Wendell Bruce Hays

Associate

Wendell Bruce Hays is an associate in Morgan Lewis's Litigation Practice. Mr. Hays focuses his practice on complex commercial litigation and mass toxic tort matters. He represents clients in all aspects of civil and complex commercial litigation in both state and federal courts.

Prior to joining Morgan Lewis, Mr. Hays was a litigation associate at a respected statewide law firm, and most recently was in private practice. His experience litigating complex commercial matters spans a broad spectrum of practice areas, including eminent domain, class actions, contract disputes, and cases representing a state agency in matters implicating constitutional and due-process issues. Mr. Hays has worked extensively on construction law and litigation cases, with a concentration in large-scale capital improvement projects. He has represented both public and private sector clients in state and federal court, before the Armed Services Board of Contract Appeals, the Florida Department of Administrative Hearings, county and local quasijudicial bodies, in mediation, and in arbitration before the American Arbitration Association.

From 1997 to 2010, Mr. Hays served as an enlisted soldier, a Non-commissioned Officer, and a Commissioned Officer in the U.S. Army and the Florida Army National Guard, and is a decorated combat veteran with extensive overseas experience in both wartime and peacetime environments. He remains active in veterans' affairs. Mr. Hays is presently serving his second term as an appointee to the Florida Bar's Standing Committee on Military Affairs, and recently served on the executive committee of the Association of the United States Army.

Mr. Hays earned his J.D., magna cum laude, from Florida State University College of Law in 2001. While in law school, he served as a judicial intern for Chief Judge David L. Levy of the Florida Third District Court of Appeal, and for Justice Peggy O. Quince of the Supreme Court of Florida. Mr. Hays earned his B.A. in English literature from Florida International University in 1997. He is proficient in Spanish and Arabic.

Mr. Hays is admitted to practice in Florida only and before the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Eleventh Circuit and the U.S. District Court for the Middle District of Florida.