Joshua A. Bennett
Columbia • Member
Josh Bennett focuses his practice on complex litigation and insurance defense matters, with an emphasis on construction, environmental, products liability, toxic tort/personal injury, commercial explosives, professional negligence, and other related areas.
Josh has a passion for guiding his clients through the litigation process from beginning to end. He has represented a variety of clients, from multinational corporations to small businesses and individuals, in actions brought in state and federal courts across the United States. As part of Rogers Townsend’s construction litigation practice, Josh has represented general contractors, subcontractors, product manufacturers, and other construction professionals in construction defect disputes across South Carolina.
Josh is a summa cum laude graduate of the University of South Carolina with a Bachelor of Arts degree in Political Science and a magna cum laude graduate of the University of South Carolina School of Law.
While in law school, Josh served as a Student Works Editor for the South Carolina Law Review, was inducted into the Order of the Coif and the Order of the Wig and Robe, and received CALI awards in Contracts I, Property II, Legal Writing II, Civil Procedure II, and Federal Practice. Prior to joining the firm as an associate, Josh served as a Law Clerk for Rogers Townsend & Thomas.
In addition to his legal practice, Josh devotes a substantial amount of time to serving his community. He serves on the Board of Directors for Homeless No More and Town Theatre, is a South Carolina Bar Foundation Ambassador, and is a past graduate of Leadership Columbia and Leadership South Carolina. Josh and his family attend First Baptist Church of Columbia where he serves as a Deacon.
South Carolina, 2011
United States District Court, District of South Carolina, 2011
United States Court of Appeals, Fourth Circuit, 2011
- South Carolina Bar
- Construction Law Section
- Richland County Bar Association
- Lexington County Bar Association
- American Bar Association
- Forum Committee on the Construction Industry
- Claims and Litigation Management Alliance
- Defense Research Institute
- Construction Law Committee
- Young Lawyer Liaison Chair
- Marketing Vice-Chair
- Construction Law Committee
- South Carolina Defense Trial Attorneys’ Association
- International Society of Explosives Engineers
- Leadership Columbia Alumni Association
- South Carolina Super Lawyers, Civil Lit: Defense (2021)
- 2020 Icons & Phenoms Award – Columbia Regional Business Report
- Leadership in Law Award – South Carolina Lawyers Weekly, 2020
- Silver Compleat Lawyer Award – University of South Carolina School of Law, 2018
- American Bar Association “On the Rise – Top 40 Young Lawyers” 2017
- Columbia Metropolitan Magazine, Top 10 Capital Young Professional Award – 2017
- Columbia Business Monthly‘s “Best & Brightest Under 35” – August 2016
- The State Newspaper, “20 Under 40” – 2016
- Leadership South Carolina, Class of 2017
- Leadership Columbia, Class of 2013
- Order of the Wig and Robe
- Order of the Coif
- CALI (American Jurisprudence) Award:
– Contracts I, Fall 2008
– Property II, Spring 2009
– Legal Writing II, Spring 2009
– Civil Procedure II, Fall 2009
– Federal Practice, Fall 2010
A description of the selection process methodologies on which these accolades are based can be found here.
- “Avoiding Common Pitfalls in the Settlement Process” – CLM Webinar, February 18, 2020
- “How To Develop Business and Keep Clients” – 2019 DRI Construction Law Seminar, April 10, 2019
- “It’s A Blast: Defending Against The Growing Number of Blasting Claims” – CLM’s Construction Claims, Spring 2019
- “Indemnification in Construction Defect Litigation and Other Related Issues” – Construction Law, Half Moon Education, January 13, 2017
- “Q. Is My Arbitration Provision Enforceable? A. Maybe” – DRI’s The Critical Path, September 2016
- “Blasting Claims 101: An Introduction to the Defense of Claims” – DRI’s For the Defense, September 2016
- “Indemnification in Construction Defect Litigation and Other Related Issues” – Construction Defect Litigation: From A to Z, National Business Institute, May 20, 2016
- “Blasting Claims 101: An Introduction to the Defense of Claims” – 42nd Annual Conference on Explosives and Blasting Technique, International Society of Explosives Engineers, Las Vegas, Nevada, January 31 – February 3, 2016
- “Appearing as a Witness in a Civil Case” – Legal Issues for Professional Engineers, July 22, 2015
- “Home Inspection Agreements: Do’s and Don’ts” – American Society of Home Inspectors, South Carolina Chapter, Quarterly Seminar, May 2015
- Carolinas Construction & Environmental Claims Seminar, March 2015, March 2016
- “Appearing as a Witness in a Civil Case” – Legal Issues for South Carolina Professional Engineers, April 16, 2013
- Beware of the Prior Knowledge Provision: A Comment on Bryan Brothers, Inc. v. Continental Casualty Co., 63 S.C. L. Rev. (Summer 2012)
- Case Summary, Lefkoe v. Jos. A. Bank Clothiers, Inc., 61 S.C. L. Rev. 619 (2010).
- Case Summary, Ostergren v. Cuccinelli, 62 S.C. L. Rev. 545 (2011).
- Panel Discussion Member, “Generational Differences and How They Impact the Practice of Law and Representation of Clients,” S.C. Bar Convention, 2012.
- Town Theatre, Board of Directors, 2013-2022
– Vice President, 2015-2022
– Executive Committee, 2015-2022 - Homeless No More, Board of Directors, 2018-2019
- The Family Shelter, Board of Directors, 2013-2018
– Secretary, 2014-2015
– Executive Committee, 2014-2015 - South Carolina Bar Foundation, Board of Directors, 2015-2017
- South Carolina Bar Foundation, Ambassador
- Leadership South Carolina, Class of 2017
- Leadership Columbia, Class of 2013
- First Baptist Church of Columbia, Deacon
- South Carolina Bar High School Mock Trial Competition, Volunteer Judge
- South Carolina Bar, Young Lawyers Division
– Backpack Drive Committee
– Bar Foundation Committee