU) – Since 2019 edition
- Best Lawyers in Australia – Recognised for Planning and Environmental Law (Adelaide, AU) – Since 2013 edition
- Doyle’s Guide – Leading Energy & Resources Lawyers – South Australia, 2012 & 2016 – 2021 editions
- Doyle’s Guide – Leading Planning & Environment Lawyers – South Australia, 2019 – 2020 editions
- Doyle’s Guide – Leading Agribusiness Lawyers – South Australia, 2017 & 2019 editions
Ashley Watson is always calm and professional and has great experience.
The Legal 500 Asia-Pacific: Australia – Environment and planning
Ashley Watson has a tremendous amount of experience amassed over many years dealing with our particular area of Extraction in relation to Environmental and Development issues. Ashley has a calm disposition and conducts himself in a very professional manner often through tense situations in meetings. An asset to Piper Alderman.
The Legal 500 Asia-Pacific: Australia – Environment and planning
Memberships
- Member, Australian Institute of Company Directors
- Member, Environment Institute of Australia and New Zealand
- Member, Energy and Resources Law Association
- Member, Institute of Quarrying Australia
