Josh brings order out of chaos. He is a seasoned trial attorney with a national practice concentrating on high-profile complex litigation, including mass torts and class actions. He leads the firm’s data security class action group, and also has recent experience with significant commercial disputes and life sciences litigation. 

Clients across the country trust Josh with critical responsibility, knowing that he provides seamless strategy in the most contentious cases in the most difficult jurisdictions. He is frequently sought out for comment by national and local media, including Bloomberg News and Law360. He currently serves on the Law360, Georgia Editorial Board, previously served on both the product liability and energy editorial boards for Law360, and also sat on the editorial board of Product Liability Law & Strategy. 

Josh also is committed to pro bono service, providing representation to both organizations and individuals, including a Nepali citizen in a successful U.S. Immigration Court trial and a subsequent defense of his client before the Board of Immigration Appeals. 

Before becoming an attorney, Josh served as deputy press secretary for U.S. Senator Bob Graham (D-Fla.). 

Representative Matters

Lead counsel to a Fortune 200 company in a $150 million contract dispute.
 
Lead counsel to an international oil and gas company in obtaining the dismissal of a purported pricing class action in New Jersey.
 
National trial and coordinating counsel for an international mineral company in talc litigation throughout the country, including serving as lead trial counsel for two of the first five talc trials in California.

National trial counsel for a Fortune 500 appliance manufacturer.

Lead counsel in a number of purported class actions, including claims involving data security, the Telephone Consumer Protection Act (TCPA), unfair/deceptive trade practices and debt adjusting.

Counsel to a Chinese drywall manufacturer in multidistrict litigation involving classwide damages and a number of related state court cases. 

Counsel to a national trade association on hydraulic fracturing issues.

Counsel to multiple international companies to ensure compliance with the Federal Trade Commission’s Green Guides.

 
Counsel in a large-scale automotive product liability and consumer class action MDL involving more than 200 nationwide class actions.
 
Counsel to a leading national restaurant chain in several purported class actions in several states that involved the sodium content of its meals.
 
Counsel in litigation involving the sterilization of surgical instruments used in more than 3,800 surgeries in North Carolina.
 
Counsel in a mass action brought by more than 1,600 coal miners alleging personal injuries from isocyanate exposure in Alabama.
 
Counsel to a national wood products company involving 1,400 personal injury claims arising from chemical emissions at a wood treatment facility in Alabama.
 
Counsel to an international beverage manufacturer in lawsuits in New Jersey claiming consumer fraud and false advertising.
 
Counsel to an international consumer product manufacturer in design patent litigation in Delaware.
 
Counsel to health care entities in disputes with state administrative agencies.
 
National science counsel to an international pharmaceutical company in federal multidistrict litigation involving 6,000 plaintiffs and related state court cases.
 
Counsel to a Georgia city in the successful defense of a litigated annexation dispute.

Publications

11th Circuit Sharpens Circuit Split on Ascertainability as Prerequisite to Rule 23 Class Certification, WLF Counsel’s Advisory, Washington Legal Foundation, March 11, 2022 (with Caroline Gieser).

Georgia Supreme Court Parts with Nationwide Trend of Narrowing Corporate General Jurisdiction, WLF Legal Pulse, Washington Legal Foundation, September 23, 2021 (with Caroline Gieser). 

New Views On Statistical Significance Affect Expert Testimony, Law360, May 23, 2019.

The Florida Supreme Court Should Adopt a Modernized Scientific-Testimony Standard for the ‘Sunshine’ State, Washington Legal Foundation Legal Opinion Letter, June 30, 2017.

Working with Chinese Clients, Product Liability Law & Strategy, May 1, 2016.

Pumping the Brakes on Unintended Acceleration Allegations, Law360, February 2, 2015.

Distracted Driving: Technology As a Double-Edged Sword, Law360, August 29, 2014.

FDA Leaves Food Cos. in Lurch When Fighting Labeling Suits, Law360, January 8, 2014.

To Stay or Not To Stay GMO Labeling Cases? Law360, December 5, 2013.

Georgia Pandemic Bench Guide, 2009 (co-author).

Media Coverage

Shook Hardy Opens New Atlanta Office With Ex-Alston Attys, Law360, June 11, 2019. 

Shook Launches Atlanta Office With Trio of Alston Partners, Daily Report, Law.com, June 10, 2019.

Law360’s Product Liability Editorial Advisory Board, March 28, 2018.

An Interview with Josh Becker, LawyerMade Magazine, September 8, 2014.

Law360 Energy Editorial Advisory Board, February 11, 2013. 

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