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.
His current practice is in family law mediation services which he offers through Chris Ward Mediations.
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.
Chris was managing partner of Cooper Grace Ward 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 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.
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 the firm’s managing partner, Chris received recognition for his service as one of Australia’s most influential lawyers in the Australasian Law Awards.
Chris has a reputation for being very approachable, at ease dealing with people, and commercial in his considerations.
From the outset of family law mediations, his approach is to ascertain what each party hopes to achieve. He takes the time to gather these initial expectations from each party to the mediation, as well as their lawyers. Consequently, he gains the full picture of each person’s needs, which may not always be obvious from prior reading material.
Drawing on his extensive family law experience, Chris employs shuttle mediation techniques, assisting the parties to ensure they understand and ‘own’ the outcomes of the mediation.
He commits to working with the parties involved to reach a resolution, avoiding the risks and unknowns of litigation.
Chris conducts mediations across Australia and offers fee certainty by providing an all-inclusive charge that covers the mediation, prior reading and any travel costs.
To find out more or to book Chris Ward for a family law mediation, please visit the Chris Ward Mediations website.
Over the past 45+ years, Chris has litigated substantial matters in the:
Doyles Guide has released the 2025 rankings for leading family law mediators in Brisbane, and Chris Ward has been listed.
ADVOC, the international law firm network that CGW has been a member of since 2012, recently held its 2024 Asia AGM in New Zealand. A major feature of the AGM was Chris Ward, a founding partner of Cooper Grace Ward Lawyers, handing over to newly elected President of ADVOC’s Asia Chapter, Michael Lanyon.
Chris Ward has stepped down as managing partner of Cooper Grace Ward Lawyers after 16 years in the role. A founding partner of the firm, Ward completed his fourth and final term in December 2021.
Cooper Grace Ward acknowledges and pays respect to the past, present and future Traditional Custodians and Elders of this nation and the continuation of cultural, spiritual and educational practices of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples.
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