Blake Anderson Hanley is an American musician and Florida attorney best known for his work with the band Ghost Lion and his former marriage to NCIS actress Emily Wickersham. His story extends well beyond that marriage, however — as Blake Hanley, he’s built a genuine dual career, first as a singer-songwriter, composer, and producer, and later as a practicing attorney based in West Palm Beach, Florida.
Quick Facts About Blake Anderson Hanley
| Detail | Information |
| Full Name | Blake Anderson Hanley |
| Professional Name | Blake Hanley |
| Known For | Musician (Ghost Lion, Kin Cayo) and Florida attorney |
| Education | Southwestern University School of Law (graduated 2016) |
| Bar Admission | Florida Bar, May 23, 2018 |
| Current Legal Practice | The Grantham Law Firm & Standard Title, West Palm Beach |
| Former Wife | Emily Wickersham (married November 23, 2010; divorced December 2018) |
| Reported Partner | Mumbi O’Brien |
| Reported Daughter | Muoni, born May 2020 |
| Net Worth | Not publicly documented |
Who Is Blake Anderson Hanley?
Blake Anderson Hanley, often credited professionally as Blake Hanley, has built parallel careers in both music and law. Ghost Lion became his best-known creative project, where he worked as a singer-songwriter, composer, and producer, following an earlier stint leading the indie group Kin Cayo.
His legal career is centered in Florida, where he’s a Bar-admitted attorney with experience spanning public-interest law, property matters, and legal aid work. Public interest in Hanley also stems significantly from his marriage to Emily Wickersham, who played Special Agent Eleanor “Ellie” Bishop on NCIS — the two married in 2010 and divorced in 2018.
His Early Life and Palm Beach Background
Hanley grew up in Palm Beach, Florida, with his music remaining closely tied to South Florida culture throughout his career — West Palm Beach influenced his approach to community, cultural identity, and musical style. His family has deep roots in the state as well; Daniel Hanley worked in law, and other family members maintained professional careers in Palm Beach.
Music entered Blake’s life early, with classical guitar shaping his initial interest in performing. He later drew influence from artists including Buena Vista Social Club, Nine Inch Nails, the Clash, and the Sex Pistols — an eclectic mix that exposed him to reggae, punk, rock, and Latin-inspired sounds that would eventually shape his broader creative identity.
His Education
Hanley’s education connected communication, music, and eventually legal training. He developed early academic interests in communication and media alongside his musical pursuits — subjects that complemented the skills evident in his songwriting, performance, and production work.
That path later intersected directly with law. While attending Southwestern Law School, he became involved with the Music Law Society, gaining exposure to legal issues surrounding music, copyright, and entertainment. He graduated from Southwestern University School of Law in 2016, and his involvement with the Music Law Society kept entertainment law close to his academic experience even as he pursued a broader legal education. He returned to Florida afterward and entered professional legal practice, becoming a member of the Florida Bar in 2018.
His Music Career: Kin Cayo and Ghost Lion
Music was Hanley’s first major public career, evolving from the tropical post-punk sound of Kin Cayo into the broader stylistic range of Ghost Lion. Kin Cayo began as Hanley’s personal creative project before developing into a full band, blending indie music with influences from South Florida, the Caribbean, and Latin America. Hanley handled lead vocals and guitar, joined by musicians including John Graney, Enrique Lara, and Mike Torres — one of the group’s early releases, “Our Ship,” reflected this mix of rock, pop, and tropical influence.
Ghost Lion later expanded Hanley’s musical direction into what’s been described as subtropical world-pop, combining indie and pop elements with calypso, cumbia, South American folk, and electronic music. The project’s arrangements paired acoustic guitar with electronic textures, live drums, synths, and percussion, with drummer Paul O’Leary joining as Hanley remained central as singer-songwriter, composer, and producer. Ghost Lion released the Ballad of St. Panama EP in 2017, followed by several singles and the full-length album Nuclear Island — a 13-track record exploring themes of relationships, heartbreak, identity, spirituality, and isolation. Notable tracks include “Shot the Sun Down” and “Sinking Stones,” alongside other songs like “Wrong Guy,” “Broken Glass,” “Wolves,” and “Way Up.”
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Career Milestones
One of Hanley’s most notable career achievements came when he won a worldwide Live Nation Battle of the Bands competition for employees, earning a trip to the House of Blues in Los Angeles along with a $35,000 prize, which he used toward recording equipment and further music development. His career also included industry showcases connected to Republic, Universal, and Vanguard Records.
Ghost Lion performed live in Florida and appeared at SunFest in West Palm Beach, with the project returning to live activity around 2018 alongside drummer Paul O’Leary. Today, Ghost Lion maintains a public presence through its existing catalogue, videos, and previously released material, though Hanley’s current professional profile is more strongly tied to law than active touring, with no widely established recent touring schedule or confirmed new release cycle.
From Musician to Attorney
Hanley transitioned into law after years of creative work in music, with an interest in social justice helping shape that professional pivot. While songwriting and legal work rely on different specific tools, both draw on overlapping skills — songwriting demands communication and close observation, while legal work requires analysis and clear explanation.
