Blake Anderson Hanley has lived the kind of life most people only dream about: fronting an indie rock band on sunny Florida stages, then swapping guitar picks for legal briefs to become a respected family law attorney. This Palm Beach Florida native turned Ghost Lion lead singer into a musician turned lawyer, proving reinvention can look effortless when passion drives every step.
Today, the former husband of Emily Wickersham enjoys a quiet, happy life with his artist wife Mumbi O’Brien and their young daughter Muoni Hanley, while still writing new music and fighting for families in court. At 41, Blake Anderson Hanley stands as living proof that you really can have the rockstar chapter and the grown-up chapter without ever losing your soul
Quick Overview of Blake Anderson Hanley (2025 Snapshot Table)
| Full Name | Blake Anderson Hanley |
| Date of Birth | March 2, 1984 |
| Blake Hanley age in 2025 | 41 years old |
| Birthplace | Palm Beach Florida birthplace – West Palm Beach, FL |
| Current Residence | Palm Beach County, Florida |
| Height | ~6 ft (183 cm) |
| Professions | Indie rock musician, Ghost Lion lead singer, family and divorce lawyer |
| Current Law Firm | Bruce Law Firm, Palm Beach County |
| Former Law Firms | Inner City Law Center, Fine Law PC |
| Education | Southwestern Law School graduate, Vice President of Music Law Society |
| Famous As | Former husband of Emily Wickersham, NCIS star |
| Current Wife | Mumbi O’Brien wife (visual artist) |
| Children | Muoni Hanley daughter (born May 2, 2020) |
| Blake Hanley net worth 2025 | $800,000 – $1.5 million |
| @blakehansolo (10K+ followers) | |
| Band | Ghost Lion band (active since 2016) |
Early Life and Family Background
Blake Anderson Hanley grew up in the salty, sun-drenched streets of West Palm Beach, the kind of place where kids ride bikes to the beach and dream of becoming surfers or rockstars — sometimes both. His father, Daniel Hanley, was an Australian rules footballer turned Florida businessman, while his mother, Denise, taught elementary school and filled the house with music and books. Blake and his older brother Drew were inseparable — Drew later officiated Blake’s first wedding and remains his biggest cheerleader today. This multicultural family background gave Blake an early taste of resilience, creativity, and the idea that you can reinvent yourself as many times as you need to. No trust fund, no shortcuts — just beach barbecues, garage jam sessions, and parents who taught him that hard work always beats talent when talent doesn’t work hard.
Date of Birth and Age in 2025
Mark your calendar: Blake Anderson Hanley was born on March 2, 1984, which means he celebrated his 41st birthday in 2025. As a classic Pisces, he carries that intuitive, artistic, deeply empathetic energy that shines through whether he’s writing lyrics about heartbreak or helping a client rebuild after domestic violence. Fans joke that he’s “aging like a 1976 Mercedes 450SLC” — his actual car — smooth, classy, and only getting better with time.
Physical Appearance and Personality Traits
Stand Blake Anderson Hanley next to anyone and he still stands out. Roughly 6 feet tall with an athletic, surfer-lean build, dark wavy hair that falls just right, light brown eyes that lock in when he listens, and a smile that makes you feel like you’ve known him for years. He dresses like a man who owns both guitar pedals and court suits — fitted tees, vintage denim, leather jackets, and those classic Ray-Ban wayfarers. Personality-wise, people who know him say the same three words: warm, loyal, hilarious. He’s the guy who remembers your dog’s name, replies to Instagram DMs from struggling musicians, and can turn a tense courtroom moment into something almost healing. That rare mix of rockstar charisma and genuine kindness is why strangers become friends in five minutes flat.
Educational Background and Academic Journey
Blake started in Palm Beach public schools, then earned a Bachelor’s in Communication and Media Studies from Palm Beach Atlantic University. But the real game-changer happened when he moved to Los Angeles and enrolled at Southwestern Law School. While most law students were grinding casebooks, Blake was elected Vice President of Music Law Society, throwing showcase events for unsigned artists and learning how to protect creative people — a skill he still uses today. He graduated with honors, passed the California bar on the first try, later transferred his license to Florida when he moved home. His education proves you don’t have to choose between art and intellect — you can master both.
