Former Womble Bond Dickinson attorney Jeff Hay received this month the extraordinary honor of being appointed an honorary member of the Most Excellent Order of the British Empire. Queen Elizabeth II recognized Hay for his services to UK/US business relations. Before retiring from the firm earlier this month, Hay served in several leadership roles including as a member of the Firm’s global board, the leader of the global business team, Charlotte Managing Partner, and Corporate & Securities Practice Group Leader. Arguably his most significant contribution to the firm, however, was advocating for and helping lead the 2017 transatlantic formation of Womble Bond Dickinson.
“I am incredibly honored by this recognition from Her Majesty. I believe very strongly in the importance of the ‘special relationship’ the US and UK share and I am proud to have had the opportunity to contribute to it over the years,” Hay said. “I am also exceedingly grateful for all that the firm did to support my efforts that in the end resulted in this recognition.”
“I am incredibly honored by this recognition from Her Majesty. I believe very strongly in the importance of the ‘special relationship’ the US and UK share and I am proud to have had the opportunity to contribute to it over the years. I am also exceedingly grateful for all that the firm did to support my efforts that in the end resulted in this recognition.”
In addition to his work with Womble Bond Dickinson, Jeff has been an instrumental figure in the British-American Business Council (BABC) of North Carolina, where he served terms as both President and Board Chair. The BABC promotes bilateral trade between the United States and the United Kingdom, and has helped transatlantic businesses create thousands of good jobs in both countries. In 2015, he was honored with the Order of the Long Leaf Pine, North Carolina’s most prestigious civilian award, in large part for his BABC work.