For their service and contributions to Public Investors Arbitration Bar Association (PIABA), Ryan Cook, Aaron Israels, and Sean Sweeney were named recipients of the 2018 PIABA Outstanding Service Award at the 2018 PIABA Annual Meeting.
A member of PIABA since 2012, Ryan S. Cook currently serves as the Editor-in-Chief for the PIABA Bar Journal. Mr. Cook previously served a two-year term as Managing Editor and has served on the Board of Editors since 2013.
Mr. Cook received his Bachelor of Arts degree in Political Science from the University of Kentucky. He received his Juris Doctor degree from the South Texas College of Law, where he graduated Summa Cum Laude (with highest honor) as the graduating salutatorian. As an attorney at Shepherd Smith Edwards & Kantas LTD LLP, in Houston, Texas, Mr. Cook maintains an active securities arbitration and litigation practice.
Aaron Israels has been a member of PIABA since 2013 and has been the SRO Committee co-Chair for the past two years. In addition to his work on the SRO Committee, Mr. Israels is an active participant on the PIABA Arbitration Committee.
Mr. Israels graduated from Eastern Michigan University in 2004 with a bachelor’s degree in philosophy and a minor in business. Aaron graduated law from the University of Detroit Mercy Law School in 2007, where he received several academic accolades. In 2016, he was named a “Rising Star” in the area of securities litigation by Super Lawyers magazine. He was recently admitted to the Thompson G. Marsh American Inn of Court in Denver, Colorado. Mr. Israels is with Israels and Neuman, PLC in Denver, Colorado, where he represents investors in proceedings to recover their investment losses from stockbrokers, investment advisors, financial planners, and broker-dealers.
Sean Sweeney has been a member of PIABA since 2011, participating on the Federal Legislation Committee for the past several years. As co-Chair of the Federal Legislation Committee, Mr. Sweeney is responsible for recruiting Association members to participate in Hill Day, formulating the PIABA Hill Day Agenda, and Hill Day follow-up. As a 2018 co-Chair, Mr. Sweeney worked with 50+ PIABA Members and Law Students who met with over 175 Representative and Senate Staffers in their efforts to promote the
interests of public investors in securities and commodities arbitration.
Mr. Sweeney earned his Juris Doctor and Masters of Business Administration from Marquette University. He earned his Bachelor of Science Degree in Business Economics from Northern Arizona University. Mr. Sweeney is with Halling & Cayo, S.C. in Milwaukee, Wisconsin, where he runs www.The-Securities-Lawyers.com, in which Halling & Cayo’s Securities Litigation team discusses securities fraud, stockbroker employment disputes and FINRA Arbitration.
Awarded to one or more PIABA Members annually, the PIABA Outstanding Service Award honors the very best in the PIABA Membership," said Robin Ringo, PIABA Executive Director. "An incredible amount of personal time is dedicated by members to serving PIABA through its committees and investor protection initiatives. It is with a deep sense of gratitude that we thank Ryan Cook, Aaron Israels, and Sean Sweeney for their dedication to PIABA and advancing the rights of public investors."
Questions regarding this notice may be directed to
Robin S. Ringo, Executive Director
1.888.621.7484
rsringo@piaba.org