At the ALFA International (ALFAI) Annual Business Meeting (ABM) held in Madrid, Spain, on October 9, Eddy Hayes from Leake Andersson, ALFAI’s member firm in New Orleans and Lafayette, LA, was honored with the first Impact Award. This award recognizes an ALFAI attorney whose specialized knowledge and practice have provided exceptional value to clients during a year marked by complex challenges.
Throughout his career, Eddy has held various leadership positions within the ALFAI network. He recently served as Chair of the ALFAI Board of Directors from 2022 to 2024 and is currently in the role of Chair Emeritus.
This past year, Eddy has significantly impacted the network through his global practice in international trade and business, specializing in customs, import/export issues, trade disputes and complex cross-border matters. In response to significant global economic uncertainty and legal challenges arising from recent tariff changes, Eddy conducted a webinar offering strategic insights for businesses on how to navigate tariffs. He also plans to present a follow-up webinar, as this issue continues to evolve rapidly.
In addition to his other roles, Eddy leads an active international public policy practice, advising businesses and governments on trade capacity, economic development and global agreements. He also serves as the Honorary Consul to Ukraine for the State of Louisiana and is an Adjunct Professor at Tulane University.
During the awards ceremony, Jessica Zaroski Bauer, ALFAI’s CEO, remarked, “In a year of uncertainty, Eddy stepped in to guide clients through the unique challenges of trade disputes and the new tariffs enacted in 2025. His unique expertise has been vital to clients and instrumental in strengthening and broadening ALFAI’s capabilities. We are proud to present Eddy with the inaugural Impact Award.”