Eddie Hayes (lawyer)
Encyclopedia
Edward Walter Hayes is an American lawyer, journalist, and memoir
ist. He is known for his role in settling the estate of Andy Warhol
and representing several organized crime figures.
and then, supporting himself first as a bartender and later as a law clerk, Columbia Law School
, where he formed a close friendship with former New York governor George Pataki
. In his memoir, Mouthpiece, he recalls the regular beatings he received from his father as well as other children in the neighborhood.
In the matter of the Warhol estate, he was hired by the artist's foundation for a fee proportional to the value of the estate. His appraisers valued it at nearly $700 million, in contrast to the $100 million figure that Christie's
auction house had given the foundation. The Court found the estate was worth $500 million. The Foundation is required to give away 5% of the value of its assets so this decision was important to the public as well as to Hayes. After several rounds of litigation between him and the foundation, an Appellate Court ruled he had been overpaid and owed them over a million dollars, and he came close to filing for bankruptcy. Hayes filed a complaint against the Appellate Judge who ruled against him, Justice Francis Murphy, on the grounds that Murphy had a relationship with the lawyer for the Foundation that he should have disclosed. Murphy resigned rather than answer the complaint.
In the 2000s, Hayes collaborated with Bruce Cutler
, best known as John Gotti
's former attorney, in defending a pair of New York police officers accused of organized-crime-related murders.
met him socially and they became close friends. In addition to dedicating his 1987 novel The Bonfire of the Vanities
to Hayes, Wolfe has acknowledged that he based the lawyer character Tommy Killian on him.
Andy Warhol
had met the lawyer briefly in the fall of 1980 and wrote in his diary,
He appeared in the 1990 film Goodfellas
and has been named to Vanity Fair's International Best-Dressed List Hall of Fame.
Hayes is a weekly contributor to the Sunday Supplement show on the Irish radio station Today FM
.
.
He has two children, Avery and John.
Memoir
A memoir , is a literary genre, forming a subclass of autobiography – although the terms 'memoir' and 'autobiography' are almost interchangeable. Memoir is autobiographical writing, but not all autobiographical writing follows the criteria for memoir set out below...
ist. He is known for his role in settling the estate of Andy Warhol
Andy Warhol
Andrew Warhola , known as Andy Warhol, was an American painter, printmaker, and filmmaker who was a leading figure in the visual art movement known as pop art...
and representing several organized crime figures.
Early life
Hayes grew up in Queens, New York, and graduated from the University of VirginiaUniversity of Virginia
The University of Virginia is a public research university located in Charlottesville, Virginia, United States, founded by Thomas Jefferson...
and then, supporting himself first as a bartender and later as a law clerk, Columbia Law School
Columbia Law School
Columbia Law School, founded in 1858, is one of the oldest and most prestigious law schools in the United States. A member of the Ivy League, Columbia Law School is one of the professional graduate schools of Columbia University in New York City. It offers the J.D., LL.M., and J.S.D. degrees in...
, where he formed a close friendship with former New York governor George Pataki
George Pataki
George Elmer Pataki is an American politician who was the 53rd Governor of New York. A member of the Republican Party, Pataki served three consecutive four-year terms from January 1, 1995 until December 31, 2006.- Early life :...
. In his memoir, Mouthpiece, he recalls the regular beatings he received from his father as well as other children in the neighborhood.
Legal practice
Hayes worked as an Assistant District Attorney in the Bronx before opening a private practice.In the matter of the Warhol estate, he was hired by the artist's foundation for a fee proportional to the value of the estate. His appraisers valued it at nearly $700 million, in contrast to the $100 million figure that Christie's
Christie's
Christie's is an art business and a fine arts auction house.- History :The official company literature states that founder James Christie conducted the first sale in London, England, on 5 December 1766, and the earliest auction catalogue the company retains is from December 1766...
auction house had given the foundation. The Court found the estate was worth $500 million. The Foundation is required to give away 5% of the value of its assets so this decision was important to the public as well as to Hayes. After several rounds of litigation between him and the foundation, an Appellate Court ruled he had been overpaid and owed them over a million dollars, and he came close to filing for bankruptcy. Hayes filed a complaint against the Appellate Judge who ruled against him, Justice Francis Murphy, on the grounds that Murphy had a relationship with the lawyer for the Foundation that he should have disclosed. Murphy resigned rather than answer the complaint.
In the 2000s, Hayes collaborated with Bruce Cutler
Bruce Cutler
Bruce Cutler is an American criminal defense lawyer known for defending organized-crime defendants, and for media appearances as an actor, a legal commentator, and a reality-show attorney....
, best known as John Gotti
John Gotti
John Joseph Gotti, Jr was an American mobster who became the Boss of the Gambino crime family in New York City. Gotti grew up in poverty. He and his brothers turned to a life of crime at an early age...
's former attorney, in defending a pair of New York police officers accused of organized-crime-related murders.
Pop culture
Tom WolfeTom Wolfe
Thomas Kennerly "Tom" Wolfe, Jr. is a best-selling American author and journalist. He is one of the founders of the New Journalism movement of the 1960s and 1970s.-Early life and education:...
met him socially and they became close friends. In addition to dedicating his 1987 novel The Bonfire of the Vanities
The Bonfire of the Vanities
The Bonfire of the Vanities is a 1987 novel by Tom Wolfe. The story is a drama about ambition, racism, social class, politics, and greed in 1980s New York City and centers on four main characters: WASP bond trader Sherman McCoy, Jewish assistant district attorney Larry Kramer, British expatriate...
to Hayes, Wolfe has acknowledged that he based the lawyer character Tommy Killian on him.
Andy Warhol
Andy Warhol
Andrew Warhola , known as Andy Warhol, was an American painter, printmaker, and filmmaker who was a leading figure in the visual art movement known as pop art...
had met the lawyer briefly in the fall of 1980 and wrote in his diary,
defense lawyer named Ed Hayes who looked like he was from Laverne and Shirley, like a plant that people invite to parties to wear funny clothes and jump around and make things ‘kooky.’ Sort of forties clothes, really crew cut, about twenty-nine. He said, ‘I can get ya outta anything.’
He appeared in the 1990 film Goodfellas
Goodfellas
Goodfellas is a 1990 American crime film directed by Martin Scorsese. It is a film adaptation of the 1986 non-fiction book Wiseguy by Nicholas Pileggi, who co-wrote the screenplay with Scorsese...
and has been named to Vanity Fair's International Best-Dressed List Hall of Fame.
Other work
In 2006, when Hayes published his memoir Mouthpiece: A Life in—and Sometimes Just Outside—the Law (written jointly with Susan Lehman), describing his life and law career, Wolfe wrote its introduction.Hayes is a weekly contributor to the Sunday Supplement show on the Irish radio station Today FM
Today FM
Radio Ireland Ltd, trading as 100-102 Today FM is an Irish commercial FM radio station which is available nationally. The station, which commenced broadcasting on Saint Patrick's Day in 1997, can be received nationally and carries a mix of music and talk...
.
Personal life
He married Susie Gilder, model and actress, on 31 May 1986. Their wedding was covered in Vanity FairVanity Fair (magazine)
Vanity Fair is a magazine of pop culture, fashion, and current affairs published by Condé Nast. The present Vanity Fair has been published since 1983 and there have been editions for four European countries as well as the U.S. edition. This revived the title which had ceased publication in 1935...
.
He has two children, Avery and John.