Joseph M. Hanna

Joseph M. Hanna is a commercial litigator and legal adviser recognized for his work in retail and hospitality and sports and entertainment law. With a national practice and industry-wide reputation for leadership, Joe is consistently ranked among the top 10 attorneys based in Western New York in Business First’s annual Legal Elite, and in 2015, Joe was the youngest honoree ever to be named Lawyer of the Year in the Bar Association of Erie County’s 130-year history.

Joe chairs Goldberg Segalla’s Retail and Hospitality practice, which services all the diverse legal needs of some of the largest corporations in these evolving industries. National retail and restaurant chains, global hotel and hospitality enterprises, shopping centers, property owners, and developers rely on Joe to find creative and cost-efficient resolutions to disputes with other parties, to represent them in commercial litigation, and to handle a broad array of legal and business challenges.

Joe also represents major-league sports franchises, professional athletes, movie studios, and others in the sports and entertainment world on a wide range of high-value matters involving licensing, contracts, and day-to-day business management. Joe is the founder and co-chair of Goldberg Segalla’s Sports and Entertainment practice and editor of the firm’s Sports and Entertainment Law Insider blog. He is nationally renowned a for his work in media and entertainment law and for his authorship of leading articles on high-profile issues in these areas-including the first truly comprehensive examination of the legal issues in the National Football League concussion litigation controversy. An accomplished mediator, he is also a member of the International Institute for Conflict Prevention and Resolution’s Panels of Distinguished Neutrals, a group of global leaders in providing and promoting alternative dispute resolution.

A leading voice for diversity in the legal and business communities, Joe is chair of Goldberg Segalla’s Diversity Task Force and has held multiple leadership roles in the Leadership Council on Legal Diversity (LCLD) as well as diversity-related positions within the DRI and the American Bar Association (ABA), where he served several years as co-chair of the Young Lawyer Leadership Program, chair of the Minority Trial Lawyer Committee, and editor-in-chief of Minority Trial Lawyer. He has received accolades that include the IDEA (Inclusion, Diversity, Equity, Awareness) Award, Minority Corporate Counsel Association George B. Vashon Innovator Award, the New York State Bar Association Diversity Trailblazer Award, and the University at Buffalo George W. Thorn Award. He is the recipient of numerous honors, including an AV Preeminent Peer Review rating though Martindale-Hubbell and frequently appears on lists such as Upstate New York Super Lawyers Rising Stars.

In 2014, the Leadership Council on Legal Diversity (LCLD) selected Joe for their Fellows program; he now chairs the New York chapter for the LCLD Success in Law School Mentoring Program. He is also a mentor with New York Legal Education Opportunity (NY LEO), an organization designed to ensure a diverse legal community by promoting academic success in law school for individuals historically underrepresented in the legal profession, and administered through the New York State Judicial Institute.

In addition to his legal practice and leadership in diversity-related positions, Joe is the founder and president of Bunkers in Baghdad, a nonprofit that collects and sends golf equipment to U.S. soldiers and veterans worldwide to aid in recreation and rehabilitation from injuries.

In 2014, Joe was one of just over 160 lawyers under 40 in the entire country to receive Law360‘s Rising Star honor, and one of only five in the Media and Entertainment category, that year. In 2017, the American Bar Association (ABA) placed Joe on its prestigious “On the Rise-Top 40 Young Lawyers” list, honoring him alongside only 39 others from a competitive crop of over 2,800 nominees nationwide.

Honors & Awards

Martindale-Hubbell Peer Review Rating: AV Preeminent

Buffalo Niagara 360 Spotlight Professional, 2020

IDEA (Inclusion Diversity Equity Awareness) Award, Buffalo Business First, 2020

Chambers USA Diversity and Inclusion Awards, Outstanding Contribution to Furthering the Advancement of Diversity in the Legal Profession (Private Practice), 2019

Upstate New York Super Lawyers, Rising Stars 2013-19

Buffalo Business First‘s Legal Elite of Western New York (Commercial Litigation), 2018-19; Top 10, 2014 and 2015

