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Gary Hays is the latest addition to our firm but it feels like he has been with the team all along. Gary is the newest defection from our prior firm and it feels really good to have him join our team again. Gary’s practice focuses on commercial, business, and technology matters, and he serves as outsourced general counsel for startups to established companies.
FJ: What influenced you in making the decision to become a lawyer? Have you always planned to pursue law as a career?
GH: I was an accounting major in undergrad and I had an uncle that told me that I would be bored in accounting. He said I should either get a MBA or a law degree. He said that since I liked to argue I should go to law school. 😊 My uncle was a wonderful man who is in heaven now so I can't complain to him until I see him again but he was probably right. I also had a brother and dad that were in the FBI so I always had an underlying awareness of the importance of the rule of law.
FJ: What brought you to Fulton Jeang?
GH: I know most of the FJ lawyers from a previous firm and it just felt that FJ has a great combination of personalities and tremendous subject matter expertise that would better serve my clients.
FJ: Please tell us some of your career highlights or recent “wins.”
GH: Well, I have done lots of things which means that I am probably getting older 😊 but some highlights would include winning a zero verdict in a trial as a young lawyer, representing the unsecured creditors in the Enron bankruptcy, and achieving a lot of wins while I was the AGC in charge of cell phone operations in the U.S. for Samsung. This included many restructured agreements, advertising/promotional victories, and favorable dispute resolutions to eventually get Samsung to no. 1 in the smartphone market share.
FJ: Why does Fulton Jeang’s virtual business model suit your practice and lifestyle?
GH: I like the flexiblity that it allows for me and my family. My clients love our billing rates, and the quality and efficiency of work we can deliver under this business model. They prefer legal bills that are not big surprises. 😊
FJ: What are your sweet spots for client/legal issues you love to work on or that you have expertise in?
GH: I am basically a full-service outsourced GC and would say holistically that I handle all forms of agreements in the ordinary course of business very efficiently for our clients. Clients love that I don’t present ivory tower issues to them but I do spot issues that they truly do care about. I am also able to explain the issues well to my clients so that they have a good understanding of the legal issues and the path forward.
FJ: What can the firm do to help you reach your goals for the next year?
GH: I look forward to the marketing efforts of the firm to help me further grow my client base, and I think I will really benefit from our own internal referral network.
FJ: Do you have hobbies? What do you do for fun?
GH: Well, I love golf but am recovering from some back surgeries so God willing I would love to play golf again. I also love travel, coffee, wine, and all forms of college football.
Gary's bio is at About Gary Hays | Fulton Jeang PLLC
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