Strategy and advisory services
Support for leaders of professional services firms
Partners and leaders in professional services firms draw on Chris Ward's extensive experience in strategy and leadership to help drive better outcomes in their business.
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, 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 is also the current president of Advoc Asia 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.
Benefits for your firm
This combination of experience as a business founder, leader and manager places Chris in a position where he can provide trusted guidance to your firm on a wide range of strategic planning and operational matters.
If you are seeking practical advice from a leader with ‘hands-on’ experience and demonstrated results, please contact Chris for a complimentary initial consultation.
Professional services strategy
Guidance on strategy and business planning to grow and develop your firm for the long term
Equity structures and succession
Review of structures to drive performance and allow for effective succession and partner transitions
Partnership development
Support and advice on professional development at a group or individual partner level
General advisory services
General advice on the myriad commercial and partnership issues that can arise in professional services firms
Market recognised leadership capability
In his final year as managing partner of Cooper Grace Ward, Chris Ward was named one of Australia’s most influential lawyers in the 2021 Australasian Law Awards. He was noted as a long-term ‘changemaker’, a strong leader and an innovator, with the ability to drive positive change in the profession.
