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Vilia B. Hayes

New York City

+1 (212) 837-6839

[email protected]
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Vilia B. Hayes is Senior Pro Bono Counsel at Hughes Hubbard & Reed LLP, litigating pro bono cases in the areas of prisoner’s rights, voting rights, immigration, family law, and housing among others.  She is Co-Chair of the Firm’s Pro Bono Committee and supervises numerous pro bono matters in federal and state court.  Ms. Hayes has over 35 years of experience as a litigation associate and partner concentrating on employment, product liability, insurance, bankruptcy, and commercial litigation, as well as counseling/and negotiations on employment law and insurance law.  

Clerkships

  • Law clerk to Honorable Charles L. Brieant, United States district judge, Southern District of New York, 1980 – 1981

Professional Activities

  • Board of Trustees, Lawyers Committee for Civil Rights Under Law
  • Board of Directors, Legal Momentum
  • Co-President, Judges and Lawyers Breast Cancer Alert from May 2018 – May 2020
  • Federal Bar Council, President from November 2014 - November 2016 
  • Board of Directors, Legal Services NYC from 2010-2016
  • EDNY Mediation Panel
  • Pro Bono Panel, Court of Appeals for the Second Circuit
  • N.Y. American Inn of Court, President from 2012-2014
  • Board of Directors – VOLS from 2008-2016
  • Director, Fordham Law Review Alumni Association
  • Board of Directors of New York County Lawyers Association from 2002 to 2014; Chair of Audit Committee 2012 to 2014
  • Chair of Litigation Committee, Association of the Bar of the City of New York, 2004-2007

Clerkships

  • Law clerk to Honorable Charles L. Brieant, United States district judge, Southern District of New York, 1980 – 1981

Court Admissions

  • United States District Courts for Southern, Eastern, Western and Northern Districts of New York
  • United States Court of Appeals for the Second Circuit, Third Circuit and DC Circuit
  • United States Supreme Court

Teaching

  • Adjunct Professor teaching U.S. Constitution and Homeland Protection and Contemporary Legal Problems, St. John’s University, Graduate Professional Studies in Homeland Security and Criminal Justice Leadership, Fall 2018 to present

Highlighted Matters

  • Counsel for Plaintiffs in a voting rights action against Secretary of State of Georgia challenging SB 202 enacted in March 2021 No. 1:21-mi-55555-JPB (N.D.Ga.)
  • Recent Pro Bono representation in the Second Circuit of Appeals:
    • Golding v. Barr, No. 18-772, remand granted
    • Jesus Giron v. Garland, No. 18-3719, pending
    • Johnson v. Barr, No. 19-401, removal order vacated after stipulated remand
    • Wiggins v. Medina, No. 14-591, pending
    • Scarlett v. Whitaker, No. 16-940, remand granted
    • Kwei Genego v. Matthew G. Whitaker, amicus counsel, No. 16-867 (2019 order terminating removal proceedings)
    • Joseph Emanuel Hechavarria v. Jefferson B. Sessions III, amicus counsel, No. 16-1380, (2d Cir. 2018), remand granted
    • Richard Orlando Edwards v. Loretta Lynch, No. 15-2815 (2015), application for withholding of removal  granted on remand by the Immigration Judge, in re: Richard Orlando Edwards, A086-774-182 
    • Darnell Greathouse v. KHS Security Inc., No. 12-4521 (2013), amicus brief
    • Aurel Smith v. Dale Artus, No. 11-4186 (2013), dismissal of civil rights claim reversed and remanded
    • Michael Jones v. Joseph Smith, No. 12-401-pr (2012), dismissal of civil rights complaint reversed
  • Eon Shepherd v. Jason Ferrick, 08 Civ. 09297 (RA), United States District Court for the Southern District of New York (jury verdict for prisoner in 2017; post-trial motions denied in 2018)
  • Amicus brief on behalf of the ARC of South Carolina, Able SC, SCAAIDD and Protection and Advocacy for People with Disabilities, Inc. in the Supreme Court of the State of South Carolina.  (Simmons v. State CA No. 05-CP-18-1368)
  • Working with Kids In Need of Defense – supervising associates and representing over 50 unaccompanied minors during the past ten years
  • Working with Her Justice – supervising associates representing over 50 women in uncontested divorces, as well as in contested divorce and child support proceedings
  • In re: MF Global, Inc. – No. 11-02790-mg (Bankr. SDNY) representation of SIPA, Trustee for the liquidation of MF Global Inc., including representation of the Trustee in the investigation of the events leading to a shortfall of customer property at MF Global Inc., and in preparation of the report on the reasons for the firm’s collapse and in the resolution of major general creditor claims
  • National coordinating counsel for ALSTOM in asbestos litigation, coordinating discovery and motion practice and achieving dismissal without payment of thousands of claims in multiple jurisdictions
  • Representation of Merck & Co, Inc. in VIOXX® litigation in all cases filed in New York, including removal and transfer of cases to the MDL and litigation of claims in NYS court
  • Representation of employer in Welding Rod litigation dismissed by plaintiffs prior to trial
  • Pereira, as Chapter 11 Trustee v. Marshall & Sterling, Inc.  Representation of insurance broker in successful appeal to federal court from over $20 million adverse determination in Bankruptcy Court
  • Representation of insurance company in coverage disputes arising from fiber-optic cable claims, breast implants and TMJ implants
  • Representation of software vendor in breach of contract actions in federal court and arbitration
  • In re San Juan Dupont Plaza Fire Litigation, MDL 721 (D.P.R.).  Representation of Collins & Aikman Corporation on claims arising out of the fire at the Dupont Plaza Hotel
  • Representation of Skopbank in class actions involving claims of consumer fraud in federal and state courts in Illinois, Alabama and Maryland