How Blake Anderson Hanley Started His Career
Blake picked up a guitar at age 10 and never really put it down. By his teens he was sneaking into West Palm Beach open mics, covering Ryan Adams and Jeff Buckley while slipping in his own songs. College brought studio internships, late-night writing sessions, and the realization that music was his oxygen. He hustled every small gig, festival slot, and recording session he could find, learning the brutal business side the hard way — bounced checks, shady promoters, stolen gear. Those early scars became the fuel that pushed him to form his own projects and, eventually, the Ghost Lion band.
Music Career and Rise as a Rockstar
In 2016, Blake re-branded his group as Ghost Lion and everything clicked. Their debut EP “Dim Echo” introduced the world to Blake’s signature sound — emotional indie rock with island percussion, calypso guitar lines, and lyrics that feel like late-night confessions. Tracks like “Wrong Guy,” “Sinking Stones,” and “Way Up” racked up millions of streams and landed them slots at SunFest, Gasparilla Music Festival, and tours across the Southeast. Critics called him “Ryan Adams meets Jack Johnson in a dive bar” — high praise for an independent artist. Even while law school loomed, Blake kept writing, recording, and touring, proving he could headline a Saturday night show and crush a Monday morning final.
Transition From Music to Legal Career
Around 2018–2019, after almost fifteen years on the road, Blake felt the pull toward something more stable and impactful. Music had given him everything, but it hadn’t given him health insurance or predictable paychecks. He enrolled in law school with a clear mission: use his creative brain and huge heart to help people going through the worst moments of their lives. He started as a law clerk at the Inner City Law Center in Los Angeles, handling pro-bono eviction and domestic violence cases. The transition wasn’t easy — friends thought he was crazy — but Blake saw it as the ultimate remix of his life.
Career as an Attorney and Legal Achievements
Today, Blake Anderson Hanley is a respected family law attorney and divorce lawyer at the Bruce Law Firm in Palm Beach County. He specializes in high-conflict divorce, child custody, and domestic violence cases, often taking on clients who can’t afford big retainers. Former clients describe him as “calm in the storm” and “the lawyer who actually listens.” In 2024 he helped launch a pro-bono initiative that provided free legal clinics for musicians facing contract disputes — a perfect marriage of his two worlds. His legal advocacy for artists is quickly becoming legendary in Florida legal circles.
Relationship Timeline With Emily Wickersham
Blake met Emily Wickersham (yes, the Emily Wickersham NCIS actress who played Ellie Bishop) in the late 2000s in Los Angeles. They bonded over music, dogs, and terrible coffee. After dating for a couple years, they tied the knot on November 23, 2010 in a dreamy barefoot ceremony on Little Palm Island in the Florida Keys wedding. Brother Drew officiated, 150 guests danced under string lights, and the couple looked like they stepped out of a romance novel. For eight years they supported each other’s rising careers — Emily on network TV, Blake on tour. But by 2017 the distance (literal and emotional) grew too wide. They separated quietly and finalized divorce in December 2018 with zero public drama.
Who Is Emily Wickersham? (Quick Profile)
Emily Kaiser Wickersham, born April 26, 1984, became a household name playing Special Agent Ellie Bishop on NCIS for eight seasons. She’s also appeared in The Sopranos, Gossip Girl, and films like Gone and I Am Number Four. Since leaving NCIS in 2021 she’s focused on motherhood (she and partner James Badge Dale welcomed son Cassius in 2021 and a second child is reportedly on the way). Her estimated net worth sits around $6 million — considerably higher than Blake’s, but both have always kept finances separate and drama-free.
Marriage, Divorce, and Real Reasons Behind the Split
The marriage was beautiful while it lasted, but two skyrocketing careers on opposite coasts made it impossible to keep the spark alive. Emily filmed in Valencia, California twelve months a year while Blake toured the country with Ghost Lion. Sources close to the couple say there was no cheating, no huge fight — just two good people who grew in different directions. They remain on friendly terms; Emily has publicly called Blake “a great guy” in rare interviews, and Blake has never said a negative word about her.
