As filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on July 27, 2005

Registration No. 333-______


SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
Washington, D.C. 20549

_________________

FORM S-8
REGISTRATION STATEMENT
Under
THE SECURITIES ACT OF 1933

_________________

HUDSON HIGHLAND GROUP, INC.
(Exact name of registrant as specified in its charter)

Delaware 59-3547281
(State or other jurisdiction of (I.R.S. Employer
incorporation or organization) Identification No.)


622 Third Avenue
New York, New York 10017
(Address of principal executive offices) (Zip Code)

Hudson Highland Group, Inc. Long Term Incentive Plan
(Full title of the plan)

_________________

Latham Williams Copy to:
Vice President, Legal Affairs and Administration,
Corporate Secretary Benjamin F. Garmer, III
Hudson Highland Group, Inc. Foley & Lardner LLP
10 South Wacker Drive, Suite 2600 777 East Wisconsin Avenue
Chicago, Illinois 60606 Milwaukee, Wisconsin 53202
(312) 795-4216 (414) 271-2400
(Name, address and telephone number,
including area code, of agent for service)

_________________

CALCULATION OF REGISTRATION FEE
Title of
Securities to be
Registered

Amount
to be
Registered (1)

Proposed Maximum
Offering Price
Per Share

Proposed Maximum
Aggregate Offering
Price

Amount of
Registration Fee

Common Stock, 1,200,000 shares $18.17 (2) $21,804 $2,567
$.001 par value

Preferred Stock 1,200,000 rights (3) (3) (3)
Purchase Rights

(1) Pursuant to Rule 416 under the Securities Act of 1933, this Registration Statement also covers an indeterminate number of additional shares of Common Stock that may become issuable as a result of stock splits, stock dividends or similar transactions pursuant to the anti-dilution provisions of the Hudson Highland Group, Inc. Long Term Incentive Plan.

(2) Estimated pursuant to Rule 457(c) and (h) under the Securities Act of 1933 solely for the purpose of calculating the registration fee based on the average of the high and low prices for Hudson Highland Group, Inc. Common Stock on The Nasdaq National Market on July 21, 2005.

(3) The value attributable to the Preferred Stock Purchase Rights is reflected in the market price of the Common Stock to which the Rights are attached.

_________________


STATEMENT PURSUANT TO GENERAL INSTRUCTION E TO FORM S-8

        On April 1, 2003 and June 30, 2004, Hudson Highland Group, Inc. (the “Registrant”), filed Registration Statements on Form S-8 (File Nos. 333-104209 and 333-117005) to register 1,000,000 shares and 500,000 shares, respectively, of the Registrant’s Common Stock, par value $.001 per share (the “Common Stock”), issuable under the Hudson Highland Group, Inc. Long Term incentive Plan (the “Incentive Plan”). As a result of the two-for-one stock split of the Registrant’s Common Stock paid on February 25, 2005 to holders of record as of February 14, 2005 (the “Stock Split”) and pursuant to Rule 416 under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, the number of shares of Common Stock registered under such Registration Statements increased to 2,503,626.

        On February 28, 2005, the Board of Directors of the Registrant approved an amendment to the Incentive Plan to increase the number of shares of Common Stock available under the Incentive Plan by 1,200,000 (after taking into account the Stock Split) to 3,703,626. At the Registrant’s 2005 Annual Meeting of Stockholders held on May 6, 2005, the stockholders of the Registrant approved this amendment. The purpose of this Registration Statement is to register 1,200,000 additional shares of the Common Stock (and associated preferred stock purchase rights) in connection with the Incentive Plan.

        Pursuant to General Instruction E of Form S-8, the contents of the Registrant’s Registration Statements on Form S-8 (Reg. Nos. 333-104209 and 333-117005), including the documents incorporated by reference therein, are incorporated by reference into this Registration Statement.

PART II

INFORMATION REQUIRED IN THE REGISTRATION STATEMENT

Item 8. Exhibits.

        The exhibits set forth in the accompanying Exhibit Index are filed (except where otherwise indicated) with this Registration Statement.









-2-


SIGNATURES

        Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Act of 1933, the Registrant certifies that it has reasonable grounds to believe that it meets all of the requirements for filing on Form S-8 and has duly caused this Registration Statement to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned, thereunto duly authorized, in the City of New York, State of New York, on this 27th day of July, 2005.

HUDSON HIGHLAND GROUP, INC.


 
By:  /s/ Jon F. Chait
        Jon F. Chait
        Chairman and Chief Executive Officer

        Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Act of 1933, this Registration Statement has been signed by the following persons in the capacities and on the dates indicated.

