An Afternoon With Ed Hayes, Celebrated Litigator and Memoirist
What draws people to the practice of law? Some do it for the paycheck, some do it for the prestige, and some do it for the excitement and fun of it all. Veteran New York litigator Edward Hayes belongs firmly in the final camp. Although he has amassed fame and fortune over almost four decades of practicing law, his legal career reflects a quest for adventure. And what adventures Hayes has had....
We sat on the deck, overlooking the Great South Bay, and enjoyed a delicious lunch. I wondered, as he was making it, whether Hayes had put too much salt on the salad — but when I actually tasted it, it was superb. Counselor Hayes’s skills extend to the kitchen as well as the courtroom.
Here’s the view that we enjoyed while dining al fresco. The house has an expansive backyard, with a sweeping, perfectly manicured lawn that runs down to the water:
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A breeze came off the bay. All was quiet except for the sound of the water lapping the shore, some crickets, and wind chimes.
After lunch, Hayes had to make a few phone calls. As a busy lawyer, he’s constantly working the phones. He has two, both an iPhone and a Blackberry, and he toggled quickly and seamlessly between multiple conversations. (I’ve changed names to protect confidentiality.)
“It is not a house of prostitution! And you can’t just toss them out — they have a lease!”
”Okay, let’s face it, everybody’s getting hurt; but at least she gets her principal back. Edgar is out a million dollars.”
“Amanda, can you call me back in five minutes?”
“Look, you’re assuming he can pay out endless amounts of money. He can’t. But he can drag this out for two years. She’s better off taking the two hundred grand now and avoiding the legal fees.”
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Watching Hayes at work, even if just for a few minutes, was remarkable. It was like watching Tommy Killian come to life — if only they had cellphones back in the days of Bonfire of the Vanities.
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