Founded by a lawyer who switched sides
After years defending insurance companies, Daniel Hartwell opened a firm to fight them. More than 6,800 clients later (a sample figure for this demo), that is still the whole point.
Our story
In 1998, Daniel Hartwell had spent six years at a Coral Gables defense firm, teaching insurance adjusters how to lower the value of injury claims. He watched too many injured families accept checks that did not cover a single surgery, simply because nobody on their side was ready to go to trial.
He opened a two-room office on Brickell Avenue with one paralegal and a simple rule: prepare every case as if it will be tried. In 2004, Marisol Pierce-Álvarez joined and built something the firm is still known for today, a practice where Spanish-speaking families never need a relative to translate their own case.
Today Hartwell & Pierce has three offices, five attorneys and a team of case managers, investigators and a registered nurse. The firm still takes only injury cases, and still answers the phone 24 hours a day.
What we promise every client
We only represent people
Not insurers, not corporations, not hospitals. There is never a conflict between our clients and our business.
Every case is trial ready
Depositions, experts and exhibits are prepared as if a jury will see them, because insurers pay more when that is true.
You hear from us first
Monthly updates without asking, a callback within one business day, and a direct line to your case manager.
Your language, your schedule
Spanish and Haitian Creole speakers on staff. Evening, weekend, hospital and home meetings at no cost.
The practice, in figures that are not about money
- 1998Representing injured people sinceNever insurers, not once
- 6,840+Injury matters resolvedSample figure for this demo
- 94Matters tried to verdictSample figure for this demo
- 3Languages spoken in-houseEnglish, Spanish, Haitian Creole
We publish no settlement figures, verdict figures or recovery ranges anywhere on this site. Case counts above are illustrative sample content for this demo website.
Twenty-eight years in South Florida
- 1998
Daniel Hartwell leaves insurance defense work and opens a two-room office on Brickell Avenue.
- 2004
Marisol Pierce-Álvarez joins and builds a fully bilingual intake and case team.
- 2011
The firm becomes Hartwell & Pierce and opens its Coral Gables office.
- 2019
Fort Lauderdale office opens to serve clients across Broward County.
- 2023
The firm adopts a written policy of publishing no settlement or verdict figures in any advertising.
- 2025
Two matters tried to verdict in Miami-Dade Circuit Court, both on liability and damages.
The attorneys who will know your name
You work directly with a lawyer, not a call center. Two partners have tried more than 150 matters to verdict between them (sample figure).
Daniel R. HartwellFounding Partner, Trial Attorney
Marisol Pierce-ÁlvarezManaging Partner English, Spanish
André BaptisteSenior Trial Attorney English, Haitian Creole, French
Rebecca Lindqvist, RNPartner, Medical Negligence
Luis M. OrtegaAttorney, Workers' Compensation and Premises English, Spanish
Credentials and licenses
Hartwell & Pierce attorneys are licensed by The Florida Bar. Verify any Florida lawyer at floridabar.org.
- Founded
- 1998, Brickell, Miami
- Florida Bar members
- 5 attorneys, all in good standing
- Federal admissions
- U.S. District Court, Southern District of Florida
- Board certification
- Civil Trial Law, The Florida Bar (sample)
- Associations
- Florida Justice Association, American Association for Justice, Cuban American Bar Association
- Languages
- English, Spanish, Haitian Creole, French