In a significant transition for the legal technology sector, Chris Cartrett has announced his resignation as president and CEO of Aderant, a leading company providing business management and practice-of-law software to major global law firms. Cartrett’s departure, effective August 1, marks the end of a 12-year tenure at the Atlanta-based company. He will assume the CEO position at ImageTrend, a company specializing in software and data analytics for public safety and healthcare organizations.
Cartrett, who began his career with Aderant in 2014 after a stint at Thomson Reuters, expressed pride in his contributions to the company, stating, “It has been the privilege of my career to serve as president and CEO of Aderant… I leave knowing the company is stronger than ever.” He credited a dedicated team for their accomplishments, with notable mentions to Josiah Chaves, Chief Client Officer, and Aisling Fenelon, the company’s first female Chief Revenue Officer.
In reaction to the upcoming change in leadership, Deane Price, who previously held the CEO position from 2017 to 2021, will return as interim CEO on July 20. Price has remained involved with Aderant’s parent company, Roper Technologies, in various leadership capacities, including strategic growth and M&A advisory roles.
Under Cartrett’s stewardship, the company achieved a notable transformation with a focus on driving towards cloud-based solutions, incorporating generative AI in its products, and enhancing customer service. This mission aligned with his publicly stated goals in a 2025 interview at Aderant’s Momentum Global conference in Dallas, where he highlighted 2024 as a record-breaking year with continued growth into 2025.
Despite the leadership change, Aderant sought to reassure stakeholders about its stability, noting that its executive team will remain intact and is well-equipped to continue executing the company’s long-term strategy and 2026 business priorities without disruption.
Cartrett’s departure occurs during a high point for Aderant, further evidenced in recent discussions surrounding its leadership team strategy and forward-thinking initiatives.
I anticipate speaking with Cartrett to gain further insights into his decision to pivot from legal tech to public safety software, and will provide updates on the conversation in a subsequent report.