Hugh has more than 15 years of experience in dedicated arbitration counsel work. He has represented clients in high-value and complex international and domestic arbitrations in a range of industry sectors, including energy, telecommunications, mining, construction, sports and entertainment, insurance, logistics, IT, and real property, as well as under ad hoc and institutional rules including the ICC, LCIA, UNCITRAL, ICDR, AAA, VanIAC, DIAC, and ADRIC. Hugh also acts as counsel for athletes and sports organizations in sports-related disputes before the SDRCC and in other sports-related forums.
In 2021, Who's Who Legal: Arbitration named him one of ten "Most Highly Regarded" partners under 45 in the Americas. In 2022, he was named as one of Canada's leading lawyers under 40 by Lexpert.
As a Fellow of the Chartered Institute of Arbitrators (FCIArb), Hugh has acted as a sole arbitrator in arbitrations involving procurement and real property disputes, as well as the discipline chair and appeals officer for certain sports associations.
In addition to articles and book chapters on arbitration, Hugh co-authored the Guide to the PCA Arbitration Rules, published by Oxford University Press, and is an adjunct professor of two courses (international commercial arbitration and sports arbitration) at Osgoode Hall Law School. He also maintains an active pro bono practice and was recognized at the 2022 Canada Law Awards for spearheading the “Pro Bono Initiative of the Year" to assist vulnerable Afghans.
Prior to joining BLG, Hugh practiced for five years in London and Dubai in the international arbitration group of Freshfields Bruckhaus Deringer LLP. He was previously assistant legal counsel at the Permanent Court of Arbitration in The Hague, where he was the McGill Law fellow and supported arbitral tribunals presiding over international investment arbitrations.