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.
San Francisco Judge Blocks Administration from Terminating TPS Designation for Venezuela
A federal district judge in San Francisco on Monday temporarily blocked the Trump administration from terminating deportation protections for 350,000 Venezuelan migrants who were admitted under the 2023 Temporary Protected Status (TPS) designation. The case is National TPS Alliance v. Noem, No. 3:25-cv-01766 (N.D. Cal., Injunction issued 3/28/25.) The District Court judge found the plaintiffs were likely to succeed in showing the termination of TPS protections by Department of Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem was unlawful, arbitrary and capricious, and motivated by unconstitutional animus.
