Edson is senior counsel of the Washington, D.C., office of Nixon Peabody and was a founding member of Lane and Edson, P.C. His practice included government-assisted housing, federal legislative matters, and the low-income housing tax credit. He is an adjunct professor of housing law at Georgetown University Law School, and is a graduate of Harvard College and Harvard Law School.

He previously served as general counsel for the President's Commission on Postal Organization, and as an attorney with the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development. In 1976 through 1977, Mr. Edson headed the Carter-Mondale Presidential Transition Group with respect to federal housing matters. He is the author of many books and articles on federally assisted housing and the secondary mortgage market. He also lectures frequently to business and professional organizations on such topics.