Eileen M. Hayes

Eileen Hayes is a health care and insurance regulatory attorney who advises clients on complex federal and state compliance matters. A former longtime regulator with the New York Department of Financial Services (DFS), Eileen brings a practical, informed perspective to helping clients navigate evolving regulatory requirements, manage regulatory risk, and pursue business objectives. She is known for assisting clients in fostering and maintaining constructive, productive relationships with oversight agencies.

Eileen represents national and regional health, life, and property and casualty insurers, managed care organizations, pharmacy benefit managers (PBMs), producers, third-party administrators, independent adjusters, and specialty network providers. She advises on a broad range of health care and insurance regulatory issues across commercial insurance markets, as well as Medicare and Medicaid programs.

Her experience includes counseling clients on licensing and organizational requirements; the business of insurance and risk-based payment arrangements; form and rate filings; financial and market conduct examinations and investigations; regulatory enforcement matters; consumer protection and complaints; PBM licensure and compliance; mental health parity; cybersecurity; commission and inducement issues; corporate governance; regulatory diligence; change-of-control transactions and related approvals; and insurer discontinuances, withdrawals, and liquidations.

Eileen also represents leading industry trade associations, including the New York Health Plan Association (NYHPA), the Life Insurance Council of New York (LICONY), the National Association of Independent Financial Advisors (NAIFA-NY), the New York Land Title Association (NYSLTA), and the National Association of Dental Plans (NADP). In this capacity, she helps shape federal and state legislation, regulations, and regulatory guidance, and advises on complex implementation and compliance challenges.

Prior to joining the firm, Eileen spent 20 years with the Health Bureau of DFS (formerly the New York Insurance Department). In that role, she provided legal advice on all aspects of health insurance regulation, both internally and to the Governor’s Office, the Division of the Budget, state and federal agencies, legislators, insurers, trade associations, consumer groups, and consumers. She also played a key role in developing legislation and regulations and in coordinating DFS’s implementation of federal Affordable Care Act (ACA) reforms.

Recognition & Leadership

Awards & Accolades

•Listed, The Best Lawyers in America, Health Care Law, 2023-2026
•Listed, The Legal 500 United States, 2018-2025
•'Leading Partners,' Industry Focus - Healthcare - Health Insurers, 2025
•'Next Generation Partners,' Industry Focus - Healthcare - Health Insurers, 2018-2024
•Team Member, BTI Power Rankings, “The 16 Strongest Firms for ‘Go-To Outside Counsel’ Insurance Work,” 2016