George W. Thorn Award, SUNY University at Buffalo, 2018

ABA “On the Rise-Top 40 Young Lawyers,” 2017

Bar Association of Erie County, Lawyer of the Year, 2015

New York Law Journal Rising Stars, 2015

Legal Service Award, Minority Bar Association of Western New York, 2014

Law360 Rising Star (Media and Entertainment), 2014

All-Tournament Team and First Place Team, National Collegiate Golf Association Northeast Regional, Syracuse University, Spring 2014

ABA Section of Litigation Most Dynamic Committee Award, 2013

Lawyers Cup Champion, Minority Corporate Counsel Association 10th Annual General Counsel Invitational Diversity Leadership Summit Golf Tournament, June 2013

Minority Corporate Counsel Association George B. Vashon Innovator Award, 2012

Value Award for Diversity, Leadership Buffalo, 2012

New York State Bar Association Diversity Trailblazer Award, 2012

National Federation for Just Communities of Western New York Legal Community Leader Award, 2012

American Bar Association’s Section of Litigation Good Works Award, 2012

Buffalo Spree Game Changers, 2012

Winner (with Christopher J. Belter), Minority Corporate Counsel Association 9th Annual General Counsel Invitational Diversity Leadership Summit Golf Tournament, 2012

Defense Research Institute’s Community Service Award, 2011

22nd Annual University at Buffalo Law School Students of Color Trailblazer Award, 2011

Daily Point of Light Award

40 Under 40 Award, Business First, 2010

American Bar Association’s Outstanding Chair for 2010

2010 New York State Bar Association Outstanding Young Lawyer Award

The President’s Volunteer Service Award, 2010

fellow of the New York State Bar Foundation

Buffalo Niagara Human Resource Association (BNHRA) Diversity Excellence Award

Minority Bar Association of Western New York, Inc. Community Service Award, 2009

New York State Bar Association featured article of the month, “The NFL v. Cable Television: Which Heavyweight Will Be Left Standing?,” May 2008

Leader Spotlight, DRI’s The Voice, April, 2008

The American Bar Association magazine General Practice, Solo & Small Firm Division named “Beware of Dawg, Beware of Owner, Too” the best intellectual property article published in 2006

DRI’s Young Lawyer of the Year Award for Outstanding Service, 2007

Bunkers in Baghdad

Bunkers in Baghdad, which Joe founded in 2008 and still runs as its president, has sent 10 million golf balls, 800,000 clubs, and messages of thanks from “Bunkers Buddies”-students in 700 schools-to U.S. troops and veterans in 70 countries around the world.

Recognition for Bunkers in Baghdad

•Certificate of Appreciation, 4th Expeditionary Special Operations Squadron, United States Air Force
•Certificate of Appreciation, Headquarters Company, 4th Marine Regiment, Camp Schwab, Okinawa, Japan,
•Certificate of Appreciation, 9th Expeditionary Bomb Squadron, United States Air Force,
•Certificate of Appreciation, 452nd Combat Support Hospital “Iron Medics”
•Letter of Appreciation from U.S. Army General Martin E. Dempsey, Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, March 2013
•Certificate of Appreciation, Third Infantry Division Golf Team, Combined Joint Task Force-Regional Command South, Kandahar, Afghanistan
•Certificate of Appreciation, Task Force Patika, 3rd Battalion, 69th Armored Regiment
•Certificate of Achievement from the 519th Military Intelligence Battalion
•Certificate of Appreciation presented by the United States Department of the Army Wounded Warrior Program
•Certificate of Appreciation from the United States Marine Corps Battery E, 2d Battalion, 10th Marine Regiment, 1st Marine Division (Forward)
•Certificate of Appreciation from the United States Marines Wing Support Squadron 373 (Forward), 3d Marine Aircraft Wing (Forward)
•Certificate of Appreciation from the U.S. Army Wounded Warrior Program (AW2)
•Flag Flown Over Forward Operating Base Dwyer, Helmand Province of Afghanistan, by Battery E, 2d Battalion, 10th Marine Regiment, 1st Marine Division (Forward)
•Certificate of Appreciation from the 54th Signal Battalion, Camp Arifjan, Voice of the Desert
•Certificate of Appreciation from the 940th Military Police Company (Combat Support), Camp Liberty, Iraq
•American Patriot Award, Army National Guard
•Certificate of Appreciation from the United States Army 116th Brigade Special Troops Battalion Headquarters
•Certificate of Appreciation, 2nd Battalion 11th Field Artillery Regiment
•U.S. Marines, Operation Iraqi Freedom Shock and Awe Award of Excellence
•Certificate of Appreciation, Task Force Troy United States Division-South 84th Explosive Ordnance Disposal Battalion
•Balad Air Base, Iraq, Certificate of Appreciation for Outstanding Support to the 332 Expeditionary Aeromedical Evacuation Flight in direct support of Operation Iraqi Freedom
•Fort Leavenworth Outstanding Performance Award Presented by the Command Sergeant Major
•Fort Jackson Garrison Commander’s Award for Excellence for Outstanding Performance
•122nd Signal Battalion 2D Infantry Division “Voice of the Warrior” Award
•Fort Drum 10th Mountain Division Climb to Glory Award Presented by the Commanding General for Excellence
•Department of Defense Office of Military Commissions, Guantanamo Bay, Cuba, Defending the Rule of Law Award
•Marine Corps Recruiting Command, Commanding General’s Award for Uncommon Leadership
•United States Army 12th Psychological Operations Battalions Certificate of Appreciation
•United States Army Freedom Team Salute Commendation
•Certificate of Appreciation, United States Army 116th Brigade Special Troops Battalion Headquarters

