DAYTON, Ohio — Coolidge Wall Co., L.P.A. has announced that David P. Pierce will serve as the firm’s next president, effective July 1, 2026. Pierce succeeds Daniel J. Gentry, who is stepping down from the firm’s presidency after more than two decades of service to the firm. Gentry will continue serving clients and supporting the firm as a shareholder and advisor.
Pierce is a shareholder at Coolidge Wall and chairs the firm’s Litigation and Labor & Employment Departments. He also serves on the firm’s Executive Committee. During more than 30 years as an attorney, Pierce has represented clients in complex business and employment disputes in state and federal courts, before administrative agencies and in arbitration.
“On behalf of the firm, I want to thank Dan for his leadership, hard work and commitment over the past several years, We are grateful that he will assist with the transition and continue serving clients in the same excellent manner he has throughout his career. Dan’s steady leadership and dedication to the firm, our clients and our team have made a meaningful impact,” said Pierce.
Gentry will continue his work with clients while pursuing other professional and personal interests. During his tenure as president, he helped guide the firm through a period of continued growth and change while maintaining its longstanding focus on exceptional client service.
“David is an exceptionally thoughtful lawyer, trusted colleague and strategic leader,” Gentry said. “He understands what has made Coolidge Wall successful for more than 170 years, and he has the experience, judgment and vision to help guide the firm forward. I have great confidence in David and the entire Executive Committee as they lead the firm into its next chapter.”
Pierce said he is honored to lead a firm with such a deep history in the Dayton region and a reputation built on trusted counsel, strong relationships and high-quality legal work.
“Coolidge Wall has served businesses, individuals and organizations for generations, and that legacy is rooted in the exceptional people who make up this firm and the clients who place their trust in us. As president, I look forward to building on that foundation by continuing to deliver the thoughtful, responsive and results-driven counsel our clients expect; deepening the relationships that have made this firm a trusted advisor; attracting and developing exceptional legal talent; and expanding our capabilities in the areas where our clients need us most. We will remain responsive to the changing industries, opportunities and legal challenges our clients face while positioning Coolidge Wall for continued growth and success in the years ahead,” said Pierce.
A recognized leader in the legal community, Pierce is a past president of the Dayton Bar Association and Dayton Bar Foundation and has served as an adjunct professor at the University of Dayton School of Law since 2004. He is a Senior Fellow of the Litigation Counsel of America, has been recognized in The Best Lawyers in America since 2012 and was named the 2026 Best Lawyers Dayton Litigation–Labor and Employment “Lawyer of the Year.” He also has been recognized by Ohio Super Lawyers and holds an AV Preeminent Peer Review Rating from Martindale-Hubbell.
Founded in 1853, Coolidge Wall is one of the Dayton region’s oldest and most respected law firms. For more than 170 years, the firm has provided sophisticated, practical counsel to businesses, public entities, nonprofit organizations and individuals throughout Ohio and beyond. Its attorneys are known for bringing deep experience, sound judgment and a collaborative approach to complex legal matters across a broad range of practice areas, including business and corporate law, commercial real estate, labor and employment, litigation, tax, estate planning and probate, public sector law and workers’ compensation.
Under the leadership of incoming President David P. Pierce, the firm is poised to build on its strong foundation while continuing to deepen client relationships, develop its next generation of legal talent and respond to the evolving needs of the businesses, public entities and individuals it serves. Pierce’s extensive litigation experience, strategic insight and long-standing commitment to client service position him to guide the firm through its next chapter with both continuity and momentum.
With a legacy built on trusted relationships and results, Coolidge Wall continues to pair its longstanding legal strength with a forward-looking commitment to helping clients navigate change, seize opportunity and solve the challenges that matter most.
