Michelle Peirce

Practice Areas

Litigation

White Collar & Government Enforcement

Health Care

Intellectual Property Litigation

Labor & Employment

Product Liability & Toxic Tort

Securities Litigation

Sexual Misconduct & Workplace Harassment

Securities

Privately Held & Family Owned Businesses

Career

Hinckley Allen, Partner, Co-Chair, White Collar & Government Enforcement Group, Co-Chair, Women's Forum

Barrett & Singal, Partner

Goodwin Procter, Associate, Special Assistant District Attorney (Cambridge District Court)

Suffolk University, Adjunct Professor

Lawyers Weekly, Inc., Vice President

Offices of the Honorable Andrew A. Caffrey, U.S. District Court in Boston, Law Clerk

Professional Memberships

Boston Bar Association, Business and Commercial Litigation Steering Committee, Member (2016-2018), Civil Litigation and Criminal Law Sections, White Collar Crime Conference Advisory Committee (2020), White Collar Crime Steering Committee, Member (2019-2022)

Federal Bar Association, Massachusetts Chapter, Criminal Law Section Co-Chair (2023-Present), Civil Healthcare Section Co-Chair (2020-2021)

Massachusetts Bar Association

Massachusetts Lawyers Weekly, Former Member of the Board of Editors

Middlesex Mediation, LLC, Panel Member (2023-Present), Trained Mediator, Completed forty hours of mediation training in accordance with M.G.L. ch.233 § 23C with MWI in Boston, MA

National Association of Criminal Defense Attorneys, Member

National Institute for Trial Advocacy, Faculty Member, Multiple years

Women's Bar Association, President (2009-2010), Member of Executive Board (2007-2010), Vice President of Membership and Statewide Outreach (March 2007-2008), Past Media Committee Chair

Expert in these Jurisdictions

Massachusetts

United States Court of Appeals for the First Circuit

United States District Court for the District of Massachusetts

United States Supreme Court

Experience

Michelle R. Peirce is a litigator handling high-stakes criminal, civil, and enforcement matters. Co-Chair of the firm’s White Collar & Government Enforcement group, Michelle represents companies, business executives, and individuals in connection with white-collar criminal investigations and indictments, internal investigations, and complex civil litigation. Described in Chambers as “an inspiring, creative, brilliant and dedicated attorney,” Michelle has tried numerous complex jury and bench trials in state and federal court. In addition to being a trial lawyer, Michelle is a trained mediator and a panel member of Middlesex Mediation, LLC.

Michelle has extensive experience leading complex internal and independent investigations. She serves as trusted outside counsel, overseeing and running investigations and reporting on factual findings related to potential criminal violations inside of publicly and privately held corporations, non-profit organizations, and boards of directors. These investigations range from complex and broad to narrow and discrete, but across all, Michelle skillfully and discretely addresses the unique needs surrounding the allegations presented. Her steady, comprehensive approach stems from her time serving as a Special Assistant District Attorney in Middlesex County where she established a strong reputation for analyzing, prosecuting, and trying numerous criminal cases. This foundational experience is informative to her current investigative work spanning healthcare, employment, securities, bankruptcy, export, tax, defense procurement, and other federal and state issues.

Equally gifted in her civil litigation practice, Michelle counsels businesses, non-profits organizations, public entities, as well as individuals in navigating a range of civil and regulatory violations at the state and federal level. She is known for exceptional advocacy on contract disputes, complex business litigation, healthcare matters, employment disputes, insurance matters, and more. Additionally, Michelle handles disciplinary, regulatory, and licensing proceedings for lawyers, doctors, and other licensed professionals.

In addition to her thriving trial practice, Michelle is deeply committed to fostering inclusive workplaces. A member of Hinckley Allen’s Diversity, Equity, & Inclusion Committee, she drives innovative ways to recruit and retain a diverse workforce at the firm. In the legal industry in general, Michelle supports women lawyers through advocacy and is a former president of both the Women’s Bar Foundation and Women’s Bar Association; she serves as a longstanding Trustee on the Women’s Bar Foundation’s Board and represents indigent clients through the Foundation’s Family Law Project. She is an essential part of the fabric of the white-collar defense world; Michelle is especially generous with her time in mentoring newer attorneys as they build successful careers.

Michelle is highly respected and sought for her knowledge, skills, and results. Her hallmark is innovative thinking and a deep commitment to clients. People seek her legal counsel not just because of her exceptional reputation, but also because of her collaborative and cooperative approach to problem solving.

Education

Awards

Work Highlights

Represented a large national law firm in an SEC investigation of a former law partner involved in a fraudulent scheme to manipulate small capital companies on both the US and international stock exchanges.

Representation of a homeless shelter in a complicated mix of matters related to alleged criminal conduct by its former President.

Successfully represented medical practice in contentious arbitration among joint venture members in a dispute over dissolution. Secured preliminary injunction through arbitration, resulting in successful resolution.

Secured verdicts of not guilty on all twenty-five charges of second-degree murder against Barry Cadden in the nationally-covered New England Compounding Center criminal case arising out of the 2012 meningitis outbreak

Defended PPE facilitator in criminal and civil investigations

Successfully defended public authority in a commercial contract suit claiming nearly $10M in damages

Won landmark federal appeal upholding a no-jail sentence for client convicted of Big Dig highway fraud

Persuaded federal authorities not to indict scientist for alleged export crimes after lengthy negotiations

Successfully resolved case against insurance carrier for failing to cover hospital’s loss

Won civil fraud and consumer protection case, without a trial, against an attorney alleged to have participated in a real estate scheme

Represented health plan in favorably resolving class action law suit under Mental Health Parity Act

Won dismissal of case brought by union against public authority claiming violation of fire safety regulations

Defense award in arbitration defending clients in medical practice partnership dispute

Dismissal of all criminal charges in kidnapping case

Dismissal of disciplinary complaint against physician at Board of Registration in Medicine in matter involving a patient death

Summary judgment awards defending clients in employment discrimination, including claims for race discrimination, sexual harassment, and healthcare whistleblower retaliation

Successfully represented family and heirs seeking damages after being defrauded by another family member

Persuaded federal prosecutors not to bring charges against attorney in a bankruptcy fraud investigation; successfully disposed of attorney disciplinary complaint arising out of same conduct