Community Involvement

•Bunkers in Baghdad, Inc.: Founder and President
•Success in the City, Diversity Networking Event: Chair
•Buffalo and Erie County Workforce Investment Board (WIB)
•Erie County Citizens’ Budget Review Commission
•State University of New York at Buffalo Law School Alumni Association: Board of Directors, 2012-2014
•Canisius College: Adjunct
•Risk Management/Contact Negotiation
•Governance and Policy in Sports Organizations
•Sports and Recreation Law
•Syracuse University: Guest Lecturer
•SUNY Buffalo Law School: Guest Lecturer
•School of Law-Loyola University, Chicago: Guest Lecturer
•Leadership Buffalo, Rising Leaders, 2007
•Mathewson-McCarthy Babe Ruth Youth Baseball League, Amherst, New York: Coach
•University at Buffalo, Mentoring Program
•Buffalo Prep: Speaker
•National Federation for Just Communities of Western New York (NFJC): Board of Directors, 2013-14

Publications & Events

Publications

•Editor, Goldberg Segalla’s Sports and Entertainment Law Insider blog, read Joseph’s blog posts here
•Quoted in “Play Ball? Attys Say Starting MLB Season Amid Virus Is Risky,” Law360, April 9, 2020
•Quoted in “When Will the NFL Catch Up to Cannabis?” The GrowthOp, January 29, 2020
•Joseph M. Hanna Selected as a Buffalo Niagara 360 Spotlight Professional
•Joseph M. Hanna Honored With IDEA Award
•Quoted in “Sports & Betting Cases to Watch in 2020,” Law360, January 1, 2020
•Quoted in the “Top Sports and Betting Cases of 2019,” Law360, December 19, 2019
•Featured on WGRZ-TV and WIVB-TV
•Quoted in “Angry Sports Fans Told Once Again: Don’t Cry To Courts,” Law360, November 27, 2019
•“The Transfer of the Offseason: A Justin Fields Saga,” (Co-Author), New York State Bar Association Entertainment, Arts and Sports Law Journal, Fall 2019
•Quoted in “LA Rams Suit Could Shine Light On NFL Team Moves,” Law360, October 9, 2019
•Quoted in “Pro Athletes Eager To Embrace Cannabis, But Are Leagues Listening?” Leafly, October 4, 2019
•Quoted in “5 Sports & Betting Cases To Watch: Midyear Report,” Law360, June 28, 2019
•“It’s Time to Get Real about Marijuana and Professional Sports: Part 2,” American Bar Association Judicial Intern Opportunity Program, June 13, 2019
•“Joseph Hanna Featured in “Milestone Caps Big Year for Attorney’s Military Nonprofit,” Buffalo Business First June 5, 2019
•“NFL Players Want Claims Revived Against Helmet Co. Riddell,” Law360, May 14, 2019
•“Seven Questions and a Closing Argument: Member Spotlight With Joseph Hanna,” New York State Bar Association, May 2019
•“It’s Time to Get Real about Marijuana and Professional Sports: Part 1,” American Bar Association Judicial Intern Opportunity Program, February 25, 2019
•Quoted in “Sports Wagering Bill Is a Big Bet on Federal Oversight,” Law360, December 20, 2018
•Quoted in “President George H.W. Bush Remembered Fondly in Buffalo,” Buffalo Law Journal, December 5, 2018
•Quoted in “Millennials Shake Up Legal Field,” Buffalo Business First, October 1, 2018
•“Developing a Niche Practice Area,” LCLD Pathfinder, September 2018
•Featured in “Joseph M. Hanna Named to Committee,” Buffalo News, May 29, 2018
•Quoted in “Tops’ Curci: ‘We Were Running Our Company With One Arm Tied Behind Our Back'” Buffalo Business First, February 22, 2018
•Quoted in “Tops Financial Issues ‘Not the End of the World,'” Buffalo Business First, February 20, 2018
•“The NCAA Bribery Scandal,” DRI For the Defense, February 2018
•Featured in “From the Law to the Links,” New York Daily Record, January 15, 2018
•Quoted in “David Boies Could Be Cowboys Owner Jerry Jones’ Hail Mary,” Law360, November 18, 2017
•“Teeing-Off on Counterfeiters,” DRI’s For the Defense, August 2017
•“Tightening the Grip on Counterfeit Golf Clubs,” USLAW, Fall/Winter 2017
