Joshua S. Devore

With an undergraduate degree in chemistry and early work experience in the lab, Joshua Devore thinks of himself as a scientist first.  Josh is always asking how we can solve problems and bring issues to resolution in an efficient way. 

For nearly 20 years, Josh served investors and the public through complex securities and related litigation, achieving recoveries of billions of dollars in favorable and novel rulings and settlements. He now brings that depth of experience to serving clients in the wine industry and other businesses in Napa, Sonoma and beyond. From complex international transactions to environmental compliance to everyday disputes, Josh is excited to practice with the other highly skilled experts at DP&F.  Among other services, Josh now handles securities offerings, land use and environmental permitting, technical issues related to internet privacy and website policies, and both ordinary and complex litigation, including enforcement actions and class actions. 

Recent matters Josh has handled span a wide range, including litigation of issues of first impression under Napa County’s Winery Definition Ordinance; employment class actions and CEQA petitions; technical issues involving smoke taint in wine grapes; securities law compliance for alcohol and cannabis businesses; compliance with the GDPR and California’s new Consumer Privacy Act; and winery use permit modifications.

Josh’s representations have crossed multiple industries, including finance, energy, technology and accounting. He has put his science background to work by mastering aspects of chemistry, technology and engineering related to oil exploration, optical networking, solar manufacturing, network storage and other complex areas in litigation.  Previously, as a partner at one of the nation’s leading securities litigation practices, Josh led all phases of complex litigation from case evaluation and analysis through discovery and appeals.

Some notable claims he litigated include a securities case alleging misrepresentation of the severity of BP’s Deepwater Horizon oil spill, a case against Parmalat — dubbed “Europe’s Enron,” the largest securities fraud in Europe — and multiple cases involving the collapse of Bernie Madoff’s Ponzi scheme.  He also litigated numerous cases involving failed mortgage-backed securities, and worked closely with multiple state attorneys’ generals and the department of justice in the investigation of the conduct of rating agencies during the financial crisis.  This experience gives Josh a unique perspective on litigation risk and avoidance:  Josh focuses on making sure things are done right the first time.

After 20 years inside the Beltway, Josh now resides in St. Helena with his wife, who is in the wine business, and their energetic son.