Stafford Rosenbaum managing partner advocates balance

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By Allison Batdorff

Christopher Hughes, a managing partner at Madison’s Stafford Rosenbaum LLP, prods those in his firm to get out there, have fun, do good; and if possible, combine all three.

“All attorneys can find something they’re passionate about and there’s probably a related organization that they can give back to,” Hughes said. “The key is doing something you personally care about and enjoy. You have to care for it really to work.”

A 48-year old Wisconsin native, Hughes loves to bike, paddle and ski, so getting involved in the Gathering Waters Conservancy and the Natural Heritage Land Trust was a “natural fit.”

His work with land trusts is a natural extension of his suit-and-tie work with Stafford Rosenbaum on general municipal, land use and real estate law.

“My work in real estate and land use flows into the community involvement and creating partnerships to protect conservation property,” Hughes said.

Plus, he gets to enjoy with fruits of his labor by getting outdoors with his family on the land he helps protect.

Hughes said his love of water started early on, as he was born in Hawaii in a military community. But he might have left too young for the “aloha spirit” to really sink in, he said.

“I’d like to think I have some, but I doubt it,” he laughed.

Wisconsin Law Journal: What do you consider your biggest achievement to date?
Hughes: A great 25-year marriage and two wonderful kids.

WLJ: If you hadn’t become a lawyer, what would you have done?
Hughes: Photojournalist – the dream of every young high school newspaper photographer.

WLJ: Finish this sentence: Happiness is …
Hughes: a warm, sunny spring day.

WLJ: Finish this sentence: Misery is…
Hughes: Three weeks of gray drizzle.

WLJ: What famous person you would most like to have a drink with?
Hughes: My grandfather, Lewis Magnusen, who practiced law for 62 years in Oshkosh.

WLJ: What is your favorite thing to do in Wisconsin?
Hughes: Paddling, biking, cross-country skiing.

WLJ: What is the first concert you went to?
Hughes: Dave Brubeck

WLJ: If you could change one thing about yourself, what would it be?
Hughes: I can only change one?

WLJ: What is your favorite “slang” saying? Your least favorite?
Hughes: Gobsmacked; dude

WLJ: What advice would you give someone just graduating from law school?
Hughes: Most legal issues involve multiple substantive areas of the law. Don’t be afraid to seek broad experience in addition to focusing on an area of the law.