Edward “Eddy” Hayes
Principal Partner, Leake Andersson

Edward T. Hayes is a partner at Leake Andersson, where his practice focuses on both litigation and corporate/transactional matters. On the litigation side, Mr. Hayes represents clients in products liability, general casualty, and commercial litigation matters in state and federal courts throughout the Gulf South region. Mr. Hayes also has extensive experience handling insurance coverage matters, as well as MDL, class action and mass casualty cases.

Mr. Hayes actively works on corporate and transactional matters and leads the firm’s international trade and business practices. His practice areas include freight and logistics contracts; supply chain and third country/outsourcing arrangements; U.S. and foreign government contract procurement; customs classification and country of origin matters; import/export transactions; contracts for the sale and distribution of goods and services; and antidumping/countervailing duty proceedings. He also actively participates in international commercial dispute settlement and arbitration and was selected by the Office of the United States Trade Representative to serve on the roster of panelists eligible to adjudicate international trade disputes under Chapter 19 of the United States-Mexico-Canada Free Trade Agreement.

Mr. Hayes also maintains an active public policy and government relations practice, where he advises businesses and local governments on trade policy and economic development issues. He regularly works with the US House and Senate committees of trade jurisdiction, appropriations, commerce, and agriculture, as well as the Office of United States Trade Representative, Department of Commerce, Department of Homeland Security/Customs and Border Protection, Food and Drug Administration, and Department of Agriculture.

Mr. Hayes serves as an Adjunct Professor of Law at Tulane University Law School where he teaches a course on international trade policy and practice. In 2014 the country of Ukraine appointed Mr. Hayes to serve as the Honorary Consul to Ukraine for the State of Louisiana.

Brian Wild
Chief Government Relations Officer

NAW

Brian Wild is the Chief Government Relations Officer. Former U.S. Senate, House and White House staffer, including service as advisor to House Congressional Leadership and Vice President Dick Cheney, Brian is a “big picture” strategist, who has helped businesses and trade associations advance their policy priorities amid the complex and competing interests on Capitol Hill. Known as a coalition builder, Wild has a track record of unifying third-party groups to create political momentum and achieve policy success.

Brian Wild is a tremendous advocate for the wholesale distribution industry in Washington D.C. advancing the causes of small, medium and large distributors to policy makers in Congress, the White House and Federal agencies. His work to build consensus among third-party validators, including think tanks, advocacy groups, other trade associations and corporations helps amplify and echo the voices of NAW’s member companies and associations. Brian also leads NAW’s PAC and grassroots programs, helping get good candidates elected and ensuring the voice of the wholesale industry is widely listened to.

Brian’s tenure on Capitol Hill included working in the House leadership under Speaker John Boehner (R-OH), and then-Whip Kevin McCarthy (R-CA) where he coordinated policy among all Republican offices, committee chairs and the private sector. Prior, Brian served in the White House as Deputy Assistant for Legislative Affairs to Vice President Dick Cheney. Earlier, Brian served as Chief of Staff to Rep. Pat Toomey (R-PA) and worked with Senator Hank Brown (R-CO) as well as, spending five years at the U.S. Chamber of Commerce.

A fourth generation Colorado native, Wild has worked in Washington DC for 30 years and now lives with his wife Emily and four children in Alexandria, VA.

Alex Hendrie
Vice President of Government Relations

NAW

Alex Hendrie is Vice President of Government Relations at NAW and Deputy Director of NAW’s Political Action Committee. In this role, he leads NAW’s efforts on anti-trust and healthcare issues and also works on tax policy. Prior to joining NAW, Hendrie was Director of Tax Policy at Americans for Tax Reform where he led the organization’s outreach, policy, and lobbying on federal tax, healthcare, and economic issues.