Signature Title Date
/s/ Jon F. Chait
Chairman, Chief Executive Officer and July 27, 2005
Jon F. Chait Director (Principal Executive Officer)

/s/ Richard W. Pehlke

Executive Vice President, Chief July 27, 2005
Richard W. Pehlke Financial Officer and Director
(Principal Financial Officer)

/s/ Ralph L. O'Hara

Vice President, Controller (Principal July 27, 2005
Ralph L. O'Hara Accounting Officer)

                  *

Director July 27, 2005
John J. Haley

                  *

Director July 27, 2005
Jennifer Laing

                  *

Director July 27, 2005
Nicholas G. Moore

                  *

Director July 27, 2005
David G. Offensend

                  *

Director July 27, 2005
Rene Schuster

*By: /s/ Jon F. Chait
Jon F. Chait
Attorney-in-fact

S-1


EXHIBIT INDEX

Exhibit
Number
Exhibit Description

(4.1) Hudson Highland Group, Inc. Long Term Incentive Plan, as amended. [Incorporated by reference to Annex A to the Registrant’s Definitive Proxy Statement on Schedule 14A filed on March 28, 2005 (File No. 000-50129)]

(4.2) Rights Agreement, dated as of February 2, 2005, between the Registrant and The Bank of New York [Incorporated by reference to Exhibit 4.1 to the Registrant’s Registration Statement on Form 8-A filed on February 3, 2005 (File No. 000-50129)].

(5) Opinion of Foley & Lardner LLP.

(23.1) Consent of BDO Seidman, LLP.

(23.2) Consent of Foley & Lardner LLP (filed as part of Exhibit (5)).

(24) Powers of Attorney.









E-1



FOLEY & LARDNER LLP
ATTORNEYS AT LAW
777 EAST WISCONSIN AVENUE, SUITE 3800
MILWAUKEE, WISCONSIN 53202-5306
414.271.2400  TEL
414.297.4900  FAX
www.foley.com

  July 27, 2005     

Highland Hudson Group, Inc.
622 Third Avenue
New York, New York 10017

Ladies and Gentlemen:

        We have acted as counsel for Hudson Highland Group, Inc., a Delaware corporation (the “Company”), in conjunction with the preparation of a Registration Statement on Form S-8 (the “Registration Statement”) to be filed by the Company with the Securities and Exchange Commission under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the “Securities Act”), relating to 1,200,000 additional shares of the Company’s common stock, $.001 par value (the “Common Stock”), and associated preferred share purchase rights (the “Rights”), which may be issued pursuant to the Hudson Highland Group, Inc. Long Term Incentive Plan, as amended (the “Plan”). The terms of the Rights are as set forth in that certain Rights Agreement, dated as of February 2, 2005 (the “Rights Agreement”), between the Company and The Bank of New York, as Rights Agent.

        As such counsel, we have examined: (i) the Plan; (ii) the Registration Statement; (iii) the Rights Agreement; (iv) the Company’s Restated Certificate of Incorporation and By-Laws, as amended to date; (v) resolutions of the Company’s Board of Directors relating to the Plan and the issuance of securities thereunder; and (vi) such other documents and records as we have deemed necessary to enable us to render this opinion.

        Based upon the foregoing, we are of the opinion that:

        1.        The shares of Common Stock, when issued by the Company pursuant to the terms and conditions of the Plan and as contemplated by the Registration Statement, will be validly issued, fully paid and nonassessable and no personal liability will attach to the ownership thereof.

        2.        The Rights to be issued with shares of Common Stock when issued pursuant to the Rights Agreement will be validly issued.

        We consent to the use of this opinion as an exhibit to the Registration Statement. In giving our consent, we do not admit that we are “experts” within the meaning of Section 11 of the Securities Act or within the category of persons whose consent is required by Section 7 of the Securities Act.

Very truly yours,

 
/s/ Foley & Lardner LLP


BOSTON
BRUSSELS
CHICAGO
DETROIT
JACKSONVILLE
LOS ANGELES
MADISON
MILWAUKEE
NEW YORK
ORLANDO
SACRAMENTO
SAN DIEGO
SAN DIEGO/DEL MAR
SAN FRANCISCO
SILICON VALLEY
TALLAHASSEE
TAMPA
TOKYO
WASHINGTON, D.C.
WEST PALM BEACH

Consent of Independent Registered Public Accounting Firm

Hudson Highland Group, Inc.
New York, New York

We hereby consent to the incorporation by reference in this Registration Statement on Form S-8 of our reports dated March 8, 2005, relating to the consolidated financial statements, the effectiveness of Hudson Highland Group, Inc.‘s internal control over financial reporting and the schedule of Hudson Highland Group, Inc. appearing in the Company’s Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2004.

/s/ BDO Seidman, LLP
New York, New York

July 27, 2005

POWER OF ATTORNEY

KNOW ALL PERSONS BY THESE PRESENTS, That I

John J. Haley

hereby constitute and appoint Jon F. Chait, Richard W. Pehlke and Latham Williams, and each of them individually, my true and lawful attorney-in-fact and agent, with full power of substitution and resubstitution, for me and in my name, place and stead, in any and all capacities, to sign my name as a director of Hudson Highland Group, Inc. (the “Company”) to any post-effective amendments or supplements to the Registration Statement on Form S-8 (Registration No. 333-104209), relating to the shares of common stock to be issued by the Company pursuant to the Hudson Highland Group, Inc. Long Term Incentive Plan, and to file the same, with all exhibits thereto, and other documents in connection therewith, with the Securities and Exchange Commission in connection with the registration of the above-referenced shares of common stock under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended.

