hughes CONSULTANTS LLC is a generalist executive search firm with a particular emphasis on recruiting for legal function roles.  Our consultants are veterans of the leading search firms in the country. With more than 40 years of collective recruiting experience, our search practice has a national scope. 

As a client, you can expect us to view each search assignment in the context of a long-term professional relationship.  This means that we will take the time to understand your organization, its particular hiring needs and long-term strategic goals.

We depart from prevailing industry conventions in several material ways.  First of all, we approach each new engagement with original, assignment-specific research.  A senior consultant handles all phases of our search execution process, including initial contacts with sources and prospects.  Our select client roster assures few “off-limits” conflicts, and we disclose to all potential clients the identity of the organizations from which we cannot recruit.  We never recruit talent from one client to another.  And, since we are unburdened by the cost structure of our multi-office competitors, we are flexible in our fee arrangements.  

In the legal recruiting part of our practice, we are pioneering a retained approach to search execution as a complement to our contingency work.  It is particularly effective in recruiting for general counsel, practice management and other senior roles.

You should also know that as a certified minority and woman-owned firm, we take pride in our ability to develop a diverse slate of candidates for every search assignment.



"Melba is knowledgeable, well-connected, efficient and cost-effective; she has an exceptional ability to partner with her clients. Melba helped quickly build the Law Department of a multi-billion dollar financial institution with highly competent, personable attorneys. She is a joy to work with."

James G. Potter General Counsel of Del Monte Foods

"Melba is an outstanding legal search consultant and professional. While serving as a general counsel of a large global business, I retained her on numerous occasions and consider her to be the best in her field. She is responsive and timely. Her candidate slates are always "on point" with a client's specifications and needs. I highly recommend her and her team of search consultants."

"It is really refreshing to see people who actually produce what they promise. In this case, I think you and your team have actually done more than you promised, as I believe we are several months ahead of your targeted date for landing our first lateral partner."