Mr. Pierce is the head of the firm's International Arbitration practice in the New York office. Recognized by the Chambers guides as "a crucial figure in the firm's global arbitration practice," Mr. Pierce represents clients in international arbitration matters in venues around the world, under both civil and common law regimes, and under the rules of all major arbitral institutions. He also represents clients in international civil litigation matters in United States courts.
Practice
Mr. Pierce's practice is focused on the resolution of international disputes, often involving multi-jurisdictional elements and parallel proceedings. He has extensive experience handling arbitration and litigation matters valued in the billions of dollars and involving highly complex issues of law and fact. Most recently, Mr. Pierce has represented a European manufacturing company in an ICC arbitration sited in London, under English and Japanese law, involving claims in excess of $3 billion. He has also recently represented a major European telecommunications company in three related arbitrations sited in Vienna, and related litigation proceedings in the United States, involving issues of Polish, Austrian and US law, and claims in excess of $2 billion.
Mr. Pierce has represented European, US, Latin American and other companies, in a wide range of industries and sectors, in arbitrations sited in Latin America, the US, Europe and Asia. He has particular experience in international joint venture, M&A, shareholder, pharmaceutical, electronics, telecommunications, transportation, financial services and agency disputes. Mr. Pierce also has experience advising clients with respect to potential claims under bilateral investment treaties. In addition to his work as counsel, Mr. Pierce sits as an arbitrator in international disputes.
Mr. Pierce has been recognized as a leader in the field of international arbitration by Chambers Global: The World's Leading Lawyers, Chambers USA: America's Leading Lawyers for Business, Euromoney's Guide to the World's Leading Experts in Commercial Arbitration, Legal Media Group's The Best of the Best, New York SuperLawyers and other publications He is described by competitors and clients in the Chambers guides as a "top-notch" and "very knowledgeable" practitioner with "a great ability to understand and execute complex business objectives." He is also praised for his "very effective" and "persuasive" advocacy "both in writing and in the arbitration chamber."
In addition to his arbitration practice, Mr. Pierce represents clients in complex international civil litigation matters in US courts, including efforts to enforce, or resist enforcement of, international arbitral awards. Most recently, Mr. Pierce successfully represented a European company in a RICO action in federal court in Seattle, Washington involving claims in excess of $7 billion. Mr. Pierce achieved the dismissal of that action on grounds of forum non conveniens and then successfully argued for affirmation of that judgment in the United States Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit.
Mr. Pierce is also committed to pro bono representation and public service. He serves as Chair of the Public Service Committee in the firm's New York office.
