Kendall Kelly Hayden

Member

Kendall focuses her practice in commercial litigation, with an emphasis in transportation and hospitality law, as well as retail, employment matters, professional liability defense, product liability defense, and construction defect matters. Kendall fosters relationships with colleagues across Cozen O’Connor’s many practice areas so that she is positioned to help clients identify appropriate counsel for any legal issue they might face. She serves as relationship partner for clients with a wide range of legal needs.

Kendall's experience in the hospitality industry reflects multiple representative clients, including international golf management companies, hotels, and restaurants, boutique bed and breakfasts, party suppliers, spas, marinas, and country clubs. She has served as a guest lecturer on the topic of Legal Issues in the Hospitality Industry at the University of Houston's Conrad N. Hilton College and regularly speaks at the annual Hospitality Law Conference. Kendall has presented numerous times to the members of the Club Management Association of America (CMAA).

Kendall currently serves as a member of the National Retail and Restaurant Defense Association (NRRDA), whose mission is to advance and protect the interests of the retail and restaurant industry by reducing claims, better managing risk, and mounting effective defense strategies against claims and litigation. To be accepted as a private practice attorney into NRRDA, members must be nominated by three members of the restaurant or retail industries.  Kendall also currently serves as a sustainer of the Junior League of Dallas.

Her transportation work includes large commercially licensed vehicle owners and operators, armored vehicles, and admiralty/maritime industry clients. Kendall’s employment experience includes discrimination, sexual harassment, and overtime claims. 

Kendall previously served as the pro bono coordinator for the Dallas office and the Women’s Initiative co-chair for the firm. She is a former vice-chair for the ABA TIPS Commercial Transportation Litigation Committee and a former vice-chair for the Dallas Bar Association's LegalLine Committee. Kendall is an alumna of the inaugural classes of the Dallas Mayor’s Star Council after being appointed by Former Mayor Mike Rawlings to serve as one of 25 influential young professionals to advise him on issues affecting the city of Dallas, Leadership University Park, a community-based leadership program to train professionals to serve the city, and Leadership State Bar of Texas, a state-wide group of 20 lawyers selected by the presidents of the State Bar of Texas and the Texas Young Lawyers Association. In 2009, Kendall was elected to serve a two-year term as a Director for the Texas Young Lawyers Association board of directors. Kendall also serves as a mentoring attorney for the Dallas Volunteer Attorney Program in the area of Consumer Law. In 2012, she was recognized as Dallas Pro Bono Coordinator of the Year by the Dallas Volunteer Attorney Program.

Kendall received her Bachelor of Arts in Spanish from Texas A&M University and earned her law degree from Southern Methodist University Dedman School of Law. At Texas A&M, she served as president of her junior and senior class. During law school, Kendall served as editor-in-chief of the SMU Computer Law Review and Technology Journal. 

Experience

News

Communication can prevent legal battles for franchisees

April 09, 2020

Kendall Hayden was quoted in Hotel News Now discussing what franchisees should be doing to meet financial obligations during COVID-19.

Kendall Hayden Discusses Amtrak Case on Law360

May 02, 2016

Kendall Hayden, a member of Cozen O'Connor's Commercial Litigation department, discusses the D.C. Circuit's rejection of a federal law giving Amtrak power to regulate freight railroads that compete with it for track use sets up.

Kendall Hayden Discusses FRA's Proposed Railroad Crew Rule in Law360

March 31, 2016

The Federal Railroad Administration's recent proposal requiring all trains to have a two-person operating crew has the rail industry up in arms over what it says is a sweeping, costly and redundant fail-safe that hasn't proven to enhance safety.

Kendall Hayden Discusses One of the 5 Roadblocks Facing The Trucking Industry in Law360

March 25, 2016

Kendall Hayden discusses new technology in the trucking industry such as electronic logging devices that would keep track of how many hours drivers are on the road to help ensure they take their required rest breaks, as well as introducing so-called speed-limiters on certain heavy-duty trucks.

