Holly A. Pierson brings almost two decades of extensive civil and criminal experience to her law practice. Ms. Pierson is a veteran of the healthcare and litigation departments of the prestigious law firms of King & Spalding LLP, Nelson Mullins Riley & Scarborough LLP, Powell Goldstein LLP (now Bryan Cave), and Morris, Manning & Martin LLP. Ms. Pierson also served as an Assistant U.S. Attorney for the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Western District of North Carolina (Charlotte), with a concentration in white collar criminal investigations and prosecution. As a federal prosecutor, Ms. Pierson served as the Criminal Healthcare Fraud Coordinator, the Environmental Crimes Coordinator, and as a member of the Appellate Committee. During her tenure with the U.S. Attorney's Office, Ms. Pierson tried numerous jury trials, returning favorable verdicts for the United States in each one. Ms. Pierson also authored and otherwise participated in numerous federal appeals, with each resulting in favorable opinions from the Fourth Circuit Court of Appeals.
Throughout her career in both public and private practice, Ms. Pierson has handled numerous federal and state investigations and conducted significant internal investigations. Recently, for example, Ms. Pierson achieved the extraordinary result of a pre-discovery dismissal of a joint federal and state qui tam/whistleblower case brought against a healthcare client pursuant to the False Claims Act. Ms. Pierson has also negotiated the successful resolution of a number of other state and federal civil and criminal investigations, including for a pharmaceutical company under investigation by several state and federal authorities and a large corporate client who was under a multi-year federal Grand Jury investigation. Ms. Pierson regularly represents healthcare providers, small businesses, and other individuals in a variety of civil, criminal and administrative matters.
Early in her career, Ms. Pierson served as a law clerk to the Honorable J.L. Edmondson on the United States Court of Appeals for the Eleventh Circuit. Since 1998, Ms. Pierson has also served as an Adjunct at the University of Georgia School of Law where she assists with the school’s advocacy and appellate clinic programs. She is frequently invited to speak to national audiences on a variety of issues including state and federal investigations, white collar crime, healthcare fraud, the pharmaceutical industry and mortgage fraud related issues.
Representative Experience
- Achieved pre-discovery dismissal of a joint federal and state qui tam/whistleblower case brought against a healthcare provider pursuant to the False Claims Act.
- Represented pharmaceutical company in complex internal investigation relating to government allegations of off label marketing, Anti Kickback violations and manipulation of the AWP.
- Represented numerous clients in whistleblower or qui tam cases brought under the False Claims Act.
- Coordinated criminal investigation into pharmaceutical manufacturer and distributor for misbranding and cGMP violations.
- Represented numerous clients, including healthcare providers, in business, employment and contract disputes.
- Obtained unanimous opinion from Georgia Supreme Court affirming habeas relief granted below to client wrongfully convicted of felony murder.
- Represented a number of clients in the Georgia Court of Appeals, the Eleventh Circuit Court of Appeals, and the Fourth Circuit Court of Appeals.
- Represented clients in healthcare regulatory investigations.
- Represented owner of pharmacy in federal investigation and related Board of Pharmacy proceedings relating to internet pharmacy prescriptions.
- Represented major lending institutions in grand jury investigations into mortgage fraud.
- Successfully represented large corporation in long-term federal Grand Jury investigation into alleged public corruption and fraud relating to a major construction project.
Honors and Affiliations
Named a “Super Lawyer” in the Georgia Super Lawyers publication, 2010 and 2012
Named a “Rising Star” in the Georgia Super Lawyers publication, 2005, 2007 and 2009
Presented with Outstanding Alumni Advocate Award by University of Georgia School of Law in 2009
Awarded two Director’s Awards by FBI Director Bob Mueller in recognition of outstanding efforts and results in two white collar cases while serving in the U.S. Attorney’s Office
Speaking Engagements
- ACI’s 13th National Summit on Reducing Legal Risks in the Sales and Marketing of Medical Devices, April 30th, 2013
- ACI's Advanced Summit on Off-Label Communications, June 25th, 2012
- American Conference Institute’s 12th National Forum on Fraud and Abuse in the Sale and Marketing of Drugs, March 27th, 2012
- ACI's Premier Forum on Regulatory Compliance & Risk Management for Financial Services, May 5th, 2011
- National Forum on Fraud & Abuse in the Sale & Marketing of Drugs March 29th, 2011
- Fourth Annual Fraud & Forensic Accounting Education Conference Thursday, May 13th, 2010
- Third Annual Fraud and Forensic Accounting Education Conference Thursday, May 28th, 2009
We are here to help. Contact Pierson Law today for a free consultation. 404.353.2316.
