General Counsel - Sam M. Hayes
Sam M. Hayes was named DENR general counsel in Feb. 2015, and is responsible for overseeing all legal matters for DENR. Hayes is the first point of contact in litigation, acting as the service agent for all contested cases, tort claims, bankruptcies and other lawsuits against the Department. He supervises the rulemaking coordination process with the assistance of Jennifer Everett, the department’s rulemaking coordinator. He also provides advice on various issues such as new policy initiatives, legislation, contracts, conflicts of interest, and dispute resolution.
Hayes most recently served as an attorney for Arnold & Porter in Washington, D.C. He has extensive experience representing organizations in state and federal courts on civil disputes. A member of the North Carolina Bar, Hayes earned a law degree at Wake Forest University and a bachelor’s degree from UNC-Chapel Hill. He currently serves on the UNC-Chapel Hill Board of Visitors.