Michelle Carter Pierce, Esq. is an accomplished attorney with over two decades of experience in corporate law, litigation, and healthcare compliance. As General Counsel for Centria Healthcare, she leads the company’s legal functions, guiding strategic initiatives and overseeing regulatory matters across a national footprint. She joined Centria in 2016 as its first in-house counsel, bringing deep expertise in employment law, risk management, and corporate governance. Her strategic leadership has been instrumental in the company's growth, stakeholder engagement, and its navigation of significant challenges, including government guidelines during the pandemic, workforce adjustments, and the development of workplace safety procedures. She also helped found the company's Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DEI) committee.

Prior to her role at Centria, Michelle served as General Counsel for Allied Human Services, Inc., and practiced complex commercial litigation as a partner at Bodman PLC, where she represented clients in contract, real estate, and construction disputes. Michelle is a recognized leader in Michigan’s legal community. She is a past president of the Wolverine Bar Association and currently serves on the board of directors for the Detroit Metropolitan Bar Association. She has also contributed to statewide legal initiatives, including a two-year term on the Michigan Supreme Court’s Solutions on Self-Help Task Force. Additionally, she is an active contributor to the State Bar of Michigan and frequently shares her expertise as a contributor through Institute of Continuing Legal Education (ICLE) programs.

Her professional accolades include being named a “Rising Star” in business litigation by Super Lawyers, recognition in dBusiness magazine, and inclusion among Michigan Lawyers Weekly’s 2020 class of leading and influential women lawyers. Crain's Detroit
Business has also honored her twice, recognizing her as a "Notable in Corporate Counsel"; in 2022 and a "Notable Leader in Employment Law" in 2023.

Michelle holds a B.A. from the University of Michigan and a J.D. from Rutgers School of Law. She is admitted to practice in Michigan, New Jersey, and Pennsylvania. She is also a busy wife and mother of two boys. Her dedication to her purpose, both within and beyond her legal career, makes her a compelling voice on the "Life Beyond the Law: Prioritizing Your Purpose and Discovering Your Identity Outside of Work" panel.