Hugh is a Partner at Valin Partners LLP. His practice is a general practice including Civil Litigation, Real Estate, Wills and Estates, Family and Collaborative Family law.  He has been a practicing Lawyer since March of 1972.  Hugh and Jeffrey Froud practiced law for many years as McLachlan Froud LLP, before joining Valin Partners LLP in 2019.

Hugh is a native of Ottawa where he attended Glebe High School and Carleton University where he attained a B.A.  He graduated from the Ottawa University Law School.  As a summer student he worked at the Law Department of the Ottawa City Hall.  He worked in Toronto briefly as a practicing Lawyer for George Miller before coming to North Bay where he joined Jean Jacques Blais in the practice of law.  He was at one time the local Chair of the Canada Pension Board Review Tribunal.

Hugh has always been involved in the community. He is a Past President of the North Bay and District Chamber of Commerce, a Past Chair of the North Bay Crisis Centre and has sat on other community boards.  He is presently a Board Member of LIPI (Low Income People Involvement of Nipissing), and a director of the A.C.T. Service Club.

Hugh continues to play hockey for the IL Eagles Hockey team.  He values the camaraderie of the friends he has made through hockey and other sports.

Hugh is married to Rosanne, they have two children, Rachel and Amanda, both of whom grew up in North Bay.  They are now pursuing their careers in Pembroke and Sault Ste. Marie.