Overview
Hayes Rule is an associate in the firm’s Business Transactions Practice Group. His practice specializes in mergers and acquisitions and corporate matters, and he prides himself on thinking creatively and solving problems for clients in a pragmatic and service-focused manner. Hayes has experience advising clients involved in mergers and acquisitions, drafting contracts and other corporate documents, entity formation, and performing due diligence on companies.
Hayes has particular expertise in the sports industry. He was a former Division I golfer (and took some time to pursue playing professionally) and sports journalist in college, covering events like the 2019 Masters Tournament, Super Bowl LIII Media Day, and the NCAA Division I Women’s Basketball Tournament. In his legal practice, Hayes has represented an equestrian center and private golf club by drafting contracts that protected their interests.
Representative Matters
- Represented sellers in a $51 million sale of a Florida-based tech company to a private-equity-backed strategic buyer.
- Represented equestrian center in contract matters and organizational structuring.
- Represented private golf club in drafting management services agreement with third-party club manager.
- Represented major non-profit retailer in the purchase of another non-profit’s South Florida territory in a creative, strategic model with a $9.5 million purchase price.
- Advised a veterinarian selling a veterinary practice valued at approximately $4 million to a private-equity-backed strategic buyer.
- Represented seller in the approximately $3 million sale of a Florida-based media consulting company.
- Represented major non-profit hospice and home health entity in the acquisition of/consolidation with a large South Florida non-profit healthcare entity.
- Represented purchaser in acquisition of assets from a full-service Florida contracting company.
Professional Involvement
- Sports Lawyers Association (SLA)
- International Committee, 2024-25
- Collaborated with lawyers and academics across at least four countries to further the organization’s goal of educating members about international sports law issue and partnering with global sports law organizations. Planned the execution of a spring webinar series with panelists discussing timely international sports law issue. Served as liaison for the Australian and New Zealand Sports Lawyers Association (ANZSLA).
- NextGen Committee, 2021-22, 2024, 2025
- Collaborated with fellow committee member to develop and oversee new formal SLA mentorship program (pilot version).
- Launched and planned the SLA Mentorship Monday series, a reoccurring webinar series connecting young lawyers and law students with experienced lawyers.
- Led the “Blog Writers” working group by coordinating and editing blog posts for the organization’s blog page.
- International Committee, 2024-25
- LawInSport
- Judge for 2025 Sports Law Arbitration Moot
Community Involvement
- Sports Business and Leadership Association, 2020-22
- Planned a Christmas toy drive to give gifts to children in NYC Boys & Girls Clubs.
- Led a panel conversation with sports lawyers to raise money for the organization.
Thought Leadership
- New Name, Same Team: The Intellectual Property Realities of Changing a Professional Sports Team Name, Co-Author with Darren Heitner, 1 FLA. ENT. & SPORTS L. REV. 1 (2022).
- Ensuring the Integrity of the Game: With the Acceptance of Sports Gambling, Professional Sports Leagues Must Clarify Player Punishments, Note, 20 FLA. ST. U. BUS. REV. 137 (2021).
- How Are Sports Leagues Clarifying Player Punishments for Sports Gambling Controversies, Harvard Journal of Sports and Entertainment Law online (2021).
- A New Player Has Entered the Sports Acquisition Industry, and a Familiar Face is Involved, Harvard Journal of Sports and Entertainment Law online (2020).
- Environmental Rights for the 21st Century: A Comprehensive Analysis of the Public Trust Doctrine and Rights of Nature Movement, Co-Author with Erin Ryan & Holly Curry, 42 CARDOZO L. REV. 2447 (2021).