•Interviewed in “Busy in Buffalo: Joe Hanna Is the Hardest-Working Person in the Room,” 2017 Upstate New York Super Lawyers, September 2017
•Quoted in “The Biggest Sports Rulings of the 1st Half of 2017,” Law360, July 7, 2017
•“No Easy Task: Teeing-Off on Counterfeiters,” DRI For the Defense, August 2017
•Interviewed in “Five Questions With Joe Hanna, Distinguished Neutrals Panelist,” Buffalo Law Journal, June 27, 2017
•Quoted in “Riddell Concussion Claims May Head for State Court Fight,” Law 360, May 24, 2017 (login required)
•“Take Control of Your Career,” Leadership Council on Legal Diversity Fellows Weekly, May 9, 2017
•Quoted in “Judge Breathes New Life Into Minor Leaguers’ Wage Suit,” Law360, April 3, 2017 (login required)
•Featured in “How Bunkers in Baghdad Plays Golf to Support U.S. Troops,” MediaPost, February 28, 2017
•Quoted in “Drone Operation Is Ripe for Regulation in New York, Lawyers at State Bar Meeting Say,” New York Law Journal, January 26, 2017
•Quoted in “Key Sports Law Cases and Developments to Watch in 2017 - USA,” LawInSport, January 11, 2017
•Quoted in “Sports Cases to Watch in 2017,” Law360, January 2, 2017
•Featured in “Goldberg Segalla’s Growth Quick Yet Methodical,” Buffalo Law Journal, December 27, 2016
•Quoted in “The Biggest Sports Cases of 2016,” Law360, December 16, 2016
•Quoted in “Daily Fantasy Merger Won’t Help Much With Legal Woes,” Law360, November 22, 2016
•Quoted in “Rams Fans’ Merchandise Claims Will Be Tough to Prove,” Law360, October 10, 2016
•Quoted in “NFL Must Play Good Defense in DirecTV Sunday Ticket Row,” Law360, August 18, 2016
•Quoted in “NHL Head’s Strong Dismissal of CTE Link Could Be a Mistake,” Law360, July 27, 2016
•“The Mandatory Arbitration Clause Debate,” New York Law Journal, July 18th, 2016
•Quoted in “3rd Circuit Puts an End to Objections in NFL Concussion Deal,” Law360, April 18, 2016
•Quoted in “NFL ‘Personal Conduct’ Ruling Has Silver Lining For Players,” Law360, April 12, 2016
•Quoted on “The Beat of Sports,” FM 96.9 The Game, Orlando, FL, March 9, 2016
•Quoted on “HV III And Bunkers In Baghdad” On The Green, The Fan 610 AM, March 7, 2016
•Quoted in “Picking a Jury Will Be Particularly Tough in Hulk Hogan Sex Tape Case Against Gawker,” Tampa Bay Times, March 2, 2016
•Quoted in “NFL Deflategate Appeal to Test Deference to Arbitrators,” Law360, March 1, 2016
•Quoted in “Demand for NFL Tix Throws Wrench Into Pricing Challenges,” Law360, February 8, 2016
•Quoted in “MLB Avoids Antitrust Hit With Single-Team Streaming Deal,” Law360, January 20, 2016
•Cited in “Drone Enthusiasts Fear Regulations May Go Too Far,” Newsday, October 13, 2015
•Quoted in “No Warriors Knockoff T-Shirt Is Out of Bounds,” Times-Herald, June 10, 2015
•“A New York State of Drones: Practical Tips for Towns as Regs Loom on the Horizon,” Talk of the Towns, May/June 2015
•“For Now, Drones Will Fly the Uncertain Skies,” American Bar Association Minority Trial Lawyer, May 19, 2015
•Quoted in “Growing Drone Usage Sparks Legal Concerns,” Buffalo Law Journal, May 11, 2015
•Featured in “Minority Powerbrokers Q&A: Goldberg Segalla’s Joseph Hanna,” Law360, February 20, 2015
•Quoted in “Dedicated to Diversity: Progress Seen in Legal Profession,” Business First, January 23, 2015
•“Pro Athletes Can Cash In-and Out-Quickly,” Buffalo Law Journal, December 31, 2014
•Quoted in “Bunkers in Baghdad Named a 2014 Top-Rated Nonprofit,” Buffalo Rising, November 17, 2014
•“NBA Leads in Gender Equity,” ABA Minority Trial Lawyer, Fall 2014
•“Ray Rice, Roger Goodell, and an Explosive Legal Showdown,” American Bar Association Minority Trial Lawyer, Fall 2014
•“The Drones Are Coming! Is New York Ready?” New York State Bar Association Journal, September 2014
•Quoted in “Economic Evolution of College Sports,” Buffalo Law Journal, September 1, 2014

