At its Annual Meeting, Jason M. Kueser and Benjamin P. Edwards were named recipients of the 2016 PIABA Outstanding Service Award for his service and contributions to Public Investors Arbitration Bar Association (PIABA).
A member of the PIABA since 2007, Mr. Kueser currently serves as the Editor-in-Chief of the PIABA Bar Journal, has served on the Legislation Committee, and the Public Relations Committee.
Jason M. Kueser has focused his practice on representing investors and consumers who have been the victims of securities or investment fraud. He has represented individual investors, groups of investors, financial advisors, and stockbrokers in securities arbitration, and has represented clients in securities and consumer litigation, including class actions. He also provides estate planning and business planning services to his clients.
Jason is admitted to practice law in Missouri (2005) and Kansas (2006). He is also admitted to practice in the Eighth Circuit Court of Appeals, the United States District Court for the Western District of Missouri, and the United States District Court for the District of Kansas. He is a member of the Public Investors Arbitration Bar Association (PIABA), the American Bar Association (ABA), the Missouri Bar Association, and the Kansas City Metropolitan Bar Association. In addition, he is a member of Beta Gamma Sigma for his post-graduate studies at UMKC in the area of Finance, as well as a member of the UMKC Law School Alumni Association.
A member of the PIABA since 2013, Mr. Edwards currently serves as the Co-Chair of the PIABA Amicus Committee, and sits on the Fiduciary Standard Committee, SRO Committee, and the Securities Law Seminar Committee, and has served on the Legislation Committee.
Professor Benjamin Edwards teaches at Barry University School of Law as an Assistant Professor. Prior to joining Barry, he was the founding director of the Investor Advocacy Clinic at Michigan State University College of Law. He researches and writes in securities regulation, securities litigation, corporate governance, and consumer protection. He is a frequent commentator on investor protection issues and has been quoted by the Wall Street Journal, InvestmentNews, Financial Planning Magazine, and others.
Prior to teaching, Professor Edwards practiced as a securities litigator in the New York office of Skadden, Arps, Slate, Meagher & Flom LLP. At Skadden, he represented clients in complex civil litigation, including securities class actions arising out of the Madoff Ponzi scheme and litigation arising out of the 2008 financial crisis. Professor Edwards serves as the co-chair of the Amicus Committee of the Public Investors Arbitration Bar Association.
Professor Edwards earned his law degree from Columbia Law School and clerked for Judge Samuel H. Mays, Jr. of the U.S. District Court for the Western District of Tennessee.
Awarded to a PIABA Member 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 on the Association committees. It is with a deep sense of gratitude that we thank Mr. Kueser and Mr. Edwards for their dedication to PIABA and the rights of public investors."