Forty Under 40; Brian Hogue

Brian Hogue earned respect within the area’s legal community for his mediation skills and ability to find resolution in challenging family law cases. Other attorneys refer clients to him for mediation and praise his calm demeanor, understanding of the law and ability to listen and empathize.

Hogue has a busy general law practice — roughly half is family law mediation. He is also the city attorney for Goshen. Hogue was raised in Fayetteville, and his father Curtis and brother David also are attorneys.

Hogue earned two degrees at the University of Arkansas. After finishing a business degree in Fayetteville, he worked for National Home Centers as a commodities buyer and ran the company’s millwork division. He completed law school at the University of Arkansas Little Rock in 2009. He began his legal career with Wright Lindsey Jennings. In 2011, he established a firm with his brother David in Fayetteville.

Mediation is a specialty within the law that can help members of families reach custody, support and property agreements to avoid trial. A mediator needs patience, the ability to relate to people of varying backgrounds, and to make people comfortable enough to confront private and emotional issues, he said.

“I’m a true believer in the process. I help people see possible scenarios they hadn’t thought of,” he said. “Early on, I felt the law was something I could be good at. I like relating to people and helping people resolve their problems.”

Hogue served on a UA committee to handle Title IX appeals and spent two terms on Fayetteville’s Construction Board of Adjustments and Appeals. He was named 2014 Volunteer Attorney of the Year for his representation of indigent clients in the Fourth Judicial District. He is a candidate for judge in the Fourth Judicial Circuit.