David P. Pierce

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David P. Pierce

Contact Information

(937) 449-5543

Practice Areas:

Corporate and Business Law
Labor and Employment
Litigation
Overview
Experience
News
Professional
Overview
Experience
News
Professional

Overview

David Pierce is a Shareholder at Coolidge Wall and chairs the Litigation and Labor & Employment Departments, where he successfully works with clients to resolve a variety of business and employment related disputes in federal and state courts and before various administrative agencies and in arbitrations. He is also a member of the firm’s executive committee. During more than 30 years as an attorney, he has served as counsel for parties in complex litigation; age, gender, race, disability, and national origin discrimination and harassment claims brought in the courts and before various administrative agencies; non-competition and trade secret litigation; professional malpractice litigation; securities litigation; construction litigation; defamation and tort litigation; and a variety of other disputes arising from business operations and transactions.

David has tried cases in State and Federal Court and represented clients in arbitration before the American Arbitration Association, the National Association of Securities Dealers/Financial Industry Regulatory Authority (NASD/FINRA), and other tribunals. In addition, he has served as an arbitrator, as a mediator, and lectured to professional and business organizations on a wide variety of litigation topics. David served a term as President of the Dayton Bar Association and regularly serves as an adjunct professor at the University of Dayton School of Law where he has taught Evidence, Trial Practice, and Employment Law for a number of years.

David is a Senior Fellow of the Litigation Counsel of America (LCA), a designation earned by achieving the status of Fellow for seven consecutive years.  The LCA is an invitation-only, trial lawyer, honorary society limited to 3,500 Fellows, or less than one-half of one percent of American lawyers.  He has been recognized in Best Lawyers in America® every year since 2012 and was named “Best Lawyers Dayton Litigation – Labor and Employment Lawyer of the Year” for 2026, 2018 and 2014, a designation given annually to a single lawyer in each practice area in each community.  David has been named an Ohio Super Lawyer (2009-present) and received recognition in Super Lawyers Corporate Counsel edition on the topics of Business and Employment Litigation. He also was recognized as a Top 100 2020 Ohio Super Lawyer and a Top 50 2020 Cincinnati Super Lawyer. He is certified as a Specialist in Labor and Employment Law by the Ohio State Bar Association. David also holds an AV®Peer Review Rating from Martindale-Hubbell.

Recognition + Awards

Best Lawyer of the Year 2026 - Litigation - Labor and Employment Dayton, Ohio

Named Litigation Counsel of America Senior Fellow for achieving Fellow status for seven consecutive years

Elected Dayton Business Journal Best of the Bar

AV® Preeminent Peer Review Rating from Martindale-Hubbell

Selected for inclusion in Best Lawyers in America©

Recognized in Ohio Super Lawyers and listed in Super Lawyers Corporate Counsel Edition

2007 Allan L. Wasserman Young Leadership Award

2004 Dayton Business Journal 40 Under 40 Award

Best Lawyers in America since 2012: Commercial Litigation, Litigation-Labor and Employment

Best Lawyers-Dayton Lawyer of the Year 2026: Litigation-Labor and Employment

Best Lawyers-Dayton Lawyer of the Year 2018: Litigation-Labor and Employment

Super Lawyers Rising Stars 2005-2007

Super Lawyers 2009-2026

Bar Admissions

  • Ohio, 1993
  • U.S. Court of Appeals 6th Circuit, 1993
  • U.S. District Court Southern District of Ohio, 1993
  • U.S. District Court Northern District of Ohio
  • U.S. Supreme Court

Education

  • University of Cincinnati College of Law, Cincinnati, Ohio
    J.D. – 1993
  • Vanderbilt University
    B.A. – 1990
    Honors: cum laude

Publications

  • “Electronically Stored Information- Ohio:” Emerging Issues Analysis, 2012 Emerging Issues 6655
  • “Termination of Employee/Owners in Closely Held Corporations,” Dayton Bar Briefs, December 2002
  • “What is the Scott-Pontzer Decision and Why is it Costing Some Companies Thousands of Dollars,” The Navigator, October 2002
  • “Arbitration Settlements May Cost More than Trial,” The Dayton Business Journal, July 2001
  • “The Federal Arbitration Act: Conflicting Interpretations of its Scope,” 61 U.C. Law Rev. 623 (1992)

