Pierce Bainbridge: Chief SEAL – John Mark Pierce – Relieved of His Duties

Dan Garner* John Mark Pierce is out at Pierce Bainbridge.  His own partners have placed him on leave for financial foul play.  State government filings show Pierce entering into a lending arrangement with a payday lending type entity at a residential address in Flushing, Queens; a location hounded by reports of unsavory activity. 

According to the American Lawyer, a firm spokeswoman said: “A preliminary investigation has revealed that John M. Pierce accepted money from Karish Kapital, LLC for his personal use.”  

What Pierce is accused of, may sound unbelievable, but only if you’ve not been paying attention; it aligns with what former partner Don Lewis has said for almost a year.  

As a clear example, Lewis’s complaint dated May 16, 2019 alleged:

Pierce Bainbridge has apparently attempted to frame this as an isolated incident.  Partner denials are a regular occurence, such as the claims from Michael D. Yim of Putney Twombly and S. Jeanine Conley of Littler Mendelson – defendants in Lewis’s lawsuits against his former firm – claiming ignorance with respect to the overwhelmingly unethical behavior of John Pierce and the Pierce Bainbridge firm.  

 Lewis Former Partners Are Notified of Pierce’s Financial Shenanigans 

Lewis says he made his former partners aware of allegations of financial misconduct in March 2019 and concerns had been expressed regarding those matters since November 2018.

Karish Kapital LLC, John Mark Pierce Enterprises LLC and Talon LF

To secure the Karish Kapital funds, Pierce filed a lien on the assets of the Pierce Bainbridge firm, Pierce individually, and the relatively newly created John M Pierce Enterprises LLC; interestingly, this entity appears on two lending filings in two days (filing one – Karish Kapital (2/25/20) and filing two – unclear (2/26/20). 

Notably, the filings list differing addresses for JMP Enterprises, and a prior iteration of the firm, “Pierce Burns,” is listed as a debtor. The Karish Kapital restriction on “further encumbering” the listed collateral is noteworthy given the collateral listed in the filing the next day; as well of other filings where Pierce Bainbridge is a debtor. 

JMP Enterprises may not be Pierce’s only “side” entity.  He we reportedly involved in the incorporation of a litigation financing entity named Talon LF LLC in September 2018; the same month when Pierce reportedly siphoned $95,000 from firm accounts; which was the month after he reportedly siphoned $110,000. 

These massive amounts, as well as Pierce claiming he did “not take any salary,” coupled with Pierce’s seven-figure outstanding tax liens, raises eyebrows.  

 “He Ended Up in Jail”

It appears that Chief SEAL Pierce has basically been dishonorably discharged for now.  Where John Mark Pierce and the Pierce Bainbridge firm end up once the dust has settled, remains to be seen; however, Pierce’s recent shenanigans, coupled with the firm’s response, dovetails with an e-mail from a NYC attorney who rejected Pierce’s recruitment efforts in the Summer of 2018; the lawyer stated:    

“[John] you have an unsustainable business model. . . Trying to do what you are doing – build a major NYC firm overnight is hugely risky because you need to attract real talent. The last person who tried it in NY was Mark Dreier. He ended up in jail.” 

