David Grace

Experience

David Grace is a founding partner of Cooper Grace Ward and has had a distinguished legal career spanning over 50 years since being admitted as a solicitor in 1972. He has provided expert corporate and commercial legal advice to numerous clients and played a crucial role in developing Cooper Grace Ward into a prominent law firm. David specializes in company law, competition, and consumer law, with extensive experience advising on directors’ duties and responsibilities. He has also held significant board roles, including audit committee membership and chairmanship of operational risk management committees for public companies. After retiring from the partnership in 2014, he continues to contribute as a consultant at Cooper Grace Ward.

Specialty

David Grace specializes primarily in competition and consumer law, company law and practice, and commercial law. He is highly regarded for his expertise in advising clients on corporate governance, director responsibilities, and competition law compliance. His legal work has earned him multiple accolades, including recognition as Lawyer of the Year for Competition & Consumer Law in 2024 by Lawyer Monthly Legal Awards. Additionally, his practice areas extend to agriculture and rural affairs and corporate governance.

• Awards: David Grace was awarded Lawyer of the Year for Competition & Consumer Law in the 2024 Lawyer Monthly Legal Awards for Australia, marking his third consecutive recognition in these international awards, highlighting his leadership and innovation in competition and consumer law.
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• Industry Rankings: David Grace has been listed by Best Lawyers Australia for Commercial Law (since 2014), Corporate Law (since 2015), Agricultural and Rural Affairs (since 2022), and Corporate and Governance Practice (since 2022).
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• Firm Awards (with key role): Cooper Grace Ward, where David Grace is a founding partner, has received multiple firm-level awards including the Excellence Award – Law Firm of the Year (1-100 Lawyers) at the Australasian Law Awards 2024, and has been ranked as a Leading Law Firm in 15 practice areas by Doyle’s Guide 2023.
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• Leadership Roles: David Grace serves as a founding partner at Cooper Grace Ward and has extensive experience as a company director on numerous boards, including audit committees, operational risk management committees, and corporate governance committees of public companies.
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