A handle assembly for a window or door leaf, the handle assembly comprising: a first handle grip, the first handle grip being moveable rotatably and axially relative to a handle axis, the first handle grip having a closed position, wherein the first handle grip is in a first angular position and an open position, wherein the first handle grip is in a second angular position, the handle assembly having a latch-operating configuration in which the handle assembly is configured for driving a latch of a latch mechanism between a latched position and a released position, and a non-latch-operating configuration in which the handle assembly is non-operable for driving the latch, wherein the handle assembly is configured such that the handle assembly is transformed from the non-latch-operating configuration to the latch-operating configuration by moving the first handle grip axially along the handle axis, wherein the handle assembly further comprises first blocking means transformable between a blocking configuration and a non-blocking configuration, wherein in the blocking configuration the first handle grip is prevented from being rotated from the closed position to the open position by the blocking means and wherein in the non-blocking configuration the first handle grip is free to be rotated from the closed position to the open position, wherein the handle assembly is configured such that the blocking means is transformed from the blocking configuration to the non-blocking configuration by moving the first handle grip axially along the handle axis, the handle assembly further comprising a first spindle having a latch mechanism-engaging portion for driving the latch of the latch mechanism, the first spindle being fixed relative to the first handle grip such that the first spindle moves with the first handle grip as the first handle grip is rotated and/or translated axially, the first handle grip being configured to be mounted to a first side of a leaf and the handle assembly further comprising a second handle grip configured to be mounted to the opposite side of a leaf from the first handle grip, the handle assembly further comprising a second spindle, the second spindle having a rearward end that extends into said latch mechanism, wherein the second spindle is configured to rotate upon rotation of the second handle grip in order to drive the latch of said latch mechanism but to be slideable relative to the second handle grip such that the second handle grip does not move axially as the first handle grip is moved axially. a first handle grip, the first handle grip being moveable rotatably and axially relative to a handle axis, the first handle grip having a closed position, wherein the first handle grip is in a first angular position and an open position, wherein the first handle grip is in a second angular position, the handle assembly having a latch-operating configuration in which the handle assembly is configured for driving a latch of a latch mechanism between a latched position and a released position, and a non-latch-operating configuration in which the handle assembly is non-operable for driving the latch, wherein the handle assembly is configured such that the handle assembly is transformed from the non-latch-operating configuration to the latch-operating configuration by moving the first handle grip axially along the handle axis, wherein the handle assembly further comprises first blocking means transformable between a blocking configuration and a non-blocking configuration, wherein in the blocking configuration the first handle grip is prevented from being rotated from the closed position to the open position by the blocking means and wherein in the non-blocking configuration the first handle grip is free to be rotated from the closed position to the open position, wherein the handle assembly is configured such that the blocking means is transformed from the blocking configuration to the non-blocking configuration by moving the first handle grip axially along the handle axis, the handle assembly further comprising a first spindle having a latch mechanism-engaging portion for driving the latch of the latch mechanism, the first spindle being fixed relative to the first handle grip such that the first spindle moves with the first handle grip as the first handle grip is rotated and/or translated axially, the first handle grip being configured to be mounted to a first side of a leaf and the handle assembly further comprising a second handle grip configured to be mounted to the opposite side of a leaf from the first handle grip, the handle assembly further comprising a second spindle, the second spindle having a rearward end that extends into said latch mechanism, wherein the second spindle is configured to rotate upon rotation of the second handle grip in order to drive the latch of said latch mechanism but to be slideable relative to the second handle grip such that the second handle grip does not move axially as the first handle grip is moved axially.