Josh Apel is an attorney in Miller Johnson’s Litigation practice group.

With an unwavering commitment to delivering exceptional legal representation, Josh Apel stands out as a distinguished commercial litigator. With a deep understanding of business law, impeccable legal writing skills, significant experience taking and defending depositions, and a remarkable track record preparing for and executing at trial, Josh is renowned for his ability to navigate complex legal challenges and achieve favorable outcomes for his clients. Josh brings a unique blend of strategic thinking, persuasive advocacy, and steadfast dedication to every case he handles. He has experience crafting paths to success in state and federal trial courts, appellate courts, and domestic and international arbitration tribunals.

Before entering private practice, Josh served as in-house counsel for the country’s largest title insurance company where he managed litigation involving title, escrow, and related real estate issues.

Litigation Experience

Josh has extensive experience across a wide range of litigation issues, representing both plaintiffs and defendants. Josh regularly litigates matters involving allegations concerning breaches of contract, breaches of fiduciary duty, shareholder disputes, professional malpractice, intellectual property disputes, defamation, and more. Some of Josh’s notable representative matters include the following:

• Won a unanimous reversal of a $9.6 million trial court judgment in a published opinion from the Michigan Court of Appeals on behalf of a Michigan municipality client involving utility rates and alleged violations of the Headlee Amendment.
• Obtained summary judgment in the United States Bankruptcy Court for the Northern District of California on behalf of accounting firm client accused of having aided and abetted in the supposed looting of a large manufacturing company involving $40 million in alleged damages.
• Served as second-chair in jury trial on client’s breach of contract action, after which the jury awarded client its full damages, including attorney fees.
• Secured arbitration award on breach of contract claim awarding client both damages and attorney fees, as well as denying opposing party’s counterclaims seeking hundreds of thousands of dollars in damages.
• Achieved favorable settlement agreement in international arbitration tribunal for American manufacturing client against German supplier.
• Served as Special Assistant Attorney General for a Michigan state agency in relation to a multi-billion-dollar international infrastructure project.

Professional Affiliations, Activities and Honors
Josh is a member of the American Bar Association Section of Litigation and Section of Franchising. He is also a member of the Oakland County Bar Association.

Josh has also been appointed to serve on the State Bar of Michigan’s Client Protection Fund Committee.

Josh has been named to the Super Lawyers: Rising Stars list from 2021-present.

Josh has been named to the Best Lawyers: Ones to Watch in America list from 2022-present.

Education

Josh graduated with his Juris Doctorate, cum laude, from the Washington University in St. Louis School of Law in 2014. He also received his B.A. in Economics in 2011 from the University of Michigan.  Josh is admitted to practice in the state of Michigan.