Overview

Hayes Edwards is a business litigator who helps companies and professionals navigate their legal obstacles, from disputes over real estate, contracts, or employment, to complex construction and probate matters.

Hayes is eager to engage with the facts of every case and learn his clients’ priorities, to create a strategy for achieving comfort and certainty. Competitive but collegial, Hayes always strives to make himself available to clients and finds great satisfaction in knowing their needs are met.

Hayes’ clients include real estate developers, business owners, consulting firms, and individuals involved in trusts and estate disputes. Having represented both plaintiffs and defendants in state & federal cases, administrative hearings, arbitrations, and mediation, Hayes is able to understand disputes from multiple perspectives and adapt his style to fit the situation.

A native of Montgomery County, Hayes graduated magna cum laude from the George Mason University School of Law and earned his bachelor’s degree from Vanderbilt University. He is active in the Montgomery County Bar Association and provides pro bono counseling through the Maryland Women’s Business Center.

Outside of the office, Hayes enjoys torturing himself on the golf course, wishing he could ski more, and trying to convince his kids to clean up after themselves.

Education

  • George Mason University School of Law (J.D., Magna Cum Laude, 2012)
  • Vanderbilt University (B.A., 2006)

Admissions

  • Maryland
  • District of Columbia
  • U.S. District Court, District of Maryland
  • U.S. District Court, District of Columbia
  • U.S. Court of Appeals, 4th Circuit

Honors and Awards

  • Listed in Best Lawyers in America “Ones to Watch” Commercial Litigation, Labor and Employment Law – Management, Litigation – Labor and Employment, Litigation – Real Estate (2021-2026)
  • Listed in Super Lawyers Maryland, Business Litigation (2026)
  • Listed as “Rising Star” by Maryland Super Lawyers, Business Litigation (2020-2025)
  • Named to Top Attorney List by Bethesda Magazine (2023, 2025)
  • 2019 Volunteer of the Year – Maryland Women’s Business Center
  • Listed as “Rising Star” by Washington, DC Super Lawyers, Business Litigation (2020-2023)

Community Involvement

  • Maryland Womens’ Business Center (Pro Bono Counselor)

Professional Memberships

  • Bar Association of Montgomery County (Chair, Employment Law Section, 2019-2023; Chair, Mentor-Mentee Committee, 2018-2019; Fellow, Leadership Development Academy, 2016-2017)

Practice Areas

Employment/Labor

Lerch Early helps employers throughout the Washington, DC metropolitan area and beyond prevent and defend against workplace claims. Working with our attorneys is like extending the human resources department without hiring additional people.

Real Estate

Developers, commercial property owners, and investors turn to Lerch Early’s “dirt lawyers” when they need to buy, sell, lease, or develop commercial real estate in the Washington, DC metropolitan area. 

Litigation

Lerch Early’s litigation team helps businesses, including nonprofits, and individuals resolve disputes throughout the Washington, DC metropolitan area.

News & insights

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Representation Matters

-Obtained an arbitration award of nearly $2 million, including sanctions and attorneys’ fees, in a complex arbitration against a client’s joint venturer, involving issues of fraud, breach of fiduciary duty, intellectual property, government contracts, minority shareholder oppression, and national security.

-Secured summary judgment of fiduciary duty and unfair competition claims against sales representatives who departed their prior employer.

-Obtained judgment for defamation at trial, and won dismissal of counter-claim for conversion of charity funds, in complex litigation involving dispute between the Board and a member of a non-profit organization.

-Successfully negotiated termination of countless commercial leases and similar issues in dispute on behalf of tenants and landlords.

-Obtained judgment on behalf of defrauded investor and successfully collected nearly $1 million from affiliates of defendant in satisfaction of judgment.

Disclaimer: Each case is different and past results do not guarantee similar results in future matters.