There’s no “I” in team – and clients could be the first to tell you they prefer firms that collaborate for the best outcomes.
So say the lawyers at Brisbane-based corporate and commercial law firm Cooper Grace Ward Lawyers. And they should know: the team recently took home the gong for Best Law & Related Services Firm ($30-$50m revenue) in the 2022 Client Choice Awards researched by beaton.
Charles Sweeney, managing partner of Cooper Grace Ward Lawyers, said a “team-based approach” was proving to be the most successful method for his firm in delivering services to clients and was likely a deciding factor in the team’s recent success in the Awards.
“We know that the legal services market is highly competitive and there are many great lawyers who continue to raise the bar in terms of client service,” Mr Sweeney said.
“Our clients regularly tell us that it is our team-based approach that makes a significant difference in the way that our services are delivered. So, in the year ahead, we will be continuing to increase our investment in our team through initiatives relating to diversity and inclusion, training and development and personal career growth.”
The annual Client Choice Awards recognise the best Australian and New Zealand firms in four categories of accounting and consulting, built and natural environment consulting, legal, and specialist IP services. Winners of the Awards are chosen not through self-nomination or judging panels, but by arguably the most important judges of all – clients.
Cooper Grace Ward was one of just a handful of winners, whittled down from more than 250 firms and judged a standout from more than 15,000 pieces of client feedback.
Mr Sweeney said his team was “pleased but humbled” to win the Best Law & Related Services Firm ($30-$50m revenue) award, while also being recognised as a finalist in two other categories.
“Both our existing clients and prospective clients of Cooper Grace Ward can take this award as an indicator of the quality of service they can expect when dealing with us,” Mr Sweeney said.
Mr Sweeney highlighted a range of new operational strategies the firm had invested in during the past year to improve client service. These included re-engineering crucial processes to improve efficiency and cost savings, enhancing collaborative document generation and automation tools, and restarting what he called “regional roadshows” – where lawyers travel regionally to meet face-to-face with clients and present seminars on issues like tax, superannuation, and workplace relations.
However, he maintained that the firm’s focus on its people – through benefits like staff professional development, work-life balance, flexibility, diversity and inclusion – had helped Cooper Grace Ward thrive despite the challenges of the past two years.
“Unlike many firms that reduced staff entitlements or paused their hiring of new talent during the early stages of the pandemic, we maintained our team and continued our search for new team members … We are seeing that the same things remain important to team members for both retention and attraction – having good leadership and a strong relationship with your direct supervisor; and having a clear vision and strategy for future growth at a firm and personal level.”
Cooper Grace Ward was named the Best Law & Related Services Firm ($30-$50m revenue) in the 2022 Client Choice Awards. This award is presented in partnership with The College of Law’s Legal Business Management programs.
The Client Choice Awards rewards firms for excellent client service, technical expertise, innovation and client experience. It is the only multi-profession and fully client-judged awards anywhere in the world. The Principal Partner of the Awards is NAB.
Enter your firm for the 2023 Awards here.
