Melba Hughes is a Partner in the Atlanta office of Major, Lindsey & Africa where she is a member of the In-House Practice Group. Melba has been in the legal search business for 25 years, first as a partner in Atlanta based Hughes and Sloan, and then as the founder of Hughes Consultants before joining Major, Lindsey & Africa. Representative clients include Del Monte Foods, Kenyon & Kenyon, Turner Broadcasting System, General Electric, Paul Hastings, Entergy Corporation, MetLife, Asbury Automotive Group and the Southern Poverty Law Center.
A recognized leader in the industry, Melba is frequently invited to present and participate in national conferences and seminars, and is regularly featured in the business and legal press. Speaking engagements have included Harvard Law School’s Fall Market Series, The Chief Recruiting & Professional Development Officers’ Conference, NALP’s Annual Education Conference and the No More Early Exits: Women Respond to the ABA Conference. Recent articles and quotes have appeared in prominent publications including: The Atlanta Business Chronicle, the Minority Resource Guide, The American Lawyer Magazine, Fulton County Daily Report and The Altman Weil, Inc. Newsletter.
A highly respected leader in the legal field in general and in diversity issues in particular, Melba recently presented on a panel of the Leadership Council on Legal Diversity. She has moderated a panel at the mid-year meeting of the National Association of Women Lawyers. Her contacts and expertise also extend to the world of corporate directorships.
An actively engaged professional and community leader, she has served as the Executive Director, Board Member and Officer of the National Association of Legal Search Consultants. Melba is a graduate of Leadership Atlanta and is a member of the Georgia Minority Supplier Development Council. She is a Certified Professional Career Coach and was recently selected as a member of the National Urban League’s Director Inclusion Program. She is a member of the Corporate Director’s Group. She serves on the boards of several charitable and non-profit organizations.