With a diverse legal background, Hughes litigates multidistrict product liability litigation and commercial disputes. She brings an in-house counsel perspective to collaboration, efficiency and client service. Her experience managing compliance and corporate matters provides insight into the day-to-day challenges that clients face and the issues at play in litigation.
In 2006, Hughes began a decade-long stint as the first in-house counsel of Franklin Electric, a publicly-traded, global manufacturer headquartered in Fort Wayne, Indiana. With strong management abilities, she created the company’s legal department and compliance team and reduced Franklin’s legal spend by 50% while the company doubled in size. She also implemented an entity management system to oversee and organize 60+ subsidiaries, implemented form contracts and a contract processing site, and developed a records management system, among other leadership achievements. She oversaw all of Franklin’s legal work, including product liability, environmental, corporate, securities, employment, public company filing and acquisition matters.
Hughes earned her law degree from University of Dayton School of Law, and her graduate and undergraduate degree from Indiana University.
