For their service and contributions to Public Investors Advocate Bar Association (PIABA), Teresa J. Verges, William B. Young, Jr., and Sara E. Hanley were named recipients of the 2020 PIABA Outstanding Service Award at the 2020 PIABA Annual Meeting.
A member of PIABA since 2011, Teresa J. Verges is a member of the Fiduciary Committee where she is serving her second year as co-Chair. In addition to serving on the Fiduciary Committee, Ms. Verges has served on the Amicus, SRO, Legislation, RIA, and Securities Law Seminar Committees. Professor Verges joined the University of Miami School of Law faculty in the fall of 2011, where she is the founding director of Miami Law’s Investor Rights Clinic, which launched in January 2012. The Clinic represents investors who have claims against their brokers in arbitration proceedings before FINRA, but whose claims are too small for them to be able to find legal representation. Professor Verges supervises the students at the Clinic and teaches a seminar on the substantive law of securities arbitration, broker-dealer regulation, professional responsibility and practical skills allowing the students to undertake all aspects of client representation.
Currently, William B. Young, Jr. serves on the PIABA Arbitration and SRO Committees. Mr. Young has drafted countless FINRA and SEC Comment Letters on various rule proposals since joining PIABA in 2004. Previously, Mr. Young served on the Fiduciary Standard Committee as well. Mr. Young joined the firm of Colling Gilbert Wright & Carter in September 2006 after spending several years practicing plaintiff-side securities litigation with Hooper & Weiss, LLC. He continues to focus his practice on assisting clients recoup investment losses due to brokerage firm negligence and fraud. Prior to attending law school, Mr. Young spent over eight years working in the securities industry. During that time period, he was a vice president at a global securities and money management firm located in Winter Park, Florida, holding licenses as a General Securities Registered Representative (Series 7), a Registered Investment Advisor Representative (Series 65), a Uniform Securities Agent State Law Examination (Series 63) and Florida Insurance and Variable Annuity. 
Sara E. Hanley has been a member of PIABA since 2013. Having completed her year as Editor-in-Chief in October 2020, Ms. Hanley served on the PIABA Bar Journal Board of Editors from 2017-2020. She focuses her practice on representing investors nationwide who have lost their savings and retirement funds as a result of their brokerage accounts being mishandled. Ms. Hanley is the founder of Hanley Law which focuses exclusively on representing investors in claims against their brokers, broker dealers, investment advisors, financial advisors and insurance companies. She is experienced in providing representation for investors who have been the victims of financial fraud, negligence and unsuitable investments, as well as experience in prosecuting claims against the major Wall Street brokerage firms.
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 Teresa J. Verges, William B. Young, Jr., and Sara E. Hanley 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