December 6, 2006 (New Orleans, LA) - Proskauer Rose LLP, an international law firm with over 700 lawyers worldwide, announced that Howard Shapiro, partner and head of the firm's New Orleans office, has been elected President of the American College of Employee Benefits Counsel (ACEBC). Mr. Shapiro is widely regarded as one of the nation's top ERISA attorneys.
The ACEBC is a not-for-profit organization dedicated to elevating the standards and advancing the public's understanding of the practice of employee benefits law. Mr. Shapiro, who was one of the founding fellows and initial members of the organization's Board of Governors, previously served as its Vice President. He will serve as President for a one-year term, succeeding Phyllis C. Borzi, research professor of health policy at George Washington University.
"I'm very proud to assume this important role and look forward to continuing to further ACEBC's goal of encouraging the study and development of employee benefits law and fostering discussion of important issues in the field," said Mr. Shapiro.
His national ERISA litigation practice has focused on defending matters raising sophisticated preemption issues; fiduciary issues; fiduciary misrepresentation claims; ESOP litigation issues; 401(k) plan issues; blackout period cases; plan asset diversification issues; prohibited transaction allegations; directed trustee issues; cash balance cases; independent contractor litigation; "serious consideration" cases; retiree rights litigation; severance pay cases; executive compensation/"top hat" litigation; Section 510 cases; benefit claims cases; ERISA class actions; and class-wide challenges to health plans that do not offer contraception benefits. He has appeared in federal courts from coast to coast, maintaining an active national ERISA litigation practice.
Mr. Shapiro also has maintained an active membership in the American Bar Association that has spanned his career. Most recently, in April 2006, he was appointed a member of the ABA Board of Governors. From 2004 until 2005, he served a one-year term as the Chair of the Section of Labor & Employment Law. From 1997 to 1998, he chaired the ABA's Joint Committee on Employee Benefits, which comprises the Employee Benefits Committees of the ABA Sections of Business Law, Health Law, Labor & Employment Law, Real Property Probate and Trust Law, Taxation, and Torts Insurance Practice. From 1985 to 1988, he served as Management Co-Chair of the Employee Benefits Committee of the ABA's Section of Labor & Employment Law. He also is a Fellow of the College of Labor and Employment Lawyers, again acknowledging the nature of his practice as one of the few attorneys who are members of the Labor College and the Benefits College.
Mr. Shapiro was a co-author of Employee Benefits Law, a treatise originally published by BNA in 1991 and updated with annual supplements. He also served as a senior editor/author of Employee Benefits Law, Second Edition, published in 2000. He has written law review articles, outlines and other publications in the ERISA litigation area. He speaks frequently at national seminars and other programs on ERISA litigation topics.
Mr. Shapiro received his J.D. from Loyola University School of Law, his M.A. from McGill University and his B.A. from Tulane University.