Chris Ward

Chris Ward has been a litigator for nearly all of his 45+ years of practice, focusing on the areas of family law, insurance law and commercial litigation.

He currently practises as a family law mediator. 

In this specialist area of mediation, Chris draws on his extensive family law experience to assist parties to disputes. He is highly regarded for his ability to deal with people at different levels and facing different complexities in their family and relationship matters.

Industry and business capability

Chris also offers advisory support to professional services firms in a wide range of strategic and operational planning, drawing on his experience as a law firm founder, managing partner and business leader.

In 1980, Chris co-founded leading Brisbane based law firm, Cooper Grace Ward, and was managing partner of the firm from 2005 to 2021. In this role, he set the course for significant growth and market recognition for the firm. This included ongoing awards and achievements in areas including team culture, diversity and client service. As a founding partner of the firm, he built the commercial litigation, insurance and family law practices of Cooper Grace Ward. These practices have all grown to become market leading practices in their own right.

Chris was president of Advoc Asia (2018 to 2024) and the former chair of Advoc Global (2018 to 2023). Advoc is a Chambers Band One international law firm network of which Cooper Grace Ward is a member firm. Advoc brings together more than 90 law firms for the benefit of member firms and their clients throughout the world.

Chris has a demonstrated track record of building and maintaining client relationships and is committed to ensuring a high standard of client service.

In his final year as Cooper Grace Ward’s managing partner, Chris received recognition for his service as one of Australia’s most influential lawyers in the Australasian Law Awards.