Joshua Scott Bauchner

Nationally recognized in commercial litigation, regulatory compliance, and administrative law, Joshua S. Bauchner advises businesses in highly regulated industries on complex statutory, constitutional, and commercial disputes, and is known for his strategic advocacy before courts, government agencies, and regulatory bodies.

Josh serves as the chair of the Cannabis, Hemp and Psychedelics Practice Group and is a partner in the Litigation, Bankruptcy, Hospitality, Landlord/Tenant, Construction, and Employment practice groups. He successfully handles numerous appeals in state and federal courts.

His areas of specialization include: enforcement of commercial contracts such as lease agreements, guaranties, purchase and sale contracts, and commission agreements; litigation of partnership disputes; class action prosecution and defense; claims originating from insurance coverage denials; employment litigation including FLSA, ADA, ADEA, Title VII, and analogous state law claims; and defense against commercial landlord/tenant and foreclosure actions.

His extensive experience is evident in representative matters, including:

Prosecuting construction and design defect claims against the sponsor, developer and architect of a luxury condominium building in New York City.

Prosecuting a bankruptcy trustee’s claims for fraudulent conveyance, business torts and a violation of the Bank Holding Company Act against more than 40 commercial and investment bank defendants.

Defending a landlord against business interruption and related claims arising from the 1993 terrorist attack on the World Trade Center.

Obtaining a favorable settlement for an institutional investor asserting securities, Blue Sky and related common law claims against commercial and investment bank defendants.

Defending a Boston-area hospital against medical malpractice and related claims seeking $50 million in damages by obtaining a dismissal on personal jurisdiction grounds, which was affirmed by the Second Circuit on appeal.

Prosecuting institutional investors’ securities, Blue Sky and related common claims against placement agents, auditors, rating agencies and corporate insiders in a multidistrict litigation proceeding.

Defending corporate clients against securities fraud claims brought by the SEC, DOJ and class plaintiffs.

Representing an NFL franchise in its attempt to secure a new stadium on Manhattan’s west side.

In the ever-evolving area of psychoactive substances, Josh was instrumental in co-hosting the inaugural Cannabis Symposium in New Jersey, attracting nearly a thousand attendees, with subsequent symposia continuing to garner attention. Josh is Chair of the Cannabis Chamber of Commerce’s Northeast Region, covering New England, New York, New Jersey, Pennsylvania, Maryland, Delaware, and D.C. As a notable member of the New Jersey State Bar Association Cannabis & Psychedelics Law Committee, New York State Bar Association Cannabis Law Committee, the NORML Legal Committee, and the Amicus Committee, he received the New Jersey Law Journal’s Innovator of the Year Award in 2022, and the Firm was named Cannabis Practice of the Year by both Law360 and the New Jersey Law Journal in 2025. *

After graduating from law school, Josh had the honor of clerking for the Honorable Ursula Ungaro at the United States District Court for the Southern District of Florida. He also served as the Deputy Director of the Legal Division at the New York City Department of Consumer Affairs.

A passion for education and community development, as a licensed real estate instructor in New York, he educates aspiring real estate professionals, and he has served as an adjunct professor at Brooklyn Law School. Josh also is deeply involved in his community. He was appointed by the Manhattan Borough President to Manhattan Community Board 10, where he served as the Board’s treasurer and co-chaired the Committee on Land Use. Additionally, he played an active role on the Board of Trustees for Wheaton College, the New York Theater Ballet, Frederick Douglass Boulevard Alliance, and the Harlem Wellness Center.

He is admitted to practice in both New York and New Jersey as well as the United States District Court of Michigan, the United States District Courts for the Southern, Eastern and Western Districts of New York, the United States District Court for the District of New Jersey as well as the United States Court of Appeals for the Second and Third Circuits.

In addition to his professional endeavors, Josh’s thoughts and perspectives have been featured in numerous publications, shedding light on diverse areas such as cannabis and psychedelics laws, creditors’ rights in bankruptcy, ADA compliance, broker liability, and AI in the workplace, among other areas.

* No aspect of the advertisement or award(s) listed above have been approved by the Supreme Court of New Jersey or the American Bar Association. A description of the standard or methodology used can be found here.