Josh Lanning brings considerable trial and litigation experience to his cases with a wide-ranging background in complex commercial disputes.

Overview

Josh has tried and won numerous cases to jury verdict and has successfully argued state and federal appeals in areas ranging from constitutional law to securities entitlements. Josh focuses his practice on class action defense, antitrust and commercial litigation, including matters involving state and federal antitrust laws; complex contractual disputes; fraud and other business torts; Civil RICO; unfair commercial practices; securities fraud; intellectual property; and fiduciary duties. In addition, Josh has managed multiple internal investigations for clients including Fortune 500 companies, financial institutions, and local government bodies.

Josh has represented plaintiffs and defendants in state and federal courts throughout North Carolina as well as in a number of other jurisdictions, having litigated significant disputes on behalf of his clients in Connecticut, Massachusetts, New York, New Jersey, Florida, Maine, Georgia, Utah, Nebraska, Texas, and Louisiana. His clients are a diverse set of people and businesses ranging from individuals and families to large national and international banking institutions.

In addition, Josh has made pro bono matters an important part of his litigation practice. His experience includes representing prisoners in need of adequate medical care; advocating for special needs children requesting special education services under the federal Individuals with Disabilities Education Act; helping battered spouses obtain protective orders; representing families facing eviction; and assisting in obtaining debt relief for low-income families who were victims of a nationwide fraud ring.  In 2023 Josh partnered with the NC NAACP, North Carolina Disability Rights, and Children’s Rights to file claims on behalf of a class of disabled foster children unnecessarily held in psychiatric residential treatment facilities.

Prior to joining the firm, Josh worked for five years as an associate at a prominent litigation firm in New Haven, Connecticut.

Representative Experience

In connection with his commercial matters, Josh has:

  • Defended a large financial institution in multiple class actions asserting anti-competitive practices arising from alleged manipulation of foreign exchange markets;
  • Defended class claims against a financial institution in class action arising from an independent investment advisor’s Ponzi scheme;
  • Defended several prominent construction companies against competitors’ Civil RICO claims alleging public bid-rigging scheme;
  • Tried to jury and won a multi-million dollar claim against a national home warranty company alleging negligent supervision/retention resulting in the wrongful death of two individuals from carbon monoxide poisoning;
  • Tried to jury and won a significant breach of contract action related to the assignment of digital royalty payments by a popular hip hop artist;
  • Tried to jury and won a wage and hour action against a regional building supply company after successfully opposing named-plaintiffs bid to certify proposed class;
  • Represented a family business in action for securities fraud to recoup multi-million-dollar investment funds obtained by material misrepresentation;
  • Represented a national banking institution in defending lender liability claims based on breach of fiduciary duties related to investment accounts;
  • Represented a prominent real estate investment group in obtaining emergency receivership to preserve collateral in the face of covert dissipation of assets;
  • Represented investors in obtaining emergency relief in connection with breach of joint venture agreement to buy and sell business aircraft;
  • Represented a national banking institution in defending claims arising from international acquisition of corporate entities.

Notable

Notable

  • Business North Carolina Legal Elite, Litigation, 2023
  • North Carolina Super Lawyers, Business Litigation, 2017-2021, 2023-2024
  • Chancellor’s Scholar to the University of North Carolina Law School, a full-tuition scholarship awarded for demonstrated leadership, analytical and academic skills
  • Rookie of the Year, Connecticut Law Tribune as part of its New Leaders in the Law awards ceremony
  • Henry Luce Foundation scholar in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia assisting the Malaysian Bar Foundation in implementing its new Domestic Violence Act and in developing its new section on international mediation and arbitration
  • Former Member, North Carolina Law review
  • Order of the Coif
  • Access to Justice Pro Bono Partners, Pro Bono Honor Roll by Legal Services of Southern Piedmont, Legal Aid of North Carolina–Charlotte, and Council for Children’s Rights, 2013

News

Affiliations

Affiliations

  • Connecticut Bar Association
  • North Carolina Bar Association
  • American Bar Association
  • American Association for Justice

Education

J.D., University of North Carolina, 2000; Order of the Coif; North Carolina Law Review, Staff

B.A., University of North Carolina, 1995 (Distinction, Highest Honors)

Admissions

  • Middle District of North Carolina, 2009
  • North Carolina, 2008
  • Western District of North Carolina, 2008
  • United States District Court, District of Connecticut, 2002
  • Connecticut, 2002
Jump to Page

Business North Carolina Legal Elite, Litigation, 2023

By using this site, you agree to our updated Privacy Policy and our Terms of Use.