John W. Hays

Jackson Kelly PLLC
John W. Hays is a Member in the Lexington, Kentucky office of Jackson Kelly PLLC.  Mr. Hays’ practice is primarily focused on construction litigation, contracts, and commercial litigation.  He also has extensive training and experience as a mediator in construction, commercial, employment and personal injury disputes.  He is a member of the National Academy of Distinguished Neutrals and is arbitrator and mediator on the Commercial Arbitration Panel for the American Arbitration Association.  He is a frequent author and lecturer on topics related to construction and alternative dispute resolution.

Mr. Hays is admitted to practice before the United States Court of Appeals for the Sixth Circuit and all state and federal courts within the Commonwealth of Kentucky.  He is a member of the Fayette, Kentucky and American Bar Associations and is active in the ABA Forum for the Construction Industry and KBA Section on Construction and Public Contract Law.  Mr. Hays is also a member of the ADR Section of the KBA, is a past chair of the Mediation Center of Kentucky and is a past president of the Mediation Association of Kentucky.

Mr. Hays received his undergraduate degree from Princeton University in 1985 and his Juris Doctor, with distinction, from the University of Kentucky in 1988.  He was a member of the Kentucky Law Journal and graduated Order of the Coif. Mr. Hays has an AV Preeminent rating by Martindale-Hubbell and has been named Kentucky Super Lawyers® list since 2009 and in Woodward/White’s The Best Lawyers in America® in the practice area of Construction Law since 2013.  He was named Best Lawyers’ 2021, 2018, and 2016 “Lawyer of the Year” in Lexington for Construction Law.