Mr. Pierce joined Toyota Tsusho America in 1993 and established the company’s Legal Department. He oversees legal matters concerning the company’s operations in the United States, Canada and Mexico. He has continuously served on Toyota Tsusho America’s board of directors since 2000, and also serves on the boards of directors of several subsidiary companies.

Before joining Toyota Tsusho America, Mr. Pierce was associated with Mudge Rose Guthrie Alexander and Ferdon where he had extensive experience in various litigation matters including environmental insurance coverage, white collar defense, internal investigations, and trade and regulatory compliance.

Mr. Pierce was admitted to the bar of the State of New York in 1982 and has spoken on labor and employment issues at meetings of the American Bar Association, the International Section of the New York State Bar Association and the International Bar Association, as well as the Practicing Law Institute, the American Chamber of Commerce in Japan, the Japanese Chamber of Commerce and Industry of New York, and the Japan Society. He received his law degree from the University of Denver College of Law in 1981. He also holds a master’s degree in Sociology from the University of Northern Colorado and a bachelor’s degree with majors in Psychology and Japanese Language from the University of Colorado, Boulder.