It is with heavy hearts that we announce the passing of our founder, friend and emotional leader, Mike Hughes. Mike passed away December 23, 2024, following a 13-month battle with cancer. He was surrounded by friends and family in his final days while never losing his wit, sarcasm and incredible sense of humor.

Mike and John Gill founded Hughes & Gill in 2002. Mike had a very specific vision for his law firm and workplace culture. He wanted everyone to get along and care about one another; he wanted it to feel like a family – his own workplace family. Mike succeeded and saw his vision realized – and now we are grieving the loss of a family member.

Mike was an amazing lawyer and mentor, but he was an even better person and friend.

He always asked about, and truly wanted to hear about, each of our lives outside of the office. We also know that many of you who worked with him had a similar experience. Mike retired in 2022, but continued to work in an “Of Counsel” capacity until recently, attending virtual meetings and gracing our office hallways with his trademark whistling and laughter all along. His visits to the office were always cause for celebration – Mike was the life of the party and the fun-loving spirit of our firm. His presence will continue to be felt and his influence will live on. “WWMD” (What Would Mike Do?) is working its way into our office lexicon, as a respectful remembrance and also for purposes of reflective guidance.

There are not yet any immediate plans for a memorial service or celebration of life, but we expect something to be planned in the foreseeable future. If you would like to be informed of such a gathering if/when it is planned, please contact any one of us. Also, we welcome you to share any “Mike stories” with us – we would love to hear them, and they are comforting.

Areas of Expertise

All aspects of CID operations
Governing document interpretation, enforcement and revision
Association transition from developer control

Litigation, mediation and arbitration
Member disputes

Homeowner association representation is a highly personalized practice area, requiring a combination of specialized legal insight and interpersonal skills not found in your typical attorney. Mike’s professional gravitas combined with the ability to find humor in most aspect of daily life makes this field a perfect fit.

“The best thing about my job? You get to help people resolve disputes so they can get on with their lives.” Mike continues, “There’s nothing better than being presented with a problem, often driven by emotion, and figuring out a way to fix it. This is all I’ve done since 1983, and I’m pretty sure I’ve seen it all.”

In addition to innumerable presentations to industry attorneys, community association managers, and HOA boards of directors, Mike has testified before legislative subcommittees in Sacramento regarding various proposed laws and their impact on the CID industry, served on the legal steering committee of industry organizations, and has been invited back to his alma mater, Hastings College of the Law, to judge trial practice classes.

Experience & Background

Founding HGCT shareholder
Exclusively representing HOAs in all aspects of CID operations for 35 years
Prior to 1983, focused on commercial real estate law with an emphasis on construction and development
Experienced litigator
Counsels homeowner, real estate and legal communities regarding the legal aspects of buying and selling property within common interest developments
Highly regarded speaker on all aspects of community association law

Industry Involvement

Community Associations Institute (CAI)

California Association of Community Managers (CACM)

Credentialing faculty

Educational Community for Homeowners (ECHO)

Professional Affiliations

Consumer Attorneys of California

Education

University of California, Hastings College of the Law

University of California at Santa Barbara

Bachelor of Arts degrees, with Honors, in Political Science and History

Bar Admissions

California

Northern District of California

Eastern District of California

GET TO KNOW MIKE

San Francisco native and seventh generation Californian. Spent the summer after his junior year in high school hand chopping 100-pound bags of onions in a prep kitchen for an Italian and a Chinese restaurant. His office collection of animatronic stuffed creatures includes a cymbal-playing monkey, full sized pink flamingo, singing gorilla, and a motion-activated croaking frog. Climbed Mt. Whitney.

FUN FACTS:

U.S. Army veteran
Whistles incessantly
Grandmother was Miss Yolo Causeway (1917)

Mike’s musical taste runs from big band to AC/DC, Neil Young to Lady Gaga.

Community Involvement

Court appointed Special Advocates (CASA) For Children, Contra Costa County
cccocasa.org

Presentations & Publications

Frequent speaker regarding all aspects of community association law. Industry associations and events include:

Community Associations Institute (CAI) National Convention
Community Associations Institute (CAI)
Educational Community for Homeowners (ECHO)
California Association of Community Managers (CACM)
Building Owners and Managers Association (BOMA)
Institute of Real Estate Management (IREM)
Consumer Attorneys of California

Avoid Deferred Maintenance Mayhem

Spring Regional Forum – Sacramento; May 2019
California Association of Community Managers (CACM)

High Rise Community Management Course

California Association of Community Managers (CACM)
2015, 2016, 2017

California Common Interest Development Law Course

Community Associations Institute (CAI), Bay Area/Central California Chapter
2013, 2014, 2015, 2016

New Legislation and Case Law

Northern California Annual Law Seminar and Expo
California Association of Community Managers (CACM)
General session; 10+ years

Various Law Modules

Instructor – core courses required for Certified Community Association Manager (“CCAM”) designation
California Association of Community Managers (CACM)

Core Legal Courses

Instructor – courses required for Real Property Administrator (RPA) certification
Building Owners and Managers Association (BOMA)
2000, 2001

SB 800 – “Right to Repair” Construction Defect Law

Association of Defense Counsel

Mold Litigation; Premises Liability

Lorman Education Services

Avoiding Contract Traps – What to Watch Out for and the Benefits of Legal Review

The Communicator; Fall 2013
Community Association Institute (CAI), Bay Area/Central California Chapter

Michael J. Hughes

Of Counsel Founding Shareholder

mhughes@hughes-gill.com

PRACTICE AREAS

HOA Governance & Transactions | Director & Industry Education High-Rise Representation | Developer Transition

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