HOWARD PIANKO chairs the firm's Employee Benefit Group. His career as a benefits attorney began shortly after the enactment of ERISA. He has advised a wide range of clients on the matters relating to employee benefits, executive compensation, pension investment, plan governance, fiduciary responsibility and benefit related litigation. His work, both in the U.S. and with respect to cross-border and international benefit matters involving domestic and non-U.S. multinationals, has led him to write extensively on employee benefit topics relating to mergers, acquisitions and joint ventures, pension plan investments, fiduciary laws and executive compensation. He has lectured on these topics in the U.S.; and spoken in Africa, Asia, Europe and South America on cross-border subjects such as global equity compensation programs, internationalizing the ESOP, benefit aspects of U.S. joint ventures and the globalization of defined contribution plans.
Mr. Pianko:
Mr. Pianko:
- Counsels employers on the implementation, maintenance and termination of their benefit programs.
- Advises clients on the benefits aspects of mergers, acquisitions and joint ventures.
- Advises as to benefit claims procedures under ERISA, regulatory audits and charges and ERISA litigation.
- Addresses post-retirement benefit issues, including retiree medical and collectively bargained plans.
- Counsels multinational clients on cross-border benefit plans, global equity and incentive programs and executive compensation.
- Audits, establishes and maintains Plan Governance processes and procedures.
- Consults on fiduciary duties and investment of retirement plan assets.
- Negotiates and drafting of senior executive employment, separation, change in control and supplemental retirement benefit agreements in the U.S. and cross-borders.
- The Best Lawyers in America
- PLC "Which Lawyer?" (formerly Global Counsel 3000)
- Super Lawyers of New York
- Charter Fellow, American College of Employee Benefits Counsel
