March 2025 Member Spotlight: David R. Hayes Sr.

What a true honor it is to highlight David R. Hayes Sr., for our March 2025 member spotlight! Hayes served as a confidential law clerk to the Hon. William M. Skretny, United States District Judge for the Western District of New York, from March 2020 until retiring from federal service (as of March 31, 2025).

A Distinguished Career of Rich Legal Experience

Prior to his most recent role, Hayes served as law clerk to the Hon. Hugh B. Scott, United States Magistrate Judge for the Western District of New York, starting in September 2003.

From 1995, Hayes served as an Assistant Corporation Counsel for Buffalo, New York, representing the City of Buffalo and its related agencies and officials in civil litigation and municipal affairs.

Previously, Hayes was a trial associate at Phillips Lytle in Buffalo; a law clerk for the Hon. Roger J. Miner, United States Court of Appeals for the Second Circuit; and a litigation associate at Paul, Weiss, Rifkind, Wharton & Garrison in New York.

Howard & Yale Alumnus; Esteemed Board & Committee Service

Hayes is a graduate of Howard University and the Yale Law School, where he was active with the Black Law Students’ Association.

Hayes has served the Minority Bar Association of Western New York in various roles, including vice president, as well as chair of the association’s Judicial Rating Committee and By-Laws Committee. We are proud to note that he was the recipient of our association’s 1999 Legal Service Award.

Hayes also has served as chair of the Federal Practice Committee of the Bar Association of Erie County. He has made numerous continuing legal education presentations on issues of federal practice and procedure, antitrust law and ethics.

Valued Member of the Western New York Community

Hayes is a deacon at Mt. Olive Baptist Church and serves on the Board of Directors of the Mt. Olive Development Corporation and the Buffalo Prenatal-Perinatal Network, Inc.

He was a Boy Scout leader with his sons’ Cub Scout Pack and Scout Troop. In 2015 he was named as Volunteer of the Year by the Tatonka District, Greater Niagara Frontier Council, Boy Scouts of America.