Overview
Josh Lanning is experienced in litigating a variety of employment related claims based on statutes, contract and common law, including wrongful termination and breach of contract claims, unfair competition claims, breach of non-compete, non-solicit and confidentiality agreements, unemployment compensation matters, wage and hour cases, and workers compensation claims.
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
- Best Lawyers in America, Commerical Litigation, 2025
- 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
News
Insights
Affiliations
Affiliations
- Connecticut Bar Association
- North Carolina Bar Association
- American Bar Association
- American Association for Justice
Capabilities
- Antitrust
- Civil Litigation
- Class Actions
- Commercial Litigation
- Consumer Disputes
- Corporate Governance & Shareholder Relations
- Cross-Border Investigations and Defense
- DEI Advice, Audits & Assessments
- Financial Services Litigation
- Health Care
- Internal Investigations
- Investigations
- Litigation, Regulatory & White Collar
- Real Estate & Construction Disputes
- Securities & Capital Markets Litigation
- Technology
- Trust, Estate, Tax & Fiduciary Disputes
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