Sherrard L. "Butch" Hayes II

Sherrard (Butch) Hayes is a trusted counselor and litigator who is well-known for his skills in both federal and state courts, and his handling of complex business and employment disputes. His practice encompasses a broad range of business litigation, with a focus on the defense of clients in employment-related and business ethics matters, trade secret and technology disputes, commercial and stock-related disputes, and officer and director litigation.

Board Certified by the Texas Board of Legal Specialization in Labor & Employment Law, Butch has successfully tried many cases in federal and state courts, as well as various arbitration forums, and has secured recoveries as lead counsel for clients in the eight-figure range. He is the former Partner-in-Charge of the Austin office of Fulbright & Jaworski, one of the largest and most respected law firms in the United States, and in addition to his client work was responsible for all business and financial operations of that office for several years. He brings a unique business perspective to his client work, and courtroom advocacy.

• Successfully handled multiple shareholder derivative and fraud suits on behalf of publicly-traded and private corporations, including those involving alleged damages exceeding nine figures.
• Successfully defended a wide range of public and private companies, including Fortune 100 corporations, in significant federal and state discrimination and class-action wage and hour matters, including disparate impact, and statistical cases against the government and private plaintiffs.
• Represented publicly-traded companies in various licensing and patent infringement claims.
• Aggressively represented businesses in multiple sexual harassment matters involving a range of alleged serious criminal conduct.
• Successfully defended bet-the-company litigation relating to stockholder oppression and fraud.
• Represented companies in OSHA-related matters concerning serious bodily injury or death.
• Discrete representation of large and small companies in sensitive internal investigatory matters relating to serious employee and executive misconduct.
• Secured favorable result as lead counsel, through federal court appointment, in a large criminal conspiracy matter.

Best Business Attorneys & Corporate Counsel, Austin Business Journal, 2006
Nation’s Most Powerful Employment Attorneys, Human Resource Executive magazine, 2011
Best Lawyers in America, 2005-present
Texas Super Lawyers, 2006-present, Thomson Reuters Legal
“Top 100” Texas Super Lawyers, 2008, Thomson Reuters Legal
“Top 50” Central/West Texas Super Lawyers, 2008-2010, Thomson Reuters Legal

All Texas State Courts
U.S. District Courts for the Eastern, Northern, Southern, and Western Districts of Texas
U.S. Court of Appeals for the Fifth Circuit
United States Supreme Court

Federal Bar Association – Austin Chapter, Former President
State Bar of Texas, Member
American Bar Association, Member
Travis County Bar Association, Member
United Way for Central Texas, Director
Austin Community College Foundation, Director
Long Center for Performing Arts, Corporate Council Member

J.D. University of Tennessee College of Law, 1992
Tennessee Law Review Editor
B.A. University of North Carolina at Asheville, 1989