The Public Investors Arbitration Bar Association (PIABA), an international bar association comprised of attorneys dedicated to the representation of individual investors in disputes with the securities industry, today announced the 2012 PIABA Distinguished Service Award recipient, J. Pat Sadler.

A member of PIABA since 1995, Mr. Sadler served as a member and Chairman of every PIABA committee, and as President of the Association from 2002-2003. Retiring from Director service this year, he has served on the PIABA Board of Directors since 1999. From 2005-2008, Mr. Sadler served as a public member for the Securities Industry Conference on Arbitration (SICA). He served as a public member of the FINRA National Arbitration and Medication Committee (NAMC) from 2001-2002, 2008-2010, and as Chairman from 2009-2010. From 2007-2008, Mr. Sadler served on the FINRA Employment Arbitration Task Force.

Mr. Sadler has published articles on securities law and arbitration in several publications, including materials for the Practicing Law Institute Securities Arbitration seminar and PIABA Bar Journal. He has served as a trainer and panelist at NASD Securities Arbitrator Training programs and has participated as a panelist at numerous legal seminars and on radio and television programs regarding securities arbitration, including the popular PBS television program, “The Layman’s Lawyer.”

Mr. Sadler is a 1975 graduate of The Emory University School of Law in Atlanta, Georgia. From 1975 to 1983, Mr. Sadler engaged in the private practice of law in Atlanta, primarily concentrating his practice in the areas of securities broker/dealer representation and the representation of issuers and underwriters of securities.

From 1983 and 1984, Mr. Sadler served as General Counsel to a small New York Stock Exchange member firm. Among his duties was the representation of the firm in customer arbitration proceedings. Mr. Sadler held the designations of New York Stock Exchange Branch Office Manager and NASD General Principal.

In 1985, Mr. Sadler returned to the private practice of law in Atlanta, where he has concentrated his practice in the area of representing investors in disputes related to securities and commodities investments. He has been involved as counsel in hundreds of broker/customer disputes and proceedings. He also serves as an arbitrator for the Financial Industry Regulatory Authority (“FINRA”). Mr. Sadler also has extensive experience in the arbitration and litigation of employment disputes in the securities industry.

The PIABA Distinguished Service Award is a life-time achievement award in recognition of individuals promoting the interests of public investors in securities arbitration. "Mr. Sadler’s contributions and achievements on behalf of public investors are immeasureable and we are honored to recognize him with the PIABA's highest honor, the Distinguished Service Award," said Robin Ringo, Executive Director of PIABA.