Attorney Profile

Chiyel Hayles maintains a broad practice that spans real estate and economic development, public private partnerships, financing and complex commercial transactions, and the procurement of goods and services sought by the County. She advises the County in its negotiation and management of large-scale real estate and development deals, including development projects that provide for workforce housing. Chiyel advises on all stages of transactions in her representation of the County, from the preparation of solicitations, legal review of bids and other proposals, negotiation of terms and formation, to, if needed, enforcement, termination, dispute resolution, or litigation pertaining to County contracts.

Prior to joining the County Attorney's Office, Chiyel practiced as a corporate lawyer at several firms, representing mature public and private companies, startups, investment funds, and nonprofits in mergers and acquisitions, venture capital raises and other minority investments, debt financing and capital markets offerings, and other transactions, and advising on governance, crises, and disputes.

Chiyel holds a bachelor's degree with honors in political science and a minor in fine arts from the University of Pennsylvania. She received a law degree from Yale Law School where she served on the Yale Law Journal, and also received a master's degree in business administration from the Yale School of Management.

Chiyel has taught at the graduate level in the areas of corporate law and corporate governance, and is a member of several voluntary bar associations.