People
Chairman
Robert Hays focuses on the strategic growth and direction of our firm and building strong relationships with clients. As our Chairman, Robert is recognized as a leader in the legal and business communities. He is also a longtime member of our Mass Tort and Toxic Tort practice, and continues to represent select clients as lead counsel in product liability and mass tort litigation.
Prior to becoming Chairman in 2005, Robert served in various leadership roles within the firm, including six years as a member of our governing Policy Committee, which he now chairs. He also led our Tort and Environmental Litigation group for 12 years.
With more than 20 years of courtroom experience, Robert represents Fortune 100 companies as lead counsel in high-exposure product liability and mass tort litigation. He has led numerous trials to successful verdicts in state and federal courts.
An author and speaker on law firm leadership, practice and product liability topics, Robert is actively involved in Bar Association work. He has served as Vice Chairman of the American Bar Association TIPS Product Liability Section, and is a member of the ABA Litigation Section and Product Liability Section.
Robert has been recognized by Best Lawyers in America as a 2017 Lawyer of the Year, and as a 2015 Georgia Super Lawyer in the Class Actions category.
J.D., Vanderbilt University School of Law
B.A., University of North Carolina, summa cum laude, Phi Beta Kappa
Georgia
American Bar Association (Member, Product Liability Section)
Atlanta Bar Association (Member, Product Liability Section)
Defense Research Institute
Georgia Defense Lawyers Association
Georgia Product Liability Committee
State Bar of Georgia (Member, General Practice Section)
October 6, 2022
The American Lawyer profiles King & Spalding’s success in building a preeminent global litigation practice and growing its New York presence
March 6, 2022
The American Lawyer article describes K&S’s successful 2021 driven by strong metrics across the firm
February 10, 2022
Robert Hays and Sally Yates are included on Atlanta Magazine’s 2022 Atlanta 500 list
October 6, 2022
The American Lawyer profiles King & Spalding’s success in building a preeminent global litigation practice and growing its New York presence
March 6, 2022
The American Lawyer article describes K&S’s successful 2021 driven by strong metrics across the firm
February 10, 2022
Robert Hays and Sally Yates are included on Atlanta Magazine’s 2022 Atlanta 500 list
October 6, 2022
The American Lawyer profiles King & Spalding’s success in building a preeminent global litigation practice and growing its New York presence
March 6, 2022
The American Lawyer article describes K&S’s successful 2021 driven by strong metrics across the firm
February 10, 2022
Robert Hays and Sally Yates are included on Atlanta Magazine’s 2022 Atlanta 500 list
J.D., Vanderbilt University School of Law
B.A., University of North Carolina, summa cum laude, Phi Beta Kappa
Georgia
American Bar Association (Member, Product Liability Section)
Atlanta Bar Association (Member, Product Liability Section)
Defense Research Institute
Georgia Defense Lawyers Association
Georgia Product Liability Committee
State Bar of Georgia (Member, General Practice Section)