Mr. Hughes’ Practice

Francis J. Hughes concentrates his practice on counseling businesses in all aspects of their operations, including real estate transactions, employment issues, creditor’s rights, contract negotiations and acquisitions.

Mr. Hughes has represented clients in a wide variety of real estate transactions in Wisconsin and throughout the United States, as counsel for both buyers and sellers. These transactions have included purchases, sales, tax-deferred exchanges and financing transactions. He regularly represents landlords and tenants in connection with commercial, office and retail lease negotiations.

A significant part of Mr. Hughes’ practice involves drafting and negotiating a wide variety of contracts, and counseling clients on contract matters. These contracts include purchase and sale agreements, contracts for the provision of a wide variety of services, non-compete agreements, confidentiality and non-disclosure agreements, terms and conditions of sale and supply agreements.

Mr. Hughes also counsels businesses on employment and personnel issues, including all types of employment discrimination claims. Employment questions can become very complicated for even seasoned human resources departments, as both federal and state laws are often involved and may not dictate consistent answers. Mr. Hughes has also drafted and negotiated many non-compete agreements and separation agreements between employees and employers.

He has extensive experience representing creditors in bankruptcy and in state court receivership actions. This representation has included the successful defense of millions of dollars of preference claims and representation of landlords whose tenants have sought the protection of the courts. Mr. Hughes has also represented purchasers of business assets from secured parties.

Mr. Hughes has represented many borrowers in commercial lending transactions, including real estate financing, asset based lending and industrial revenue bond projects, from various types of lenders, including banks, insurance companies and private investors. He has also served as local counsel to out of state lenders such as insurance or finance companies.

Primary Practice Areas

• Commercial Real Estate Acquisition and Sale
• Commercial Real Estate Leasing Transactions
• Contract Negotiations
• Business Transactions
• Financing Transactions
• Employment Discrimination Counseling
• Various Employment Related Counseling
• Creditor’s Rights

Professional Summary

Education

• Marquette University Law School, J.D., 1988
• St. John’s University, B.S., 1985

Bar Admissions

• Wisconsin State Bar
• U.S. District Court, Eastern District of Wisconsin
• Pro Hac Vice in various states

Professional Affiliations

• American Bar Association (Business Law and Labor Employment Law Sections)
• State Bar of Wisconsin (Business Law and Real Property Law Sections)
• Milwaukee Bar Association (Corporate, Banking, Business, Labor and Employment, and Intellectual Property Sections)

Professional Acheivements

• Martindale – Hubbell AV® Peer Review Rated

Biography

Mr. Hughes is married with four children. He enjoys many outdoor hobbies such as backpacking, canoeing, camping, bicycling, alpine skiing and golf, particularly when he can participate with his family. He is the Troop Committee Chairman for his son’s Boy Scout Troop and has, at various times, been involved in coaching his children’s sports teams. Mr. Hughes frequently volunteers in various ways for his church and regularly performs pro bono legal services for the Boys and Girls Clubs of Greater Milwaukee, Inc.