Justin C. Pierce

Justin Pierce is a partner in the firm’s Business Law department. His practice focuses on international trade and foreign investment. He joined Goodwin in 2016.

As a key contributor to the firm’s Global Trade practice, Justin advises clients regarding regulatory compliance with the Export Administration Regulations (EAR), the International Traffic in Arms Regulations (ITAR), and economic sanctions administered by the Office of Foreign Assets Control (OFAC). He has conducted numerous internal investigations and voluntary disclosures for potential EAR and OFAC violations concerning encryption software, biopharmaceutical equipment, and other manufactured products.

Justin also advises on covered transactions eligible for national security review by the Committee on Foreign Investment and the United States (CFIUS), including experience with investments by Russian, Chinese/Hong Kong, Japanese, Dominican, Spanish, French, and German entities in U.S. businesses operating in the aerospace, telecommunications, satellite communications, robotics, automation, finance, energy, hospitality, healthcare, and software industries.

During law school, Justin interned for the Honorable John A. Gibney, Jr., in the Eastern District of Virginia and the Honorable Lawrence R. Leonard, Magistrate Judge in the Eastern District of Virginia.

Justin participated in the Lewis B. Puller, Jr. Veterans Benefits Clinic, helping military veterans secure disability benefits from the Veterans Administration. He also served as a lead articles editor of the William & Mary Law Review.

Justin has been named a Recommended Lawyer by Legal 500 US for his work in CFIUS in 2024. Justin was previously recognized by the Legal 500 US for his work in CFIUS in 2023.

As a member of the William & Mary Alternative Dispute Resolution team, Justin placed second in the Southwestern Entertainment Law Negotiation Competition (2014) and second in the NASCAR Negotiation Competition (2015), including an individual award for Best Oral Advocate.

• Co-Author, “The Bitter and The Sweet: Expanded CFIUS Authorities over Foreign Investment in U.S. Businesses,” Goodwin Client Alert, January 17, 2020
• Author, “US-UK Bilateral Agreement to Direct Data Requests From Foreign Law Enforcement and Process for Challenging Requests,” Goodwin Client Alert, October 7, 2019
• Co-Author, “CFIUS Rules Would Expand Jurisdiction Over Investments Related to Technology, Infrastructure, Personal Data, and Real Estate,” Goodwin Client Alert, September 20, 2019
• Co-Author, “Cuba Sanctions Broadened To Target Investors and Travelers,” Goodwin Client Alert, April 29, 2019
• Author, “Shifting Data Breach Liability: A Congressional Approach,” 57 Wm. & Mary L. Rev. 975, 2016
• “Do Proposed Look-Back Provisions Make Sense for a Primary Residence?,” Veterans L. & Benefits Blog, May 13, 2016