Josh routinely aids clients in achieving their zoning and development goals by appearing before local governmental boards and commissions—ranging from local legislative bodies and planning commissions to boards of zoning appeals, utility advisory boards, roadway commissions, and historic zoning commissions. When the case requires it, Josh also is no stranger to the courtroom. He has spent more than two decades litigating all types of business and real estate disputes. He has represented numerous clients in jury and bench trials and has briefed and argued appeals before both state and federal courts. Disputes that Josh handles range from breach of contract and specific performance claims among private parties within a real estate transaction to prosecuting writs of certiorari and due process/equal protection claims against local governmental entities related to zoning decisions. Even within the litigation context, Josh remains a strong proponent of pursuing alternative dispute resolution to meet his clients’ goals, whether through informal settlement negotiations or formal mediation. In doing so, he is known for crafting creative solutions that move past existing disputes to propel his clients’ projects and relationships forward in a positive way. To that end, Josh has served as a court-appointed mediator for others in zoning and land-use related litigation.

Josh’s interest in real estate and business started at a young age, where he was often found tagging along with his mother—a real estate broker—or spending Saturdays in the office with his father—the chief financial officer for a local manufacturing company—as he oversaw closing the books each month. Those interests continued during his studies at the University of Kentucky College of Law, where he enjoyed property-related courses, including advanced future interests, and observed first-hand how conservation easements were being used to preserve historic horse farms in the rolling countryside surrounding Lexington. Josh earned his juris doctorate degree in 1999, receiving highest course grade in multiple subjects, serving as an associate editor of the Kentucky Law Journal and vice president of the Equine Law Society. In 1996, he received his Bachelor of Arts degree from the University of Kentucky with a double major in journalism-general editorial and political science. While there, he served as co-editor-in-chief of the University’s annual, The Kentuckian, and interned for two U.S. Congressmen (Kentucky’s Third and Sixth Districts) in both the Washington, D.C., and the local Kentucky field office.

Following law school, Josh’s skills were honed as he developed his career and became a partner in large, nationally-recognized law firms such as Bass, Berry & Sims, PLLC and, most recently, Frost Brown Todd LLC—an AmLaw 200 Firm. He is admitted to practice law in Tennessee, Kentucky, and Indiana. He also is admitted to practice before all U.S. District Courts sitting in Tennessee, Kentucky, and Indiana, the U.S. Courts of Appeals for the Sixth and Federal Circuits, as well as the U.S. Supreme Court.

In 2022, Josh and his longtime law partner, Tonya Austin, made the decision to depart the world of “Big Law” to form Denton Austin PLC. They did so to further devote their practice to the types of services most meaningful to both their clients and them, within a boutique setting. Their goal is to continue to provide the highest level of personalized legal services available to their many longstanding clients, colleagues, and friends.

Josh has been very active in civic and charitable organizations throughout his life. He previously served as Chair of the Historic Zoning Commission for the City of Franklin, Tennessee, having been appointed to the Commission by the City’s Board of Mayor and Aldermen on two occasions. He also has served as the Chair of the Board for the Nashville Conflict Resolution Center (“NCRC”), which provides free and sliding-scale mediation services to those most in need within Metro Nashville-Davidson County and Middle Tennessee. NCRC’s services include resolving public housing disputes to avoid eviction; negotiating agreed parenting plans; and resolving school-related disputes to avoid students entering the prison pipeline. Josh continues to serve as a member of NCRC’s Advisory Board. He also served as a director, officer, and member of the executive committee for the prominent local non-profit organization promoting historic preservation and community development within Williamson County, Tennessee. That foundation has proudly acquired and preserved local historic landmarks like The Franklin Theatre, The Old, Old Jail, and Franklin Grove Estate and Gardens (formerly, the O’More College of Design) and has hosted hundreds of thousands of visitors and guests in Franklin each year with signature festivals like Main Street Festival, PumpkinFest (proudly chaired by Josh and his wife several years ago), and Dickens of a Christmas. Josh also has served as a member of the boards for the Ancient Art Archive and the ALS Association’s Tennessee Chapter. He chaired the Nashville Bar Association’s Chancery and Circuit Courts Committee for multiple years and has been an active member in the Real Estate and Federal Courts Committees. He has served as a mentor in the Leadership Council on Legal Diversity’s mentoring program for law students. Josh has been active in his church, having served as an usher and having taught Sunday school with his wife. He also has been active on many projects related to Battle Ground Academy, most recently assisting with coaching the upper school’s mock trial team. He is a member of the Honorable Order of Kentucky Colonels.
 
Josh regularly speaks throughout Tennessee and Kentucky on a variety of topics, including real estate, zoning and land use planning, presidential history, electronic discovery/social media, ethics, and alternative dispute resolution. He has served as a guest lecturer at the University of Kentucky and the Nashville School of Law.

Josh married his law school sweetheart, Susan, in Lexington in 1999. Together, they live in Franklin with their two children, John and Vivian. In his spare time, Josh enjoys exploring the world with his family (Nanjing, China, the Cotswolds, the Musée d'Orsay, and Nantucket top his list); reading up on some history (especially the U.S. presidents, the Second World War, and his own family’s history); photography (his most likely subjects are landscapes, historic buildings and his wife and kids); taking in the occasional horse race, bourbon trail tour or basketball game in the Bluegrass; piddling on projects around the house and in the garden; telling tall tales over suppers at home with friends; and hanging out with the family dogs, Georgia and Birdie.