Agent To Attorney

Howard L. Pierce has joined Pepe & Hazard in Hartford as a partner in charge of the firm’s newly established health care fraud and abuse practice group. The position is one that allows Pierce to use his litigation and investigation skills to benefit private payers.

Pierce, 60, graduated from the State University of New York at Buffalo in 1971 with a degree in management and accounting. He considered going to law school but had scored high on the Treasury of Law Enforcement exam. With that incentive, he began a journey of working in various federal roles.

Pierce launched his career with the U.S. government as a criminal investigator with the Internal Revenue Service. Next, he became a federal agent with the Inspector General Office of Investigations. His last federal job was as an assistant regional inspector general for investigations for the mid-Atlantic region of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services.

“My father was a federal agent, so I grew up with that and it was something I wanted to do,” Pierce said.

While an agent, Pierce dealt with cases involving health care fraud and document fraud, including fraud with Social Security cards.

Following a lengthy stint as a civil servant, Pierce moved into the private sector, creating the anti-fraud investigative unit for group health products for The Hartford Life Insurance Co.

“At that point, the program was just gearing up and it was really helpful to have had the experiences I did,” Pierce said. “It gave my job clear focus.”

While at The Hartford, Pierce earned a law degree from Quinnipiac University in 1990.

Five years later, he joined The Phoenix Mutual Life Insurance Co. as corporate officer and director of investigations. “I was able to move my career in a different direction, using my experience with trial preparation and key government witnesses,” Pierce said.

The West Hartford resident then moved to the law firm Shipman & Goodwin, where he stayed for 13 years before joining Tyler Cooper & Alcorn as partner. Now with Pepe & Hazard, Pierce also finds time to serve various community organizations.