        I hereby ratify and confirm all that said attorneys-in-fact and agents, or each of them, have done or shall lawfully do by virtue of this Power of Attorney.

        WITNESS my hand this 27th day of July, 2005.

  /s/ John J. Haley
John J. Haley


POWER OF ATTORNEY

KNOW ALL PERSONS BY THESE PRESENTS, That I

Jennifer Laing

hereby constitute and appoint Jon F. Chait, Richard W. Pehlke and Latham Williams, and each of them individually, my true and lawful attorney-in-fact and agent, with full power of substitution and resubstitution, for me and in my name, place and stead, in any and all capacities, to sign my name as a director of Hudson Highland Group, Inc. (the “Company”) to any post-effective amendments or supplements to the Registration Statement on Form S-8 (Registration No. 333-104209), relating to the shares of common stock to be issued by the Company pursuant to the Hudson Highland Group, Inc. Long Term Incentive Plan, and to file the same, with all exhibits thereto, and other documents in connection therewith, with the Securities and Exchange Commission in connection with the registration of the above-referenced shares of common stock under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended.

        I hereby ratify and confirm all that said attorneys-in-fact and agents, or each of them, have done or shall lawfully do by virtue of this Power of Attorney.

        WITNESS my hand this 27th day of July, 2005.

  /s/ Jennifer Laing
Jennifer Laing


POWER OF ATTORNEY

KNOW ALL PERSONS BY THESE PRESENTS, That I

Nicholas G. Moore

hereby constitute and appoint Jon F. Chait, Richard W. Pehlke and Latham Williams, and each of them individually, my true and lawful attorney-in-fact and agent, with full power of substitution and resubstitution, for me and in my name, place and stead, in any and all capacities, to sign my name as a director of Hudson Highland Group, Inc. (the “Company”) to any post-effective amendments or supplements to the Registration Statement on Form S-8 (Registration No. 333-104209), relating to the shares of common stock to be issued by the Company pursuant to the Hudson Highland Group, Inc. Long Term Incentive Plan, and to file the same, with all exhibits thereto, and other documents in connection therewith, with the Securities and Exchange Commission in connection with the registration of the above-referenced shares of common stock under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended.

        I hereby ratify and confirm all that said attorneys-in-fact and agents, or each of them, have done or shall lawfully do by virtue of this Power of Attorney.

        WITNESS my hand this 27th day of July, 2005.

  /s/ Nicholas G. Moore
Nicholas G. Moore


POWER OF ATTORNEY

KNOW ALL PERSONS BY THESE PRESENTS, That I

David G. Offensend

hereby constitute and appoint Jon F. Chait, Richard W. Pehlke and Latham Williams, and each of them individually, my true and lawful attorney-in-fact and agent, with full power of substitution and resubstitution, for me and in my name, place and stead, in any and all capacities, to sign my name as a director of Hudson Highland Group, Inc. (the “Company”) to any post-effective amendments or supplements to the Registration Statement on Form S-8 (Registration No. 333-104209), relating to the shares of common stock to be issued by the Company pursuant to the Hudson Highland Group, Inc. Long Term Incentive Plan, and to file the same, with all exhibits thereto, and other documents in connection therewith, with the Securities and Exchange Commission in connection with the registration of the above-referenced shares of common stock under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended.

        I hereby ratify and confirm all that said attorneys-in-fact and agents, or each of them, have done or shall lawfully do by virtue of this Power of Attorney.

        WITNESS my hand this 27th day of July, 2005.

  /s/ David G. Offensend
David G. Offensend


POWER OF ATTORNEY

KNOW ALL PERSONS BY THESE PRESENTS, That I

René Schuster

hereby constitute and appoint Jon F. Chait, Richard W. Pehlke and Latham Williams, and each of them individually, my true and lawful attorney-in-fact and agent, with full power of substitution and resubstitution, for me and in my name, place and stead, in any and all capacities, to sign my name as a director of Hudson Highland Group, Inc. (the “Company”) to any post-effective amendments or supplements to the Registration Statement on Form S-8 (Registration No. 333-104209), relating to the shares of common stock to be issued by the Company pursuant to the Hudson Highland Group, Inc. Long Term Incentive Plan, and to file the same, with all exhibits thereto, and other documents in connection therewith, with the Securities and Exchange Commission in connection with the registration of the above-referenced shares of common stock under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended.

        I hereby ratify and confirm all that said attorneys-in-fact and agents, or each of them, have done or shall lawfully do by virtue of this Power of Attorney.

        WITNESS my hand this 27th day of July, 2005.

  /s/ René Schuster
René Schuster