Joshua Hamilton, a first-chair trial lawyer, represents companies, boards of directors, and senior executives in securities and corporate governance-related litigation and investigations, defense of class actions, and high-stakes complex commercial litigation matters. His clients range from emerging growth-stage through Fortune 500 companies, financial institutions, investment firms, and partnerships. He is consistently recognized for successfully leading significant and complex matters in both California and other jurisdictions across the nation, and serves in leadership roles in the Los Angeles County and Federal Bar Associations.
In securities and corporate governance litigation, Mr. Hamilton has substantial experience representing public companies, private equity and venture capital firms, special purpose entities, investment banks, and officers and directors in securities class actions, shareholder derivative actions, corporate/derivative governance disputes, and “deal cases” challenging mergers and acquisitions. Many of these cases involve claims arising out of public offerings, disclosure obligations, proxy contests, alleged insider trading, accounting practices, or allegations of breaches of fiduciary duties.
Mr. Hamilton has established an extensive track record of delivering successful results for clients in complex litigation, trials, and arbitrations. He has significant experience representing clients in trial and appellate courts and in arbitration relating to disputes arising from complex business transactions, founder and corporate ownership claims, real estate, competitor interference, class actions, and consumer protection.
Mr. Hamilton also represents clients in internal investigations and investigations and proceedings initiated by the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC), US Department of Justice (DOJ), and other government agencies. He regularly counsels public and private companies and their boards on corporate governance and disclosure issues.
Accolades
Among his recognitions, Mr. Hamilton has also been ranked in The Legal 500 and Chambers USA where clients noted his “bright and detail-oriented approach to securities litigation work” and that they “could not more highly recommend him.” Benchmark Litigation also named him a Benchmark Litigation Star in 2020-2023 and The Los Angeles Business Journal selected Mr. Hamilton as one of the Top Litigators in Los Angeles in 2018, an exclusive list of attorneys who “you want in your corner.” He has been recognized for his high caliber work in securities litigation by The Best Lawyers in America, and Lawdragon selected him as one of their 500 Leading Litigators in America in their respective 2023 editions. Mr. Hamilton has also been recognized as a Super Lawyer in Securities Litigation by Southern California Super Lawyers every year since 2014.
Community and Professional Involvement
Mr. Hamilton is very active in bar and community activities. He is the former chair of the Executive Committee of the Litigation Section of the Los Angeles County Bar Association, and also currently serves as a member of the Complex Courts Committee for LACBA and the Board of Trustees of Los Angeles Chapter of the Federal Bar Association. He also serves on the Board of Directors of the Western Center on Law and Poverty and was a longstanding board member of the Independent School Alliance for Minority Affairs, a non-profit organization focused on providing educational opportunities for underserved minority children, and in 2016 received the Impact Award at its annual Gala.