Monique D. Hayes, Esq. (Photo courtesy of Monique D. Hayes, Esq.)
Monique D. Hayes stands as a distinguished business attorney who has made an impact in the legal profession. With board certification in Business Bankruptcy Law, ranked highly among various publications, and a member of the American Bar Association’s Business Law Section Council, she has garnered numerous accolades. Among her various achievements, one of the most notable is her status as an alumna of the University of South Florida (USF).
Hayes, a Miami, Fla. native, finds joy in her role as a business attorney, entrepreneur, and author. When not immersed in her work she can usually be found enjoying modern art, music, or vintage cars.
She began her undergraduate journey at the USF College of Arts and Sciences in 1998 where she majored in political science with a minor in philosophy. Actively engaged in campus life, she joined organizations such as the Delta Sigma Theta Sorority and became a senator in Student Government.
In addition to her participation at USF, Hayes highlights the instrumental role the pre-law program played in shaping her for the career she has today.
“The pre-law program at USF was stellar and certainly prepared me for the rigors of law school. By the time I graduated, thanks to my studies under professor Lawrence Moorehouse, I knew how to brief a case and think critically about legal and societal issues. I also learned to stand firm in my convictions, while maintaining integrity and cavity in debate,” Hayes said. “During my time at USF, I also studied under Judge Raymond Gross. As a student in his law and legal careers course, I had unprecedented access to titans in the profession. I took every opportunity to learn from their experience and gain insight into both the rewards and demands of the practice.”
Following her graduation from USF in 2001 and subsequently law school, Hayes has built a practice focused on wealth preservation and protection, including transactional and litigation matters in bankruptcy and other business-related proceedings. Reflecting on her experiences, she revealed what inspired her to specialize in this field.
“What I enjoy most about my practice is witnessing, and often helping, the American dream be realized. Most of my clients are entrepreneurs, so I use my skill and expertise to help them to build, restructure, expand, and transfer their businesses. For those concerned with future generations, I help to design and implement business succession and estate planning strategies--it’s truly inspiring work,” Hayes said.
In addition to her professional work, Hayes highlights the significance of community service. She has held leadership roles in the Junior League of Miami, an organization aimed at advancing women’s leadership within the community. Furthermore, she has also earned recognition among the United Way Miami-Dade Young Leaders, a group of young professionals dedicated to cultivating a stronger community. She is an active member of the Unrepresented Peoples Positive Action Council, an organization dedicated to voicing the concerns of neglected community sectors. Hayes provided insight into how she leverages her skill set to make a meaningful impact.
“Service to my community is the great privilege of my life. I find ways to give my time, talent, and resources to organizations that impact communities. Over the years that has included my sorority Delta Sigma Theta, the League, and United Way as each of those organizations have a long history of leveraging the strength and resources of women, to change communities across the nation,” Hayes said. “Following that tradition, I founded my own non-profit organization aīre Ventures, which supports organizations that are doing transformational work.”
Much like her other philanthropic efforts, Hayes had the opportunity to contribute her expertise to the USF community during the Women, Wills, and Wine event held earlier this November. She shared her unique perspective on how women can assert agency over their finances, particularly in their estate plans, enabling them to leave behind a positive legacy that is reflective of their lives and philanthropic priorities.
“Often when we talk about women and money, its framed in the context of financial independence. But, for me it’s about much more, it’s about impact. As we move closer into what is projected to be the greatest wealth transfer in generations, there is a tremendous opportunity for women to impact the lives of many through estate planning and charitable giving. I’m excited for what this means for women in our Bulls community,” Hayes said.
Despite the positive benefits of her career, Hayes has encountered challenges within the realm of bankruptcy law. Currently, one of the biggest challenges she faces is in regard to a case being handled by the Supreme Court which could re-define how bankruptcy law is practiced across the country.
“The Supreme Court’s decision could redefine how certain matters, often involving complex legal issues, catastrophic losses, multi-jurisdiction litigation, countless parties in interest, and relatively limited financial resources, are addressed in bankruptcy. I currently serve on the education committee of the National Conference of Bankruptcy Judges, where we are developing programs and monitoring changes in the law and how the decision will affect our clients and cases,” Hayes said.
Navigating through challenges and noteworthy career achievements, Hayes shares her wisdom with the USF community who aspire to follow a similar professional journey as herself.
“Whenever I have the opportunity to speak with students interested in pursuing a career in law, I advise them to examine their passions and priorities to find purpose and make sure the career path is in alignment--you can’t just do it for the money,” Hayes said. “For those intent on practicing law, I share what I believe are essential skills and character traits to develop: intellectual curiosity, integrity, kindness, and diligence. To me, these are the hallmarks of not just a stellar attorney, but a social engineer.”
Monique D. Hayes (left) with her previous professor, Judge Raymond Gross (right).
(Photo courtesy of Monique D. Hayes)
Monique D. Hayes (left) with former USF president Judy Genshaft (right), in attendance
at a USF football game. (Photo courtesy of Monique D. Hayes)
Hayes currently serves as a partner for DGIM Law PLLC and as an adjunct professor for the University of Miami School of Law. She is also Founder and CEO of Estates Made Easy, an AI-driven estate planning platform.
For more information about Monique D. Hayes and her ongoing endeavors, visit her website.