GrayRobinson Welcomes Jacob Payne as Chief Risk Officer
JACKSONVILLE, Fla. – GrayRobinson is pleased to announce Jacob “Jake” J. Payne has joined the firm as chief risk officer (CRO). As a member of GrayRobinson’s senior administrative leadership team, Payne will serve under the firm’s President and CEO Dean Cannon and also work closely with the firm’s General Counsel Stephanie Marchman.
Payne is an attorney and certified public accountant (inactive) with more than two decades of experience in the public and private sectors. He will lead GrayRobinson’s risk management operations and oversee professional responsibility compliance, conflicts of interest, client intake protocols, and firmwide risk policies and procedures to support the ethical, secure, and efficient provision of legal services by the firm.
“We are thrilled to have Jake Payne as our new chief risk officer,” said Cannon. “Jake brings a deep understanding of risk management and a proactive approach that aligns well with our strategic vision and commitment to operational excellence. In today’s complex legal and business environment, his insight and judgment will be key to strengthening our risk posture, safeguarding the firm, and preemptively addressing emerging challenges in the practice of law as we continue to evolve.”
Prior to joining GrayRobinson, Payne most recently served as vice president and senior corporate counsel of U.S. Bancorp in Jacksonville, and previously served as assistant general counsel to the City of Jacksonville and as a shareholder at Rogers Towers, P.A. He is also a former law clerk to the Honorable Susan H. Black of the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Eleventh Circuit and Honorable Wm. Terrell Hodges of the U.S. District Court for the Middle District of Florida.
“I’m excited to be a part of GrayRobinson under the leadership of Dean Cannon and work alongside General Counsel Stephanie Marchman,” said Payne. “I’m passionate about helping people, streamlining processes, and developing practical, forward-thinking policies to manage risk effectively. I look forward to contributing to the firm’s continued success.”
Payne received his Juris Doctor (first in his class) from the University of Florida (UF) Levin College of Law, his Master’s in Accounting from UF Fisher School of Accounting, and his Bachelor of Science in Accounting from Florida State University. He is admitted to practice in Florida.