Kendall Hayden Discusses New Trucker Electronic Log Rule in Law360

December 10, 2015

The Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration's final rule requiring interstate commercial truckers to use electronic logging devices to track their hours on the road brings some long-awaited clarity on how to implement a technology intended to curb accidents and enhance competition among fleet operators.

Publications

Keeping Pace with Truck Driver Drug and Alcohol Testing During COVID-19 [Alert]

June 25, 2020

Tia Ghattas, Josh Greenbaum and Kendall Hayden discuss the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration exemptions for some regulations for certain motor carriers and their drivers that sunset on July 1.

How States Are Relaxing Truck Weight Rules During COVID-19

May 20, 2020

Tia Ghattas, Josh Greenbaum and Kendall Hayden contributed an article to Law360 outlining how some states have approached weight requirements and permit requirements, and what trucking companies should do to adhere.

Pandemic Drug Test Guidance Offers Relief To Trucking Cos.

May 06, 2020

Tia Ghattas, Josh Greenbaum and Kendall Hayden contributed an article to Law360 discussing the guidance on compliance with drug and alcohol testing requirements during COVID-19.

Manufacturers Can MAN UP With Defenses to the Texas Products Liability Act: Part II, How Sellers May Find Themselves a MAN DOWN [Products Liability Prevention & Defense Blog]

January 22, 2019

On September 11, 2018, Cozen O’Connor’s Product Liability Prevention and Defense (“PLPD”) blog provided a quick reference guide that manufacturers can consult to MAN UP on defenses when hit with a claim under Chapter 82 in Texas.  Hayden; Don't Find Yourself a MAN DOWN: Manufacturers Can MAN UP With...

Don’t Find Yourself a MAN DOWN: Manufacturers Can MAN UP With Defenses to the Texas Products Liability Act [Products Liability Prevention & Defense Blog]

September 11, 2018

As of September 1, 1993, a manufacturer's duty to indemnify a seller in a products liability action became statutorily mandated in Texas.  See Tex. Civ. Prac. & Rem. Code Ann. § 82.002 (Vernon 1997) (“Chapter 82”).  Chapter 82, also known as the Products Liability Act, made changes that place...

Events & Seminars

Past Events

Protect Your Hospitality Business from Jeopardy

October 25, 2024 - Uncasville, Connecticut

Legal Implications in Food & Beverage

October 02, 2024 - Houston, TX

Keep your Retailer and Restaurant out of Jeopardy!

February 22, 2024 - Rancho Mirage, CA

Legal Update with Kendall Kelly Hayden

September 13, 2023 - San Antonio, Texas

Ethics and Professionalism for Lawyers in 2022

April 05, 2022 - Houston, TX

The 2020 Hospitality Law Conference: Houston

April 22, 2020 - Houston, TX

This Is The House That Women Built

December 04, 2019 - Dallas, Texas

Education

  • Southern Methodist University, J.D., 2003
  • Texas A&M University, B.A., 1999

Awards & Honors

Attorney of the Week by HospitalityLawyer.com - June 17-24, 2014, September 25-October 3, 2016, and July 9-13, 2018

"Rising Star" in Insurance - 2008

"Rising Star" in Transportation and Maritime Law - 2012-2016

Dallas Pro Bono Coordinator of the Year by the Dallas Volunteer Attorney Program - 2012

  • Texas
  • U.S. District Court -- Eastern District of Texas
  • U.S. District Court -- Northern District of Texas
  • U.S. District Court -- Southern District of Texas
  • U.S. District Court -- Western District of Texas
  • Texas Supreme Court
  • American Bar Association
  • National Retail and Restaurant Defense Association 
  • Leadership State Bar of Texas
  • Texas Bar Foundation, Life Fellow
  • Texas Courier and Logistics Association
  • Texas Young Lawyers Association
  • Dallas Women’s Lawyers Association
  • Preston West Republican Women