Howard Pianko

HOWARD PIANKO is the head of Seyfarth Shaw's New York office benefits practice and the national chair of its Fiduciary Advisory Services practice group. During his more than thirty-five years of experience in employee benefits law and executive compensation, he has counseled both domestic and international clients on matters running the full benefits gamut. He originated, and chaired, the PLI pension investment program in the 1980's; then began co-chairing this program annually in 1991 (21 years ago). This is the second year that he has co-chaired the PLI Basic Fiduciary Investment Program. He also has co-chaired the PLI Basic ERISA Fiduciary Investment Program for three years.

He is a Charter Fellow in the American College of Employee Benefits Counsel and a founding member of the International Pension and Employee Benefits Lawyers Association. He has been recognized for his professional expertise by, among others, Best Lawyers in America, Chambers, Legal 500 and Super Lawyers. His current practice focuses extensively on ERISA fiduciary and plan governance matters, executive compensation including cross-border incentive, equity and compensatory schemes and the benefit and employment law aspect of mergers and acquisitions.