Alan J. Pierce is a partner in the Litigation Practice and Leader of the Appellate Practice. He has more than 20 years of litigation experience, concentrating on appellate practice, insurance coverage, defamation and civil and commercial litigation. Mr. Pierce has handled numerous appeals in his career, appearing before the New York State Court of Appeals, all four Departments of the State’s Appellate Divisions and in the Second, Fourth and Eleventh United States Circuit Courts of Appeals. He has served as trial and appellate counsel in successful actions for defamation and insurance bad faith. Mr. Pierce has authored several publications on appellate practice and insurance coverage, and lectures on behalf of the NYSBA and the Office of Court Administration on appellate advocacy and insurance coverage litigation. Prior to joining the Firm, he served as Confidential Law Clerk to the Hon. Richard D. Simons, New York State Court of Appeals.
- Education
- Professional Credentials
- Press & Publications
- Areas of Practice
- Case Studies
- Speaking Engagements
- Syracuse University College of Law, J.D., summa cum laude, 1984
- Dean’s Outstanding Representative Award
- President, Justinian Honor Society
- Order of the Coif
- Editor-In-Chief, Syracuse Law Review
- St. Lawrence University, B.A., summa cum laude, 1981
Admissions:
- New York
- U.S. Court of Appeals for the Eleventh Circuit
- U.S. Court of Appeals for the Fourth Circuit
- U.S. Court of Appeals for the Second Circuit
- U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of New York
- U.S. District Court for the Northern District of New York
- U.S. District Court for the Southern District of New York
- U.S. District Court for the Western District of New York
- U.S. Supreme Court
Credentials:
- Chair, NYSBA Committee on Courts of Appellate Jurisdiction
- Member, Empire State Counsel, New York State Bar Association
- Member, Onondaga County Bar Association
- Member, New York State Trial Lawyers Association
- Member, New York State Bar Association
- Member, St. Lawrence County Bar Association
- Member, American Bar Association
- Member, Fourth Department to the Fifth Judicial District Character & Fitness Committee
- Member, New York State Bar Association Task Force on Mandatory Retirement of Judges
- Member, New York State Academy of Trial Lawyers, Board of Directors
Honors & Recognitions:
- Rated, AV Preeminent, Martindale-Hubbell
- Selected, The Best Lawyers in America (2008-2025)
- Selected, Appellate Practice, “Lawyer of the Year” in Syracuse, The Best Lawyers in America (2022, 2024)
- Selected, Insurance Law, “Lawyer of the Year” in Syracuse, The Best Lawyers in America (2016)
- Selected, Upstate – New York, Super Lawyers (2007-2024)
- Empire State Counsel, New York State Bar Association (2013)
News
- 24 Hancock Estabrook Attorneys Selected as Super Lawyers 2023
- 26 Hancock Estabrook Attorneys Selected to The Best Lawyers in America 2024
- 24 Hancock Estabrook Attorneys Named Super Lawyers 2022
- 20 Hancock Estabrook Attorneys Selected to The Best Lawyers in America 2023
- 25 Hancock Estabrook Attorneys Named Super Lawyers for 2021
- 17 Hancock Estabrook Attorneys Selected to The Best Lawyers In America 2020
Publications
Speaking Engagements
- New York State Bar Association, “Meet the Judges of the Court of Appeals”
- New York State Bar Association, “2015 Law School for Insurance Professionals”
- New York State Bar Association, “The Before and After of K2 Investment Group LLC v. American Guarantee & Liability Insurance Company”
- New York State Bar Association, “New York Appellate Practice”
- New York State Bar Association, “New York Appellate Practice”
