James L. Hughes, a Principal in the firm, represents employers in all aspects of labor and employment law with particular emphasis on executive compensation, ERISA, employee benefits, employment contracts, and immigration.
Jim represents public and private companies and tax-exempt organizations in complex employment and executive compensation matters. He negotiates individual employment and severance agreements, separation and change-in-control agreements, and retention and bonus programs. He also designs, drafts and oversees retirement and welfare plans, deferred compensation and stock options.
Jim counsels companies on human resources concerns such as management training, OSHA compliance, and immigration matters including worksite enforcement. He also conducts internal employment audits.
College & Community
Jim is a magna cum laude graduate of Lambuth College and later graduated from Vanderbilt University School of Law where he was Executive Editor of the Vanderbilt Law Review. He frequently speaks on a variety of employment law issues.
He has a long history of civic involvement with a focus on initiatives to help young people succeed. He was on the Board of the Student Finance Foundation of Georgia (SFFG). Through its REACH program, SFFG provides financing through the State of Georgia to provide low-income students access to scholarships and low interest loans.
A former AAU basketball coach, he has also coached soccer and softball. He was a former director of the North American Baptist Education Foundation and now leads Bible studies at Peachtree Corners Baptist Church and in the community.
Prevent Court Cases & Avoid Class Actions – Pros & Cons of Arbitration Agreements in Company Policies
Did you know that the ten highest-grossing wage-and-hour settlements in 2022 were worth more than $574 million combined? Similarly, the ten highest settlements in class employment discrimination cases in 2022 total $597 million. At the same time, defense attorneys complain about “runaway juries” and “nuclear verdicts.”
What if there was a device by which adding a provision to an employment application could legally stop all class and collective actions, keep claims out of court, and avoid juries entirely? There is, it is called an individual arbitration agreement, which can be part of a job application. This webinar will examine the pros and cons of using individual arbitration agreements.
