Practice Areas
Construction Law

Admissions
State Bar of California

Affiliations
American Arbitration Association panel for arbitration and mediation of Large, Complex Construction Disputes (LCCP); Legal Advisory Committee, Associated General Contractors of California; American Trial Lawyer's Association; American Bar Association

Education
Hastings College of the Law, University of California (J.D., 1972)
University of the Pacific (B.A., 1969)

Experience

Mr. Hughes is one of the top construction litigators in the United States. He has served as lead counsel on over 100 jury trials. In the last ten years he has been the lead counsel in four jury trials lasting a total of 27 weeks—all of which resulted in significant successful conclusions for his clients. In addition, he led 36 weeks of court or arbitration hearings that went on to successful awards or judgments in 15 different proceedings, and headed over 65 mediations resolving over $1 billion of construction disputes. He has also have served as lead counsel in several significant appellate court cases resulting to published decisions including Arntz Builders v. Sup. Ct. (County of Contra Costa) (2004) 122 Cal. App. 4th 1195 and Diede Construction, Inc. v. Monterey Mechanical Co. (2004) 125 Cal. App. 4th 380..

Mr. Hughes’s work on these and other cases lead to his being recognized as one of the Best Lawyers in America 2007, one of 95 Best Lawyers in the East Bay 2007, and as a Northern California Super Lawyer 2006, 2007, and again in 2008.

Seminars and Publications

• "Effect of Toe Excavation on a Deep Bedrock Landslide," with Timothy D. Stark et al, Journal of Performance of Constructed Facilities (2005)
• “Tricks, Traps, and Ploys Used in Construction Scheduling in California,” Lorman Seminar (2004)
• “Managing the Troubled Project,” Session Chair, Construction Superconference, San Francisco (2002)
• “Project Labor Agreements on Federal Projects,” News in Brief (2002)
• “Use of Project Neutrals on Complex Projects,” Forbes Magazine Conference on Privatization (1997)
• “California and Federal False Claims Acts,” Association of General Contractors Legal Advisory Committee (1996)
• "Dispute Avoidance Through Partnering," International Commerce Commission in Brussels (1995)

Memberships and Committees

• Member of the Legal Advisory Committee, California Associated General Contractors, since 1982
• Member of the American Arbitration Association Dispute Resolution Panel for Complex Construction Cases Memberships and Committees (continued)
• Member of the University of California Advisory Committee on Standard General Conditions (Mr. Hughes was the only nonaffiliated attorney asked to be on the committee and was the only appointee nominated by both the University and the AGC.)
• Member of the Associated General Contractors of California Committee on Working with Office of Statewide Health Planning & Development
• Chair of the AGC/OSHPD Liaison Committee 2006, 2007
• Former chair of the AGC Standard Form Committee

Honors

• 2008, 2007, 2006 Northern California Super Lawyer
• 2007 Who’s Who Legal: California
• 2006 Best Lawyers, California Construction
• Best Lawyers in America, Construction
• Best 95 Lawyers in East Bay