Life After Divorce and Personal Growth
The 2018–2019 period was Blake’s “dark night of the soul” that turned into his brightest chapter. He surfed every morning, started therapy, read every self-help book under the sun, and wrote some say) lost 20 pounds of tour-weight and gained a whole new perspective. Life after divorce became his greatest personal growth story — he learned to sit with discomfort, write healthier songs, and show up more presents for the people he loves.
Second Marriage and Current Relationship Status
In late 2019 Blake met Mumbi O’Brien, a UCLA-trained visual artist with Kenyan roots and a laugh that lights up rooms. They clicked instantly at a Los Angeles gallery opening, dated quietly, and married in an intimate private wedding ceremony in 2020. Today they split time between Los Angeles and Palm Beach, raising their daughter and collaborating on creative projects (Mumbi designs a lot of Ghost Lion album art). Friends say this is the happiest Blake has ever been.
Children and Family Life
On May 2, 2020, Blake and Mumbi welcomed Muoni Hanley — Swahili for “peace.” She’s five years old in 2025, obsessed with the ocean, ukuleles, and her dad’s old tour shirts. Blake is the dad who builds sandcastles at sunrise, reads three bedtime stories, and still makes court on time. He and Mumbi are fiercely protective of Muoni’s privacy (you’ll never see her full face on Instagram @blakehansolo), but the blurry beach photos he posts melt hearts every time.
Social Media Presence and Public Image
Blake runs a refreshingly real Instagram under @blakehansolo — think sunset surf sessions, Ghost Lion rehearsal clips, legal tips for artists, and the occasional throwback to his Emily days (always respectful). He answers almost every DM, shares playlists, and uses his platform to raise awareness about domestic violence resources. In a world of curated perfection, his social media presence feels like a deep breath of fresh air.
Net Worth, Income Sources, and Lifestyle
| Income Stream | Estimated Yearly Revenue |
| Ghost Lion royalties & gigs | $40K – $80K |
| Legal salary (Bruce Law Firm) | $150K – $250K |
| Music production & investments | $20K – $50K |
| Total Blake Hanley net worth 2025 | $800K – $1.5 million |
He drives a restored 1976 Mercedes 450SLC, lives in a cozy (not flashy) ocean-view home, and spends money on experiences — surf trips with Muoni, art supplies for Mumbi, and donating to local women’s shelters.
Future Plans, Projects, and Career Goals
2026 brings a brand-new Ghost Lion album titled “Reverb & Resolve” — 12 songs about second chances. Blake is also developing a non-profit that offers free or low-cost legal help to independent musicians (think contract reviews, copyright disputes, royalty recovery). Long-term, he dreams of opening a community music-and-legal center in West Palm Beach where kids can take guitar lessons upstairs and get free legal clinics downstairs.
FAQs About Blake Anderson Hanley
1.Who is Blake Anderson Hanley?
Palm Beach Florida native, Ghost Lion lead singer, and family law attorney; also known as Emily Wickersham’s ex-husband.
2.How old is Blake Anderson Hanley in 2025?
He is 41 years old (born March 2, 1984).
3.Who is Blake Hanley’s current wife?
Visual artist Mumbi O’Brien – they married in 2020.
4.Does Blake Anderson Hanley have children?
Yes, one daughter named Muoni Hanley (born May 2, 2020).
5.What is Blake Hanley’s net worth in 2025?
Estimated $800,000 to $1.5 million from music and law.
6.Is Blake Anderson Hanley still making music?
Absolutely – Ghost Lion is active and a new album drops in 2026.
7.Why did Blake and Emily Wickersham divorce?
Career distance and growing apart; the split in 2018 was amicable.
8.Where does Blake Anderson Hanley work as a lawyer?
He’s a family and divorce lawyer at Bruce Law Firm in Palm Beach County, Florida.
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