Derald J. Hay is a trusted advisor to construction project owners, including developers, investors, landlords, and tenants, on construction and operational real estate transactions. His practice primarily focuses on drafting and negotiating contracts with architectural, engineering, consulting, and construction firms to help clients establish clear and practical legal frameworks that set their projects up for success. He advises clients through all phases of the project lifecycle and adds significant value when engaged early in the process, where he helps shape procurement strategies to maximize the owner’s negotiating leverage.
Derald’s experience spans a broad range of projects, including large-scale mixed-use ground-up developments, single and multi-family residential for-rent or for-sale projects, public and private infrastructure, first-of-kind manufacturing facilities, hotel renovations, and tenant fit-outs. He has experience working on projects across a wide variety of asset classes, including office, cold storage, data centers, biotech labs, industrial manufacturing, and warehousing. Derald even leads contract negotiations for the design and construction of Goodwin’s own offices.
Derald has particular experience structuring contracts to allocate risks and liabilities in alignment with insurance coverage. His background in construction insurance allows him to guide clients in negotiating balanced contract terms that align with coverage requirements in a fair and commercially sensible manner.
Derald also assists clients in resolving issues that arise during design and construction. Whether addressing design errors, scope changes, delays, or payment disputes, he works closely with project stakeholders to identify practical solutions that mitigate risk and preserve project momentum.
Derald earned his J.D. from Penn State Dickinson School of Law and holds a B.S. and M.S. in Forest Science from Penn State. He is a member of the American Bar Association’s Forum on Construction Law and presents on topics related to risk allocation and construction contracting.
Representative Matters
Areas of Practice
Professional Activities
Derald is a member of the Boston Bar Association, Pennsylvania Bar Association and American Bar Association. Derald is also involved with the Environmental Law Institute, Society of American Foresters and Penn State Forest Resources Alumni Board.
Professional Experience
Prior to joining Goodwin, Derald was a construction and environmental associate at Fox Rothschild LLP in Pennsylvania.
While in Pennsylvania, Derald served on the Upper Uwchlan Township Planning Commission.
Derald was a summer law clerk for the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania and the U.S. Department of Justice in Washington, D.C.
While at Penn State, Derald was a Goddard Fellow and assisted in the creation of a habitat conservation bank, a program to streamline the administrative permitting process for real estate development on parcels with bog turtle habitat in southeastern Pennsylvania.
Credentials
Education
JD2007
Penn State University
Dickinson School of Law
Master of ScienceForest Resources2007
Penn State University
BSForest Science2003
Penn State University
with distinction
Admissions
Bars
- Massachusetts
- Pennsylvania
- New Jersey
Recognition & Awards
Derald was named as Pennsylvania Super Lawyer “Rising Star” in 2011, 2013, 2014, 2015 and 2016. Derald was also included in the Main Line Today Top Lawyers List in 2010 and 2011.
While attending law school, he was an articles editor and contributor for the Penn State Dickinson School of Law Environmental Law Review.
Publications
January 22, 2015
Jack Frost National Seeks Sound Alternative for PennEast Compressor
The Journal of the Pocono Plateau
January/February 2010
Habitat Conservation Banking: Profiting from Endangered Species
Journal of Forestry
December 2009
CAR's Forest Project Protocol: Potential Pitfalls May Limit Enrollment for Carbon Credits
The Forestry Source
Spring 2009
Seller Beware: Some Perils and Solutions to Leasing Oil and Gas Rights
The Allegheny News
2008
Post-Kyoto Stress Disorder: How the United States Can Influence International Climate Change Policy
Missouri Environmental Law and Policy Review
2007
A Comparison of the Hedonic Pricing Method and Assessment Value Method for Large Parcels in Chester County, Pennsylvania
Thesis, The Pennsylvania State University
2006
When Sealing the Leaks of Habitat Conservation Banking, Multiple Gaskets are Needed: The Case for Bog Turtle in Pennsylvania
14 Penn State Envtl. Law Review, 299-337
2006
Legal Tools That Provide Direct Protection for Elements of Biodiversity
Biodiversity Conservation Handbook 277-255
