Riker Danzig mourns the death of The Hon. William (“Bill”) J. Hughes, former member of the U.S. House of Representatives, former Ambassador to Panama, and former Of Counsel to Riker Danzig. Bill passed away on October 30, 2019.
Bill represented New Jersey’s Second Congressional District from 1975 to 1995, serving as a member of the House Judiciary Committee, and chairing the Subcommittees on Crime and on Intellectual Property and Judicial Administration. He was then appointed by President Bill Clinton to serve as the United States Ambassador to Panama, leading up to the historic turnover of the Panama Canal to Panamanian control.
In 2000, he joined Riker Danzig as Of Counsel in our Governmental Affairs practice, providing counsel to clients on working with federal and State government on a wide variety of issues. Highly regarded for his statesmanship, his wisdom was only surpassed by his graciousness. Riker Danzig partners and associates benefited from his unparalleled insights on both client relations and the national and statewide political system.
Bill is rightly considered a New Jersey icon, and we were honored to have him in our midst. Our deepest condolences go to his loved ones and friends.
