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.

Jackson Kelly PLLC
Michael P. Leahey is a member in the energy industry group, focusing primarily on litigation. He currently serves as the firm’s Assistant Managing Member and practices out of the office in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. Michael frequently defends the firm’s energy sector clients on a variety of issues, and has navigated multi-party litigation involving claims of premises liability, deliberate intent, indemnification, products liability and work place safety. Michael has also handled coverage related litigation including claims of breach of contract and bad faith relative to commercial general liability insurance, life and disability insurance and environmental insurance policies. Michael began his legal career as a judicial tipstaff for the Honorable Ronald W. Folino in the Civil Litigation Section of the Allegheny County Court of Common Pleas. During that time, Michael assisted Judge Folino in numerous jury and non-jury trials. Michael obtained his bachelor of science degree from Allegheny College in biology with an emphasis on neurophysiology. After college, he worked for several years in medical sales. He received his law degree from Duquesne University School of Law where he served as a research editor for the Duquesne University Law Review.

Jackson Kelly PLLC
Steven T. Mulligan is Counsel in the construction industry group, focusing primarily on business and commercial law. He practices out of the firm’s office in Denver, Colorado. Steve represents construction contractors, businesses, business owners, and sole proprietors helping them review and negotiate contracts, buy or sell companies and assets, obtain financing, forming and governing business entities, and planning for business succession. He also represents debtors in reorganizing and creditors in pursuing their creditor rights and remedies. Steve’s vast experience ranges from his restructuring and reorganization cases to his role as a former in-house counsel for a privately held, diversified group of international companies. During his tenure as in-house counsel, he provided advice on a wide range of legal issues relating to the companies’ diverse operations. This is the type of institutional experience that allows him to provide the insight others can’t. Mr. Mulligan’s competitive nature reaches outside of the office and onto the ice. He began playing hockey 20 years ago and soon found himself competing on an adult team called the Thoroughblades. The highlight of his time on the ice was being joined on the same team by his son, making his love for the game a family affair although he doesn’t get to play as often as he would like. Mr. Mulligan also is a man of travel, having lived in different destinations throughout his career, even spending three years across the pond in London, England. When he isn’t in the office, he can also be found hiking and biking new trails and documenting his views through photographs. Mr. Mulligan’s knowledge and understanding of the industries he serves and his practice areas continue to raise the bar at Jackson Kelly.