News

Hughes Hubbard Wins Her Justice’s Firm Partnership Award
News & Events |
Awards
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Firm Secures Special Immigrant Juvenile Visa Status for Honduran Child
News & Events |
Pro Bono
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Celebrating HHR’s Women
News & Events |
Inclusion
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Litigation Wrap: Third Quarter 2022
News & Events
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Firm Obtains Rare Remand for Pro Bono Client
News & Events |
Pro Bono
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Vilia Hayes Receives Prestigious Federal Bar Council Award
News & Events
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Firm Contributes to Report on Access to Justice
News & Events |
Pro Bono
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Firm Takes Georgia to Court Over New Voter Bill
News & Events |
Pro Bono
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HHR Secures Jamaican Client's Release From Immigration Detention
News & Events |
Pro Bono
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Hughes Hubbard Advises Global IT Leader Infosys in Acquisition of Simplus
News & Events |
Deals & Matters
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Celebrating International Women's Day
News & Events |
People
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​Firm Wins Ruling Against Georgia in Voter Suppression Case
News & Events |
Pro Bono
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Litigation Wrap: Third Quarter 2018
News & Events |
Awards |
Deals & Matters |
Event Recap |
Pro Bono
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Firm Helps Guatemalan Family Stay Together in US
News & Events |
Pro Bono
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​Firm Helps Reunite Separated Immigrant Family
News & Events |
Pro Bono
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Litigation Wrap: Second Quarter 2018
News & Events |
Awards |
Deals & Matters
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Firm Obtains Significant Settlement for Pro Bono Client
News & Events |
Pro Bono
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Firm Helps Honduran Family Stay Together Amid Deportation Threat
News & Events |
Pro Bono
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​Hughes Hubbard Helps Achieve Important Settlement With Georgia in Voting Rights Suit
News & Events |
Pro Bono
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Firm Assists FDIC in Successful Resolution of Doral Insolvency
News & Events |
Deals & Matters
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Firm Secures Reversal of Decision Denying Client’s Disability Benefits in Appellate Victory
News & Events |
Pro Bono
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Hughes Hubbard Honored With Pro Bono Award by KIND
News & Events |
Pro Bono
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Hughes Hubbard Attorney Receives Whitney North Seymour Award
News & Events
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Hughes Hubbard Attorneys Honored as 2014 Empire State Counsel
News & Events |
Pro Bono
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Hughes Hubbard Wins Work Product Dispute for MF Global Trustee
News & Events |
Deals & Matters
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Hughes Hubbard Receives Two 2015 Commitment to Justice Awards
News & Events |
Pro Bono
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Hughes Hubbard Named a Top Pro Bono Firm By Law360
News & Events |
Pro Bono
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Firm Helps Client Evade Eviction and Land on Her Feet
News & Events |
Pro Bono
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Hughes Hubbard Achieves Blind Justice for Visually Impaired Ex-Convict
News & Events |
Pro Bono
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Hughes Hubbard Helps Woman Escape Abusive Marriage
News & Events |
Pro Bono
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Firm Honored for Superstorm Sandy Efforts
News & Events |
Pro Bono
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Hughes Hubbard Wins Appellate Reversal in Prisoner Prayer Lawsuit
News & Events |
Pro Bono
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Firm Wins Appellate Reversal of First Impression in 2nd Circuit
News & Events |
Pro Bono
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Firm Helps Ex-Offender Regain Full Custody of Her Daughter
News & Events |
Pro Bono
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Firm Offers Helping Hand to Sandy Victims
News & Events |
Pro Bono
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Education
  • Fordham University School of Law, J.D., 1980, cum laude, Associate Editor, Fordham Law Review
  • Marymount College, B.A., 1972, with honors
Bar Admissions
  • New York, 1981
Areas of Focus
Employment & Unfair Competition
Litigation
Product Liability
Regulatory Compliance

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