Department profile
Cooper Grace Ward

Dispute Resolution

Asia-Pacific Guide 2026 : Australia

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Cooper Grace Ward

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About

Provided by Cooper Grace Ward

Cooper Grace Ward’s disputes team specialises in matters which are legally and factually complex and often of a high profile and/or business critical nature. The team is known for their ability to cut through complex legal issues to provide clients with strategic, commercial and practical advice and run cases in a strategic way that suits the particular situation.

Cooper Grace Ward has successfully represented a diverse range of clients in complex and high-profile commercial litigation across a wide variety of areas including international and listed companies, local and foreign governments, national and private businesses, as well as prominent individuals and high net-worth families.

As one of the largest truly independent commercial litigation practices based in Brisbane, the firm handles all types of disputes and legal representation including:

  • business disputes and litigation
  • complex commercial litigation
  • construction disputes and litigation
  • corporate and regulatory litigation
  • crisis situations
  • class action defence
  • defamation
  • intellectual property protection and infringement
  • international and cross-jurisdiction litigation
  • investigations by statutory authorities and commissions of inquiry
  • mediation and alternative dispute resolution
  • professional negligence and liability cases
  • property and leasing disputes
  • restructuring and insolvency
  • security enforcement and banking litigation
  • taxation disputes
  • wills and estate litigation.

Chambers Review

Provided by Chambers

Dispute Resolution - Australia

Band 5

What the Team is Known For

Cooper Grace Ward maintains a respected Brisbane disputes practice, active on behalf of several of Australia's leading companies across a broad range of disputes. The firm is regularly involved in significant Queensland matters, though the group is also experienced in the handling of Superior Court litigation in both New South Wales and Victoria. In addition to mandates affecting major players in the consumer goods, financial services and property industries, the team is increasingly active on behalf of high net worth and other publicly prominent individuals, and often also of their associated family trusts. It is also well known for advising clients on their interaction with official commissions of inquiry.

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Work Highlights

Provided by Chambers

  • Cooper Grace Ward represented Gordon Merchant, the founder of Billabong International, in professional negligence proceedings against EY, seeking damages of AUD58 million in the Supreme Court of Queensland.

Strengths

Provided by Chambers

  • CGW is easy to deal with. It excels in communication, being very timely and understanding at every step of the process.

    Dispute Resolution respondentAsia-Pacific

  • Cooper Grace Ward has highly personable individuals at the partner level, all the way through to their most junior lawyer. Its work is consistently high quality and client-focused.

    Dispute Resolution respondentAsia-Pacific

  • The team are knowledgeable, professional and always available.

    Dispute Resolution respondentAsia-Pacific

Notable Practitioners

Provided by Chambers

  • Rocco Russo
    Rocco Russo

    Rocco Russo

    Rocco Russo both leads the Cooper Grace Ward disputes practice and generally takes the lead on key mandates, operating across an impressively varied range of business and industry sectors and dispute types. He is based in Brisbane.

    • Rocco is very easy to work with. He is highly experienced and always acts in the client's best interests.

      Dispute Resolution respondentAsia-Pacific

    • Rocco is a safe pair of hands who has been litigating in Brisbane for decades. He understands how to get a result in a case.

      Dispute Resolution respondentAsia-Pacific

    • Rocco is highly responsive, exceptionally knowledgeable and has a knack for providing succinct, strategic advice no matter how complex the problem or how pressured the timescale.

      Dispute Resolution respondentAsia-Pacific

    • He has an impressive ability to communicate with his clients, understand their drivers and needs, and provide solutions considering both legal and commercial impacts.

      Dispute Resolution respondentAsia-Pacific
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Ranked Individuals at Cooper Grace Ward (1)

Australia

Members

Provided by Cooper Grace Ward

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