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As founder and managing attorney, Joshua Carpenter, JD, PhD, MBA directs both internal and external operations at Carpenter & Associates. He oversees all business administration, from financial management and client relations to strategic planning and firm culture. As a proven leader both inside and outside the courtroom, Dr. Carpenter’s extensive experience in helping clients with complex disputes and issues has equipped him with the ability to effectively advocate not only for his clients but also for those in need in the community.
As a highly skilled attorney with equally deep experience in the pursuit of justice, Dr. Carpenter’s mission with each client begins with client commitment, followed by providing exceptional legal representation and ensuring the best possible outcomes for those the firm represents. Clients trust him to prioritize their best interests in both the courtroom and arbitrations, consistently achieving favorable outcomes.
As managing attorney, Dr. Carpenter sets a high standard of success, and the expectation for all attorneys and the legal support team at the law firm is to emulate that winning mindset. He also directs the day-to-day operations at the firm, committed to ensuring excellent representation for all clients by developing a dynamic mix of legal support. The firm’s practice areas generally encompass business law, including corporate formation, dissolution, creating and enforcing contracts, all phases and levels of litigation, and transactions; real estate law, including property transactions, such as buying, selling, leasing, liens, and property disputes; family law that deals with legal issues related to marriage, divorce, child custody, child support, and spousal support; financial law, encompassing a broad range of financial matters, involving debt collections, bankruptcy, probate and estate, estate planning, wealth management and investment law; and general counsel services.
Even before establishing Carpenter & Associates over 20 years ago, Dr. Carpenter fought relentlessly on behalf of victims of domestic violence, including abused and neglected spouses and kids. In 2024, under Dr. Carpenter’s direction, Carpenter & Associates provided over $250,000 in pro bono legal work for victims of domestic violence, abuse and neglect. During the past 20 years, Dr. Carpenter also has been named Lawyer of the Year for several domestic violence shelters and other local organizations.
From a young age, Dr. Carpenter felt a deep desire to champion justice and fight for the rights of others, a calling that has guided his actions and shaped his character. Despite receiving a full-ride music scholarship, Dr. Carpenter switched his college focus, earning undergraduate degrees in Spanish and political theory instead, demonstrating not only a change in his academic path but also foreshadowing his professional journey.
Following a transformative two-year mission in Argentina, where he polished his fluency in Spanish, Josh became immersed in law enforcement, including roles as a domestic violence detective and an active SWAT team member. Driven by a passion for greater understanding about the pursuit of justice, Dr. Carpenter transitioned to the legal arena. His tenure at both large and small law firms during and after law school at George Mason University’s Antonin Scalia Law School, offered invaluable insights and confidence – and when faced with handling the economics of a growing family, he confidently hung out his own law shingle.
Even as Dr. Carpenter established his legal career, he sought out diverse experiences beyond that of law – big challenges – that deeply enriched his understanding of legal principles and improved his ability to represent clients effectively. Yet, these challenges also shaped his beliefs on how to define the law firm’s identity, work culture, and shape the experiences of employees.
Beyond the professional realm, his core aspiration has remained unwavering—to empower others to reach their fullest potential and leave a positive impact on the world. A staunch advocate for education, Josh believes it is THE key that unlocks doors unreachable by mere hard work and persistence. His life is dedicated to a commitment to service, education, and the relentless pursuit of excellence, striving to help other individuals in his path become the best versions of themselves and leave the world a better place.
