As a member of the Bowles Rice Energy Team, Josh Cottle focuses his practice in transactional and litigation matters that relate to the oil and gas industry. Specifically, his experience largely involves title curative work, including partition actions, missing or unknown heir petitions and complex leasing issues. His previous work as a certified coal miner gives him a unique perspective among energy lawyers.
Josh frequently assists Bowles Rice’s Education Law Group on circuit court appeals and appeals before the Supreme Court of Appeals of West Virginia on behalf of education clients. He provides counsel regarding employee grievances, has advised the West Virginia School Board Association on the formation and operation of Educational Services Cooperatives, and has assisted Regional Education Service Agencies with the transition to Educational Services Cooperatives.
In addition to his energy and education work, Josh has experience with eminent domain actions involving public utilities.
He earned his law degree from the West Virginia University College of Law in 2014, where he was president of the Energy Law Society and a member of the Environmental Law Society. As a member of the school’s Moot Court, he served as Chief Justice of the National Energy and Sustainability Moot Court Competition.
Josh previously worked with the West Virginia Attorney General’s Civil Rights Division and was selected for the Judith A. Herndon Legislative Fellows Program. He is a member of the firm's Recruiting Committee.
Recipient of CALI Awards (recognition for achieving the highest grade in a particular subject) at West Virginia University College of Law: