U.S. Steel General Counsel Duane Holloway, who helped the iconic American steelmaker negotiate its planned $14 billion sale to Japan’s Nippon Steel, will be eligible to receive a $16.3 million golden parachute if the deal closes.

It’s just the latest—and not even the largest—example of the huge payouts that top brass of big American  companies, including legal chiefs, are poised to collect if pending sales progress through closing.