Joshua A. Hughes

Josh Hughes has dedicated over twenty years to navigating the complex legal issues faced by employers and educational institutions. With a unique perspective shaped by his experience in both private practice and in-house roles, Josh has a proven track record of preventing and resolving legal challenges. His extensive career includes more than a decade as General Counsel at a private, midwestern university, where he provided expert legal advice while considering the practical implications of his guidance in real-world work environments.

Josh’s background includes significant experience within human resources departments in the healthcare and higher education sectors. This has given him a deep understanding of the unique demands faced by HR professionals and the expert legal guidance they require. He is well-equipped to assist employers with a wide range of legal matters, including administrative charges, leaves of absence, unemployment claims, wage and hour compliance, executive contracts, severance agreements, and performance concerns.

In his role as General Counsel and executive leader at a university, Josh has developed a keen ability to quickly grasp the legal needs of education clients. He regularly handles issues such as Office of Civil Rights complaints, discrimination, harassment, FERPA, Title IX, Clery Act, NCAA compliance, faculty concerns, student disciplinary matters, and crisis communications with in-depth knowledge and expertise. Additionally, Josh has addressed many legal issues pertaining to disability access related to students, employees, and the public, including academic support, housing, support and therapy animals, and physical plant accessibility concerns.

Josh completed his undergraduate education at Ohio University before earning his Juris Doctor, cum laude, from Michigan State University. He has been a featured speaker at several industry conferences, sharing his insights on legal issues in higher education and employment law.

Outside of his professional life, Josh enjoys traveling, attending sporting events, and engaging in an intense game of pickleball.