Estate Planning: John Hughes is proof that the American Dream is alive and well in New Hampshire. The grandson of Irish immigrants who worked the mills of Manchester, John went from Manchester West High School to building one of the region’s most innovative estate planning practices over the past three decades.

John earned degrees from Saint Anselm College (B.A., Business Administration, honors, Varsity Ski Team), Catholic University’s Columbus School of Law (J.D., honors), and a graduate level law degree in Taxation from Boston University School of Law (LL.M., Taxation).

John has been with McLane Middleton for more than three decades and is a Director in the Trusts & Estates Department where he serves on the firm’s Management Committee and runs what he calls a “next generation estate planning practice”—high-tech, systematized, and built for efficiency and the highest quality.

John’s approach to estate planning is refreshingly practical. He focuses on helping families navigate the complex intersection of tax law, succession planning, and wealth preservation. He’s particularly passionate about making sophisticated estate planning accessible and efficient, leveraging technology and flat-fee structures to serve clients quickly and effectively.

Beyond the Office:  When he’s not planning estates, you’ll find John on the slopes as a USSA licensed ski coach, on his off-road motorcycle competing in endurance events across the country, or wake surfing on New Hampshire’s lakes. He’s deeply involved in the community and is the Chair of McLane Middleton’s Community Service Committee, having served on the boards of United Way (25+ years) and Rebuilding Together, co-chaired the Annual Bishop’s Fund, and graduated from New Hampshire’s premier leadership program, Leadership New Hampshire.

He lives in Bedford with his wife Pamela, a middle school science teacher he met in high school. Thirty plus years of marriage later, they have three children: Morgan (also an accomplished lawyer), Nicholas (an Army officer), and Arianna (the favorite child).

Licensed to Practice: New Hampshire, Massachusetts, Washington, D.C.

Recognition Where It Counts: Best Lawyers in America (Trusts & Estates, 2006-present), Lawyer of the Year 2019, Chambers USA, New England Super Lawyers, and Martindale-Hubbell Distinguished Peer Review Rated. More importantly, he’s built a practice his clients actually enjoy working with.