PARTNER
Mr. Adams joined the Litigation Practice Group at McCormick Barstow LLP in 2024.
Joshua D. Adams
Mr. Adams has extensive experience across all phases of state and federal court litigation, with a recent emphasis on commercial and employment litigation representing both private companies and public entities.
Prior to joining McCormick Barstow, Mr. Adams worked for five years at the United States District Court for the Eastern District of California. There, he engaged in all aspects of federal civil litigation and criminal matters, including trials.
Mr. Adams worked for an AmLaw 100 law firm where he litigated complex disputes involving commercial contracts, construction, real estate, and environmental claims under CERCLA. He also provided counsel in areas including commercial contracts/leases, real estate purchases/leases, city lobbying efforts for short-term rental ordinances, due diligence for a nationwide company expansion, and for a major agricultural producer creating agricultural preserves under the California Land Conservation Act (Williamson Act).
Mr. Adams worked for a law firm in Washington, D.C. litigating claims in federal courts including under the Constitution, Administrative Procedure Act, and Inspector General Act. He also provided counsel in matters involving the False Claims Act, contracts, business disputes, fraud, trademarks, and immigration.
Mr. Adams has also served as an outside consultant to the legal writing program at the San Joaquin College of Law.
Juris Doctor, 2014
George Washington University Law School, Washington, D.C.
Submissions Editor, The Federal Circuit Bar Journal
U.S. President’s Volunteer Service Award
Bachelor of Arts, Political Science, 2010
University of California, Irvine
cum laude; Phi Beta Kappa; Pi Sigma Alpha; Golden Key
Japan: Spring 2009 Global Security and International Relations Program
Netherlands: Fall 2008 International and European Union Law Program
While attending law school, Mr. Adams worked for an organization litigating claims under the Freedom of Information Act, First Amendment, and Copyright Act, where he conducted research at the National Archives, Library of Congress and U.S. Copyright Office, and tackled questions of first impression in the cutting edge field of national security law for cases before the U.S. District Court for the District of Columbia and the U.S. Court of Appeals for the D.C. Circuit. Mr. Adams also worked in-house for a corporation that partnered with Stanford University to provide corporate education, and there assisted with the creation and management of commercial contracts, and with compliance operations including under the SOX Act and HIPAA.
Mr. Adams focuses his practice on all manners of complex disputes involving employment, business, real estate, and other commercial matters, with a significant part of his practice involving class and representative actions in both state and federal courts. Mr. Adams also provides counseling to businesses relating to compliance, including assisting with workplace investigations, as well as drafting policies and employee handbooks.
Mr. Adams has had significant recent success on dispositive motions including obtaining dismissal of multiple class action claims through navigation of California’s complex ever-evolving state of law on arbitration agreements, and class action waivers.
Mr. Adams is a member of the State Bar of California, and the State Bar of New York.
Mr. Adams is admitted to practice in every federal district court in California, inclusive of the United States District Courts for the Southern, Central, Eastern, and Northern Districts of California.
Mr. Adams is a member of the Fresno County Bar Association.
Honors & Awards
Mr. Adams was awarded the President’s Volunteer Service Award by the office of the United States President, based on pro bono legal work.
Mr. Adams worked as a researcher for a biography of Robert Kennedy that ultimately became a New York Times Bestselling book. During this process, he conducted extensive research at the National Archives and Library of Congress; filed FOIA & state records requests; and cataloged Department of Justice policy records of multiple administrations.