Presentations + Speeches

  • “Temporary Restraining Orders and Preliminary Injunctions in Federal Court,” Dayton Bar Association Federal Practice Committee
  • Evidence and Expert Testimony Best Practices: National Business Institute
  • Labor and Employment Update, Dayton Bar Association
  • “Under the Obama Administration: Emerging Issues in Labor & Employment Law,” Presentation to Dayton Bar Association
  • “Keeping Secrets, Identification & Protection of Trade Secrets,” 16th Annual Bench Bar Conference
  • “Expert Witnesses, Daubert Challenges, and Other Hot Issues,” Montgomery County Common Pleas Court
  • “Trade Secrets & Covenants Not to Compete Under Ohio Law,” Dayton Intellectual Property Law Association
  • “Covenants Not to Compete in Ohio,” Lorman Education Services
  • “Achieving Favorable Settlements in Ohio,” National Business Institute
  • “Complaint to Verdict, Trial of a Civil Case,” Dayton Bar Association
  • “Document Gathering, Production and Management for Litigation Paralegals in Ohio,” Institute for Paralegal Education
  • “What You Need to Know About Public Records and Open Meeting in Ohio,” Lorman Educational Services

News

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03/30/2026

Please Join Us for Coolidge Wall’s Annual Complimentary Labor and Employment Seminar on Thursday, April 23, 2026 at the Dayton Art Institute

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01/06/2026

Eight Coolidge Wall Attorneys Named 2026 Ohio Super Lawyers and Rising Stars

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08/21/2025

Sixteen Coolidge Wall Attorneys Selected for The Best Lawyers in America® 2026 Edition

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10/21/2024

Now is the Time to Consider Updating Your Company’s Employee Handbook

Professional

  • Past President, Dayton Bar Foundation
  • Past President, Dayton Bar Association
  • Dayton Bar Association , Past Chair, Labor and Employment Committee, Federal Practice and Professionalism Committees
  • Ohio State Bar Association
  • Senior Fellow, Litigation Counsel of America
  • Ohio Association of Civil Trial Attorneys, Member, Alternative Dispute Resolution Committee
  • Carl D. Kessler Inn of Court, Past President

Community

  • Dayton Bar Association, Past President
  • Dayton Bar Foundation, Past President
  • The Lawyers Club of Dayton, Treasurer
  • Dayton Bar Association, President
  • University of Dayton School of Law, Adjunct Professor (2004 to present)
  • Greater Dayton Jewish Federation, Past President, Board of Trustees
  • Montgomery County Bench Bar Conference, Co-Chair
  • United Way of Greater Dayton, Leaders’ Circle, Member
  • Leadership Dayton, Graduate, Class of 2005
  • Human Race Theatre Company, Board of Trustees, Past President

Our Practices

Our attorneys have experience in the issues that business owners and entrepreneurs frequently face:
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Commercial Real Estate
For nearly every type of business, real estate is a crucial component of success. For property owners, managers, developers and construction companies, commercial property issues are an everyday facet of business, and skillful solutions to those issues are essential to success of the business. Even if your company is not directly involved in the real estate industry, your place of business — whether purchased or leased — is a critical investment.
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Corporate & Business
At Coolidge Wall, we understand how intimidating business issues like organization, internal governance and contract negotiation can be. As a client, you can expect our corporate and business lawyers to become thoroughly familiar with your business goals and operations. We then draw on the full experience of a distinguished staff of attorneys to help you make wise decisions for your business — from incorporation onward.
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Litigation
Litigation is one of the most challenging aspects of legal practice, one that not every attorney is prepared to handle. Coolidge Wall's team of seasoned litigators have experience with all types of disputes: civil and administrative litigation, appeals, and even select criminal matters.
Construction Workers
Labor & Employment
At Coolidge Wall, we believe that a company’s workforce is its most important asset. However, managing personnel issues and striking the balance between attracting talent and keeping workforce expenses manageable can be a difficult and delicate task. Employers can easily make mistakes that lead to litigation, overcompensation or morale difficulties. Our labor and employment attorneys are well acquainted with labor trends and employment law and use that knowledge to provide our clients with creative and cost-effective advice.
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Worker's Compensation
The Ohio workers’ compensation system fills a legitimate need and was designed for administrative convenience. But for businesses of all sizes, workers’ compensation issues can be a nightmare. Employers trust the workers’ compensation practice team at Coolidge Wall to provide informed counsel and competent representation regarding these important issues.
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Tax
Tax is a universal issue for every business in the United States. The record keeping, planning and preparation that is necessary to keep your tax affairs in order and avoid paying more than you should touches every aspect of your operation.
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Estate Planning & Probate

Our clients trust the attorneys of Coolidge Wall with their important estate planning and probate needs.  Our team is experienced in all aspects of estate planning and probate law, including wills and trusts, estate tax planning, probate administration, and business succession.

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Public Sector Law
Our extensive transactional and civil work in the private sector has provided our team of attorneys at Coolidge Wall with the knowledge and practical experience necessary to provide public sector entities with competent legal counsel for a wide range of issues.

Coolidge Wall is here
to serve your legal needs

Coolidge Wall offers a diverse array of legal practice areas and business insight for our clients. Let our history, reputation and knowledge work for your business-no matter where you are. Contact us to learn how we can contribute to your company’s success.
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