Current Role
  • Partner, Hagens Berman Sobol Shapiro LLP
Recent Success
  • In re Broiler Chicken Antitrust Litig., No. 16-CV-08637 (N.D. Ill.), part of team at Hagens Berman for indirect purchaser class; recovery to date of $106 million
  • In re Pork Antitrust Litig., No. 18-CV-01776 (D. Minn.), part of team at Hagens Berman serving as co-lead counsel for indirect purchaser class; recovery to date of $20 million
  • Qualcomm Antitrust Litig., No. 5:17-md-02773  (N.D. Cal.), part of team at Hagens Berman acting as counsel for indirect purchaser class that resulted in certified class of hundreds of millions of consumers
  • In re Optical Disk Drive Antitrust Litig., No. 10-md-02143 (N.D. Cal.), team at Hagens Berman acting as lead counsel for indirect purchaser class; recovery of $205 million
Experience
  • Prior to joining Hagens Berman, worked as an associate for two years at Munger, Tolles & Olson, where he gained significant experience in class action and complex commercial litigation. Mr. Pierce also did extensive pro bono work on immigration matters
  • Law Clerk, U.S. Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit, Judge Jerome Farris, 2013-2014
  • Associate, Munger Tolles & Olson, 2014-2016
Activities
  • Serves on the executive committee of the Antitrust Section of the Bar Association of San Francisco
Recognition
  • 500 Leading Lawyers in America, Plaintiff Financial Lawyers, Lawdragon, 2024
  • Ones to Watch, Plaintiffs Mass Tort Litigation/Class Actions, Best Lawyers, 2024
  • Top 40 Under 40 Civil Plaintiff Trial Lawyers in California, The National Trial Lawyers, 2021
  • Chayes Fellow, National Prosecuting Authority in Cape Town, South Africa
  • Teaching Fellow, Copyright EdX
Publications
  • “A Heavy Hand or A Light Touch: What Force Will California’s Anti-SLAPP Statute Have After Baral v. Schnitt?” California Litigation Review, 2015
Personal Insight

A proud California native, Rio loves exploring the whole state, especially Big Sur. Prior to law school, Rio worked at Miramax for several years and still loves a good indie film. In his free time, Rio enjoys making pies.