Presentations

•Panelist, “Legal Dialogue Series,” University at Buffalo School of Law Discover Law Program, Buffalo, NY, June 18, 2019
•“Diversity & Inclusion Initiatives in the Legal Profession: Creating an Inclusive Environment for All,” New York State Bar Association, Buffalo, NY, May 13, 2019
•“A Beginner’s Guide to Making It Rain,” Philadelphia Association of Defense Counsel (PADC) Sixth Annual “A Young Lawyer’s Guide to Building Your Skills and Your Brand,” Philadelphia, PA, April 26, 2018
•Keynote speaker, CLICKS Sports & Entertainment Law Symposium, New York City, NY, March 11, 2017
•Panelist, “The Constance Baker Motley Symposium,” Diversity Works, New York State Bar Association, January 23, 2017
•Panelist, “Secrets to Success,” 1L LCLD Scholars Summit, Leadership Council on Legal Diversity, Chicago, May 21, 2016
•“Drones on the Horizon: An Update on New York’s Proposed Regulation of Unmanned Aerial Vehicles,” Association of Towns of the State of New York Annual Meeting, February 15, 2016
•Panelist, “Working as General and Outside Counsel in Sports,” Syracuse Entertainment and Sports Law Symposium, Syracuse, NY, February 6, 2016
•“The Sports Product Licensing Game: From Amateurs to Professionals, Everybody Wants to Play,” Syracuse University College of Law, April 2015
•“An Evening With Joseph Hanna ’05,” Sports & Entertainment Law Society, SUNY Buffalo Law School, March 23, 2015
•Panelist, “Client Representation,” Entertainment and Sports Law Symposium: The Game Off the Field, Syracuse University College of Law, March 21, 2015
•“Is the Empire State Ready for Drones? Exploring New York’s Proposed Regulation of Unmanned Aerial Vehicles,” Association of Towns of NYS Annual Meeting, New York, NY, February 16, 2015
•Panelist, “Surviving and Thriving: Success Tips for Diverse Litigators,” American Bar Association Minority Trial Lawyer Committee, April 2014
•“The Sports Product Licensing Game: From Amateurs to Professionals, Everybody Wants to Play,” Syracuse University College of Law, April 2014; Loyola University, 2013; SUNY Buffalo Law School Graduates of the Last Decade Group, January 18, 2012; Loyola University School of Law, April 19, 2011
•Panelist, “Focus Group Discussion,” New York State Judicial Institute on Professionalism, February 28, 2014
•“Supply Chain Reaction: The New Frontier in Compliance, Social Responsibility, Disclosure, and Transparency,” ABA Section of Litigation Corporate Counsel CLE Seminar, Rancho Mirage, CA, February 14, 2014
•“Big Bang Theory: Will the NFL’s Concussion Policy Expose the League to Potentially Massive Liability?” DRI Business Litigation Seminar, Chicago, Illinois, May 2013