By 2018, Hanley had entered Florida legal practice while continuing to develop Ghost Lion simultaneously, making his career a genuine combination of music and law rather than a clean transition from one to the other.
His Legal Career
Hanley’s legal career has included public-interest work, domestic violence representation, and property-related legal services, reflecting a steady evolution from legal aid work into broader property and probate practice.
After graduating from Southwestern University School of Law in 2016, Hanley was admitted to the Florida Bar on May 23, 2018, under Bar number 1008828, and remains a member in good standing eligible to practice law in Florida. An important early chapter of his legal career involved the Legal Aid Society of Palm Beach County, where his work included legal support connected to domestic violence cases — public-interest advocacy for people navigating difficult family situations, with the organization serving low-income residents needing legal representation.
He later became involved with the Heirs’ Property Project, a program helping families dealing with inherited homes, land, and unclear property ownership. His work there included probate estate administration, estate planning, and resolving title issues — legal services that help families establish clear ownership and protect property that might otherwise become difficult to transfer or retain, connecting property law directly to housing stability and generational wealth. Hanley remained involved with heirs’ property work into 2025. As of 2026, he’s professionally associated with The Grantham Law Firm & Standard Title in West Palm Beach, with his current legal work focused on real property, probate, and trust matters — meaning his overall legal career spans family law, business law, and property law rather than one single specialty.
His Marriage to Emily Wickersham
Blake Hanley married Emily Wickersham on November 23, 2010, in a wedding held on Little Palm Island in the Florida Keys, with a reception later held at Palm Beach’s Bath & Tennis Club. Wickersham became widely known for playing Special Agent Eleanor “Ellie” Bishop on NCIS, and her television career brought increased public attention to Hanley by extension.
The marriage lasted about eight years, with both keeping much of their personal relationship out of regular entertainment coverage throughout.
Their Divorce
Hanley and Emily Wickersham divorced in December 2018, after marrying in 2010. No confirmed public reason has been established for their separation. Notably, the divorce coincided with an active professional period for Hanley — that same year, he gained Florida Bar admission while continuing to develop Ghost Lion alongside drummer Paul O’Leary.
His Life After Divorce
Hanley has kept much of his personal life since the divorce out of entertainment media, with his professional work in law and music remaining far easier to document than his private family life.
He’s publicly associated with Mumbi O’Brien, a South Florida artist working across visual art, performance, installation, styling, and costume design. The two have appeared together publicly and have shared creative credits, with their relationship reported as a marriage in various biographical coverage. Hanley is also reportedly the father of a daughter named Muoni, born in May 2020, who has been identified within the wider Hanley family — though he has generally kept these family details private, with his legal and creative work remaining the more visible parts of his public profile.
His Net Worth
Blake Anderson Hanley’s exact net worth isn’t publicly documented. Online estimates have suggested figures around $500,000 to $1 million, though no public financial records confirm these amounts. His income sources have likely included legal work, music, performance, and potential royalties — one clearly documented figure is the $35,000 prize he received through the Live Nation Battle of the Bands competition, which he used to purchase recording equipment. Without public salary records, royalty statements, or business filings, no reliable total net worth can be established.
Where Is He Now?
As of 2026, Hanley remains professionally connected to West Palm Beach, Florida, working in legal practice with The Grantham Law Firm & Standard Title, focused on real property, probate, and trust matters. Earlier stages of his legal career involved the Legal Aid Society of Palm Beach County and the Heirs’ Property Project, while Ghost Lion continues to represent his public creative identity through its existing music catalogue and past releases.
Final Thoughts
Blake Anderson Hanley has built a genuinely dual public career spanning music and law. Through Kin Cayo and Ghost Lion, he established himself as a musician, songwriter, composer, and producer shaped by South Florida’s diverse musical culture, while his legal career — beginning with public-interest work and evolving into property, probate, and trust practice — reflects an equally substantive professional path. His marriage to Emily Wickersham explains part of the public attention surrounding his name, but his extensive music catalogue and ongoing legal career offer a much fuller picture of who Blake Anderson Hanley is today.
FAQs About Blake Anderson Hanley
Who is Blake Anderson Hanley?
He’s an American musician and Florida attorney, known for Ghost Lion and his former marriage to NCIS actress Emily Wickersham.
What does Blake Anderson Hanley do for a living?
He works as a Florida attorney, currently associated with The Grantham Law Firm & Standard Title in West Palm Beach.
What band was Blake Anderson Hanley in?
He led Kin Cayo before becoming the singer-songwriter behind Ghost Lion, blending pop, calypso, cumbia, and electronic music.
Was Blake Anderson Hanley married to Emily Wickersham?
Yes — they married November 23, 2010, in the Florida Keys, and divorced in December 2018.
What kind of law does Blake Anderson Hanley practice?
His legal work has included domestic violence advocacy, heirs’ property and probate matters, with his current focus on real property, probate, and trust law.
