David Hugley

As the vice president, general counsel, and corporate secretary for National Instruments, David Hugley is a member of the NI executive leadership team, assisting with setting and implementing the company’s overall strategic direction and advising the CEO and executive leaders.

Hugley serves in a hands-on, proactive role, managing the legal department; coordinating a broad range of legal, contractual, and administrative matters; and counseling on the business and legal ramifications of significant strategic imperatives, including numerous acquisitions and other investments. Hugley is also engaged in corporate and securities law in the United States and internationally.

An important aspect of Hugley's role involves leading intellectual property (IP) lawyers to proactively work with the engineering department to identify new technologies and act to protect those assets. This includes the development of IP through R&D in China, Germany, India, Romania, and the United States. More than 610 patents worldwide have been issued to NI during Hugley’s tenure.

Since joining NI in 1991, Hugley has identified risk and developed risk mitigation strategies globally, managing the company’s administrative and legal obligations in creating branch offices, R&D facilities, and manufacturing sites in more than 40 countries.

In 1995, Hugley played a key role in transitioning NI from a privately owned business to a publicly traded company on the NASDAQ stock exchange. In 2001, he was pivotal in establishing the company’s first overseas manufacturing facility in Hungary.

Hugley was promoted to his current role as a vice president in 2003. Today, Hugley and his team have proven their problem-solving skills around the globe by negotiating and structuring contracts for sales and distribution, resolving disputes, and participating in developing best practices and processes.

Hugley received a bachelor's degree in finance and his degree in jurisprudence from The University of Texas at Austin.