•Moderator, “Beyond the Business Case Diversity and the Small/Medium Firm,” American Bar Association Section of Litigation Annual CLE Conference, Chicago, Illinois, April 25, 2013
•Panelist, “Mastering Depositions,” American Bar Association Section of Litigation Annual CLE Conference, Chicago, Illinois, April 25, 2013
•“Big Bang Theory: Will the NFL’s Concussion Policy Expose the League to Potentially Massive Liability?” CLE seminar, Minority Bar Association of Western New York, April 2013
•“A Day in the Life of a Litigator,” UB School of Law, March 19, 2013
•“Mentoring For Diversity Charrette,” New York State Bar Association Torts, Insurance, and Compensation Law Section Summer Meeting, August 17, 2012
•“Speeding from Victory Lane to the Check-Out Lane: An Inside Look at the Big Business of Sports Product Licensing,” DRI Annual Meeting, October 27, 2011
•Explore Law Program, University at Buffalo School of Law, October 12, 2011
•Motivational Speakers Panel, “Getting Ahead in School, Work and Life,” Hilbert College, October 3, 2011
•Best Practices Panel, ABA Fall Leadership Meeting, September 23, 2011
•Speaker at the Students of Color Kick-Off Event, University at Buffalo School of Law, September 10, 2011
•“Careers in the Law - How We Got Here and Why,” Buffalo Prep, August 12, 2011
•“Preparing to Practice: A Primer for Young Lawyers,” Erie County Bar Association, March 24, 2011
•“Careers in Law: Traditional & New Opportunities,” WNY Pre-Law Success Initiative, March 9, 2011
•“What Do Real Lawyers Do?” Co-Sponsored by AALSA and LALSA, March 1, 2011
•“A Power Shift, Client Development in the Age of Obama,” American Bar Association Annual Meeting, August 2010
•“Networking - A Professionals Advice on How to Work the Room,” University at Buffalo School of Law
•“The Business of Sports Licensing Agreements,” Loyola University Chicago School of Law, March 2010
•“Bunkers in Baghdad and its Effects on our United States Military Golf,” Buffalo District Golf Association, 2010

Podcasts

•Contributor, “NCAA and Amateurism,” Timely Notice, November 12, 2019
•Contributor, “Pay it Forward Friday: Bunkers in Baghdad,” Timely Notice, November 1, 2019

Recent Insights

Bringing Offline Online: Return-to-Work Considerations for the Post-COVID-19 Retail Landscape

Upcoming Webinar: May 19, 2020

Joseph M. Hanna Selected as a Buffalo Niagara 360 Spotlight Professional for May 2020

May 1, 2020

Restarting MLB Season While COVID-19 Pandemic is Risky, Joe Hanna Tells Law360

April 10, 2020

Joseph M. Hanna Discusses Possible Changes Coming to NFL Drug Policy

January 31, 2020

Joseph M. Hanna Honored With IDEA Award

January 10, 2020

Joseph M. Hanna Discusses Sports and Betting Cases to Watch In 2020

January 9, 2020