Chad
Wallace

Economics has always been a passion of mine and it wasn’t until a gap arose in my high school timetable that I first took up legal studies and considered law as a career.

As it turns out, I was rather good at it. I sat my first year law paper at Waikato University while still in Year 13 at Hamilton’s Fraser High School and achieved an A+ grade. I was then offered early acceptance into their law programme and went on to graduate with a Bachelor of Laws (First Class Honours) and a Bachelor of Social Science (Economics). One particular highlight was a five-month student exchange to Ghent University in Belgium where I studied European Union and International Law.

In early 2013 I joined the property team of a top-tier Auckland law firm before moving to Tauranga nearly three years later to join Cooney Lees Morgan. I lead a team which looks after one of New Zealand’s leading nationwide residential construction companies along with a number of property developers, commercial landlords, retirement village operators, local authorities and private clients.

My experience includes a wide range of commercial, rural and residential property matters, including acquisitions and disposals, leasing, subdivisions, residential build contracts, financing, orchard and farm transactions.

I consider myself a hardworking and driven individual. I enjoy learning, being challenged and working with others to solve problems. I always strive to provide practical, friendly and well-thought out advice. In 2023 I was recognised by NZ Lawyer as a ‘Rising Star’ in the legal profession.

Outside of work, my interests include cycling, politics, travelling and spending time at the beach with my wife, Sara, and our two young boys. I’m also a current board member of the Tauranga Business Chamber at what is an exciting and transformational time for our city.