Mark Pierce is an FAA-certified commercial pilot and flight instructor. He is also a top-ranked attorney with more than 40 years of legal experience. Mark has been the lead attorney in more than 100 trials, including jury trials in state and federal courts involving personal injury and wrongful death. He has successfully handled cases involving many practice areas, including product liability, airplane and helicopter crashes, deceptive trade practices, workers’ compensation, medical malpractice, and consumer fraud.
Mark’s knowledge and experience in pilot training, aviation regulations, and aircraft flight characteristics give him special insight into the legal responsibilities of pilots, air traffic controllers, manufacturers, owners, operators, and repair stations. Mark has served as first-chair attorney on major business aviation cases and airplane and helicopter crash cases. He has achieved remarkable results for his clients at trial and through negotiating settlements.
Mark has been recognized by Thomson-Reuters as a Super Lawyer in Aviation Law in Texas each year from 2011 through 2022, and he holds the highest possible rating (AV-Preeminent) from Martindale-Hubbell for ethics and legal skill. He has received recognition for achieving the #1 Aviation verdict in Texas in 2016 from Texas Lawyer magazine and topverdict.com. Top Verdict also recognized him for achieving the #2 Product Liability verdict in Texas in 2012 and the #7 Motor Vehicle verdict in Texas in 2012. Mark is board-certified in Civil Trial Law by the Texas Board of Legal Specialization and has achieved the status of Advocate Member of the American Board of Trial Advocates (ABOTA), limited to those with more than 50 jury trials as lead counsel.
Mark is a leader in the legal community. He has served as President of the Lawyer-Pilots Bar Association (2015-2016); as Chair of the Aviation Law Section of the State Bar of Texas (2017-2018); as Chair of the Aviation Section of the American Association for Justice (2015-2016); and as former President of the El Paso Trial Lawyers Association (two terms). He is currently President-Elect of the Barbara Jordan American Inn of Court, whose mission is to inspire the legal community to advance the rule of law by achieving the highest level of professionalism through example, education, and mentoring.
Mark is a graduate of The University of Texas at Austin and received both his degrees there: one in journalism (with high honors) and the other in law (with honors). He is licensed by the State Bar of Texas and admitted to practice before the United States Supreme Court, the United States Court of Appeals for the Fifth Circuit, and the Western, Eastern, Northern, and Southern Districts of Texas. Because of the national and international scope of the aviation industry and air travel, he is frequently admitted to practice pro hac vice in state and federal courts around the United States.
Mark is a frequent speaker at Continuing Legal Education (CLE) seminars for lawyers, providing training on trial skills and conveying his passion and insights regarding the safety of aircraft for pilots, passengers, families, and others who are affected by aviation accidents.