As part of a planned leadership transition, Poyner Spruill LLP is proud to announce the election of Chad Essick as its next Managing Partner, effective April 1, 2026. Essick was elected by the Firm’s partners to succeed Dan Cahill, who has served in the role since April 2017.
“I am honored and humbled to have been elected by my law partners to serve as the Firm’s next Managing Partner,” said Essick. “My journey at Poyner Spruill began over 25 years ago as a college student, and I’ve been fortunate to spend my entire career with the Firm. The people, the culture, and the clients are what make Poyner such an exceptional place to be, and my goal is to continue to grow, support, and encourage all of those. Dan has been such an amazing leader over the past nine years, and the Firm has thrived under his leadership. I am blessed and grateful to have our three prior managing partners—Dan, Bo Dempster, and Cecil Harrison—still active at the Firm. All three will be invaluable resources for me as I transition into this new role.”
Cahill expressed his full support for the transition, stating, “I am very pleased that the partners have elected Chad to succeed me. While we had other talented attorneys to consider, Chad was clearly the best choice to continue the growth and success we have experienced recently. I am proud of what we have done together over the past eight years, but more than that, I am excited about where we can go under Chad’s leadership with his sharp mind, creative thinking, and ability to motivate his team.”
