Renier P. Pierantoni

Renier P. Pierantoni has more than twenty years of experience as a litigator, entrepreneur and educational leader who adds to Cooper, LLC’s sophisticated and professional “big firm” expertise in representing private enterprises and not-for-profit organizations in the New York/New Jersey metropolitan area. Renier is a commercial litigator who has represented clients in the manufacturing, energy, chemical and retail areas on insurance recovery for mass and toxic torts, environmental liability exposure, property damage, product liability and business interruption losses, construction and breach of contracts claims, copyright infringement, wrongful termination (“whistleblower”/CEPA), and other business related matters. He has also advised businesses and organizations on a range of matters from start-up to closure/sale (including franchise disclosure documents, supplier and retail agreements, Chapters 7 and 11 bankruptcies and business divorce), and best practices on policies and regulatory compliance.

Renier has a JD from Yeshiva University’s Cardozo School of Law, and a BS degree in Pre-Law Studies from St. John’s University, NY. He also serves as an Adjunct Professor at Rutgers University Graduate School of Education’s Center for Effective School Practices. Prior to joining Cooper, LLC, Renier was at Morgan, Lewis & Bockius LLP, where he prosecuted insurance claims and worked cooperatively with defense counsel in multi-district state and federal court hearings, trials and administrative matters, negotiated settlements resulting in multi-million dollar recoveries, and advised in-house counsel on protective asset strategies. Following Morgan Lewis, Renier served as General Counsel to U.S.-based natural gas vehicle (NGV) manufacturing ventures from South Korea. As General Counsel, Renier was instrumental in laying the foundation for the use of natural gas as an alternative fuel source in the Commonwealth of Kentucky through various presentations and speeches to the Kentucky State Legislature, government officials and coal industry leaders.

Renier’s additional experience as a school leader at Newark’s Discovery Charter School, recognized by the NJDOE as one of the top performing public schools in NJ, as well as his entrepreneurial background as both a sports agent, representing major and minor league baseball athletes, and successful owner of a 5-star rated mobile food franchise makes him uniquely qualified to provide private individuals, businesses and not-for-profit organizations with a business perspective on the changing landscape in education, agency, employer-employee and franchise law.

Notable Accomplishments and Reported Decisions:

Kentucky Bill H.B. 212 (Kentucky Revised Statutes 186.750, April 4, 2013): drafted bill that transformed Kentucky’s transportation, energy and tax laws to allow the coal industry, other companies and residents to convert gasoline and diesel operated vehicles to operate on alternate and renewable fuel devices, such as natural gas tanks and engines.

Sunoco, Inc. v. Illinois National Ins. Co., No. 04-cv-4087, 2005 WL 2077258 (E.D. Pa. Aug. 29, 2005): On behalf of energy company facing more than a hundred suits alleging damages arising from MtBE and MtBE-containing gasoline in insurance coverage cases brought in Pennsylvania and California, leading to a judgment for Sunoco’s rights to $50 million in defense and settlement.

In re Goulds Pumps, Inc., 15 Misc. 3d 1132(A) (N.Y. Sup. Ct. 2007) and Goulds Pumps, Inc. v Travelers Cas. & Sur. Co., No. B255439, 2016 3564244 (Cal.Ct.App., June 22, 2016): On behalf of pump manufacturer on insurance coverage actions in New York and Los Angeles against multiple historical line carriers, leading to a judgment confirming Goulds’ right to access millions of dollars in liability coverage.

Renier formerly served as President of the Hispanic National Bar Association, Region II (NY), and on the Board of Trustees for the ACLU-NJ. His publications and lectures on anti-bullying law (HIB), the impact of teacher evaluations, insurance and other issues can be found on LinkedIn. He is happily married to his wife, Lisa, a Partner at Blank Rome LLP, and adores his son, Christopher, a celebrity/music photographer and videographer whose work has been featured in SOYO Magazine and Redbull.