Gibson, Dunn & Crutcher LLP announced that James M. Hays will join the firm’s Houston office as a partner, where he will continue to counsel private fund sponsors on the organization and administration of private investment funds across a diverse range of asset classes and strategies.
“I am thrilled to join Gibson Dunn,” said Hays. “The firm’s sophisticated investment funds platform and depth of capabilities are a terrific bolster to the service of my clients and the expansion of my practice. The firm’s reputation for a truly collaborative culture precedes it, and I look forward to working alongside my new colleagues as we help our clients achieve their fundraising goals.”
Hays focuses on representing sponsors in the organization and administration of private investment funds across a diverse range of asset classes and strategies, including real estate, energy, and infrastructure. In addition, he also frequently advises asset managers on matters related to the distribution of alternative investment funds in Europe and the establishment of funds in Luxembourg.
Before joining Gibson Dunn, Hays led the private funds practice in Houston at another international law firm. Previously, he was a vice president in the real estate group at Blackstone Inc. In this role, he advised on multiple fund-raises and co-investments, as well as regulatory and strategic initiatives for Blackstone’s global real estate portfolio. Hays was also integral to the establishment of Blackstone’s Luxembourg-based alternative investment fund manager, Blackstone Europe Fund Management. He began his career at Simpson Thacher in New York.
Hays graduated summa cum laude in 2010 from Brooklyn Law School, where he was valedictorian. Following graduation, Hays served as a law clerk for Judge Edward R. Korman in the U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of New York.
Founded in 1890, Gibson, Dunn & Crutcher LLP is an American multinational law firm headquartered in Los Angeles, California, which includes approximately 1,400 attorneys and 1,000 staff located in 20 offices around the world, including North and South America, Europe, Asia, and the Middle East.
