Wayne R. Hannah Jr. ’57, a life trustee of NYU Law, died on August 7 at the age of 91. Hannah was a partner first at Sonnenschein Nath & Rosenthal and then at its successor firm, Dentons, specializing in financial institutions, mortgage banking, real estate, and corporate practice.
“Wayne’s legacy is one that will forever be etched into the fabric of our institution,” Dean Troy McKenzie ’00 said in an email announcement to the NYU Law community. Noting Hannah’s strong support for the Law School’s Root-Tilden-Kern Program, the nation’s premier public service scholarship, McKenzie said: “Wayne’s commitment to the program’s ideals was unwavering, reflecting his belief in the power of education and public service to shape a better world.”
Hannah attended Illinois College and graduated Phi Beta Kappa. He received a Fulbright Scholarship in 1953 to study at the University of Bordeaux and went on to earn his JD from NYU Law, made possible by support from what was then the Root-Tilden Scholarship Fund.
In his practice, Hannah advised corporations in areas as diverse as complex international equipment sales, mortgage banking, taxicab operations, and casualty insurance matters. He had a particular expertise in navigating the intricate regulatory landscape surrounding mergers, acquisitions, real estate investments, commercial lending practices, and joint venture financing.
Hannah was also actively involved in legal education, sharing his knowledge through lectures and publications. “Throughout his career, Wayne was regarded as a beacon of expertise and integrity by his peers,” McKenzie said.
Posted August 14, 2023