See: The Exodus from Pierce Bainbridge

Pierce Bainbridge and Avenatti

Recently on LawFuel

•   Stop Karping Says Brad . . Why Paul Weiss’s Boss Says The Firm Is In Good Heart Despite Departures
  Seven partners and others have left Paul Weiss but their former firm remains in good heart according to firm boss Brad Karp, who met with litigation partner to refute the ‘disinformation’ about the firm, according to a New York Law Journal report. Seven partners have left Paul Weiss for Dunn Isaacson Rhee, a new litigation boutique in Washington, DC. that is building a formidable team of Paul Weiss alumni who decided the heavyweight firm’s Trump Administration deal was too much to stomach. Paul Weiss promised Trump $40 million in free legal services on shared causes, including combating antisemitism and ensuring “fairness in the justice system.”
• When Celebrity Trials Turn into TikToks
  Celebrity trials are the new reality TV. The recent cases of Sean “Diddy” Combs and Harvey Weinstein have turned courtrooms into stages, with every detail dissected by fans, critics, and armchair lawyers. Take Weinstein (pictured below at this first trial – Season 1, if you like). After a rollercoaster of headlines, a Manhattan jury just found him guilty again—showing that even powerful figures can be held to account, but not without twists and turns.
• Damian Williams Leaves Paul Weiss in a Move That Screams Politics Over Profits
  Damian Williams isn’t just another high-powered litigator making a lateral leap, he’s making waves, raising eyebrows, and possibly laying the groundwork for a pivot into politics. If you’ve been tracking the latest episodes in the “Trump v. Biglaw” saga, you’ll know this isn’t your average career hop. Williams, the former U.S. Attorney for the Southern District of New York, is stepping out of the white-shoe fortress of Paul, Weiss, Rifkind, Wharton & Garrison LLP just five months after arriving—and into the arms of Jenner & Block, where he’ll co-chair the litigation department out of their New York office.
• How Kennedys’ Billion-Dollar Strategy Is Redefining Global Law Firm Growth
  Kennedys just pulled off a financial hat trick, reporting a record-shattering 13 percent revenue boost to an eye-watering £428 million (that’s USD 551m, AUD 848m, or EUR 511m—pick your currency, we’re making it rain in all of them) for FY25. Eleven straight years of growth? At this point, we’re basically the legal world’s answer to Marvel’s box office streak, unstoppable, and with no sign of franchise fatigue. Let’s break down the Kennedy’s global offering.
• BigLaw’s AI Paradox – More Technology, Higher Bills, Zero Client Savings
  Law firms worldwide are rapidly embracing generative AI, but here’s the reality check: corporate clients aren’t seeing the promised cost savings yet. In fact, legal fees continue climbing despite widespread AI adoption across the industry. The numbers tell a stark story. The top 100 US law firms increased their rates by 10 percent year-over-year in 2024, according to legal operations specialist Brightflag. This surge comes even as more firms deploy generative AI
• The Ultimate BigLaw Salary Scale Guide 2025: From Cravath Benchmarks to Million-Dollar Partners
  The legal profession has always been synonymous with prestige and substantial compensation, but nowhere is this more evident than in BigLaw. And during 2025 the salary scales at major law firms have reached unprecedented heights, with first-year associates commanding six-figure salaries that rival senior executives in other industries. Understanding the BigLaw salary situation isn’t just about numbers—it’s about comprehending a complex ecosystem that shapes legal careers and drives the ambitions of law students nationwide.
• Kirkland’s Big Hiring Spree Nets Major Litigators
  Kirkland & Ellis just made a major power move in the mass torts space, snagging a heavyweight 13-partner team from King & Spalding that’s sure to shake up the litigation landscape. The star of this lateral hire is Kristen Fournier, (pictured) who Kirkland is calling “among the most distinguished mass tort litigators practicing today” – and honestly, her track record backs up that claim.
• Big Law, Big Drama And The Real Story Behind the Paul Weiss Partner Walkout
  If you ever thought the legal world was all about dusty tomes and somber faces, the latest exodus from Paul Weiss might make you think again as four of the firm’s top partners—Karen Dunn, Bill Isaacson, Jeannie Rhee, and Jessica Phillips—decide to pack their briefcases and set off to start their own law firm. Earlier this year, Paul Weiss found itself in the political crosshairs after President Trump signed an executive order targeting the firm for its ties to lawyers who had previosly investigated Trump, as well as its commitment to diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) initiatives.
• Cadwalader’s $100M Dilemma – Pro Bono or Pro Trouble?
  Cadwalader, Wickersham & Taft—New York’s oldest law firm—has found itself in a modern-day ethical quagmire after agreeing to a $100 million pro bono deal with the Trump administration in a move that highlights the delicate balancing act between law and politics. The pact, aimed at sidestepping punitive executive orders targeting firms that had previously crossed swords with the administration, has ignited internal dissent and a wave of attorney departures.
• AbovetheLaw Exposes Big Law’s Billion-Dollar Capitulation
  How Trump’s Pressure Campaign Sparked a Legal Industry Uprising Ben Thomson, LawFuel contributing… Read more: AbovetheLaw Exposes Big Law’s Billion-Dollar Capitulation
• The Ultimate BigLaw Salary Guide (2025): Who Pays What, When, and Why It Matters
  BigLaw Salaries: What You Need to Know in 2025 Norma Harris, Lawfuel contributing… Read more: The Ultimate BigLaw Salary Guide (2025): Who Pays What, When, and Why It Matters
• $15M Partner Taurie Zeitzer Makes Bold M&A Exit
  Why M&A Ace Taurie Zeitzer is Betting on Herself Ben Thomson, LawFuel contributing… Read more: $15M Partner Taurie Zeitzer Makes Bold M&A Exit