Introducing Griffith Hayes, a partner in Tyson & Mendes’ Las Vegas office. With over 35 years of legal experience representing insurance companies and their insureds across Nevada and California, Griffith specializes in general liability, products liability, construction liability, employment and labor law, and financial institutions litigation. He brings significant knowledge of construction litigation to our Las Vegas team and is often retained to work on construction agreements for developers and general contractors. Learn more about Griffith and his decision to join Tyson & Mendes below.

T&M: Tell us about your legal background and how you got into the insurance defense industry?
GH: I am licensed in both California and Nevada. For the past 20 years, most of the cases I have handled are in Nevada. I have worked in the insurance defense field my entire career and have handled a wide variety of cases including police excessive force cases, developer construction defect cases and general liability and professional liability cases.

T&M: What drew you to Tyson & Mendes?  
GH: Its reputation for high-quality work, its goal to be the best insurance defense firm and the opportunity to try more cases using the defense methods taught at the firm.

T&M: Compared to other firms you have worked for, what makes Tyson & Mendes so unique?
GH: Its distinction for excellence and for trying the tough cases that need to be tried using the Tyson & Mendes trial methods.

T&M: What has been your most significant or challenging case to date?
GH: I am working on several challenging cases with interesting facts and high potential exposure.

T&M: What advice would you give to young attorneys who are just starting in this field?
GH: Ask the partner(s) good questions, use checklists for your cases and maintain a good working relationship with other attorneys in the firm and the legal assistants and paralegals.

T&M: What did you want to be when you grew up?
GH: A professional baseball player.

T&M: Why did you become a lawyer instead?
GH: Realistically, my skill level was not up to the level of a professional player. A class I took in college on the U.S. Supreme Court from a UC Berkely law professor inspired me to become a lawyer.

T&M: If not at work or home, where are we most likely to find you?
GH: The gym or a hot yoga class.

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