Clay Hanna

Clay Hanna joined Hook Law in the Summer of 2026, supporting the firm’s estate planning and trust administration practice. He brings a background in administration, business management, banking, financial services, and nonprofit management, along with a disciplined, strategic approach shaped by two decades of military and public service. Clay is currently awaiting his Virginia Bar Examination results and will transition to the role of Associate Attorney upon admission to the Virginia State Bar.

Clay served on active duty with the U.S. Army from 2003–2008 and later retired from the Virginia Army National Guard at the rank of Major. He served as a Special Assistant to the Assistant Secretary for Congressional and Legislative Affairs at the Department of Veterans Affairs, and as a Military Operations Consultant training African Union and United Nations member armies under the U.S. Department of State’s African Contingency Operations Training and Assistance (ACOTA) program. He was awarded the Bronze Star for meritorious service while deployed to Iraq, and also earned the Combat Action Badge.

Clay held a series of leadership roles marked by measurable, strategy-driven growth. As Executive Director of Cornerstone Schools of Washington, D.C., he oversaw the organization’s academic, financial, and development operations and led a strategic restructuring that significantly increased student retention, program revenue, and annual fundraising, and included founding Cornerstone High School and its Athletic Department.

He also served as a branch manager at Regions Bank in Jackson, Tennessee, where he earned his MBA while driving growth in branch revenue and loan production. He later served as Vice President, Director of Operations for 1-800-Radiator of Tidewater, overseeing two franchise territories in Hampton Roads and substantially growing revenue while improving profitability.

Having spent his career holding positions of trust — leading people, growing what they have, and safeguarding what they’ve built — Clay is passionate about protecting families and has earned a reputation as a compassionate and discreet advisor. Drawing on a wealth of life experience, he is privileged to help individuals and families navigate complex challenges and hard-earned opportunities with prudence and grace.

Clay lives in Norfolk with his wife and five children, and their goldendoodle, Finn. He grew up in a soccer-obsessed family and played competitively in high school and college, and has coached girls and boys teams at the middle school, high school, and club levels.