Joe Gibbons joined the firm in May 2005 and became a Partner in January 2006. Prior to joining SSSB, Joe spent the majority of his career with McGinty, Gibbons, Hilow & Spellacy Co., LPA, and Carney & Broadbent, both located in downtown Cleveland, Ohio. Over the years, Joe has represented a variety of individuals, businesses, institutions, and governmental entities. His primary practice areas include estate planning, estate and trust administration and related litigation, real estate, estate and business succession planning, and counseling closely held businesses.

Joe has been active in community and civic affairs throughout the Cleveland area, most recently as a member and Officer of the Board of Trustees of the Sisters of Charity Foundation of Cleveland. In 2019, he served as the Law Director for the City of Fairview Park. From 2015 to 2018 he was the Board Chair for the Board of Trustees of Cuyahoga Arts & Culture, to which he was appointed by the Cuyahoga County Executive in 2014.

Joe has been particularly active in the City of Lakewood, where he served as Chairman of the Board of Directors of Lakewood Catholic Academy, as a Member and Officer of the Board of Trustees of Lakewood Hospital Foundation, and as a Member of the Lakewood Hospital Board. In addition, Joe served as a member of the Lakewood City Council, a Member and President of the Lakewood Civil Service Commission, and a member of many other boards and commissions in Lakewood.

Outside of professional and charitable pursuits, Joe also remains an avid runner and ice hockey player. He and his wife, Peggy, have two adult children and reside in Lakewood.

Practice Areas

  • Business Law
  • Business Succession Planning
  • Estate Administration
  • Estate Planning and Probate
  • Probate Litigation
  • Real Estate
  • Trust Administration

Education

  • Cleveland-Marshall College of Law, J.D. (1979)
  • John Carroll University, B.A. in Communications (1976)

Admissions & Associations

  • State of Ohio
  • U.S. District Court, Northern District of Ohio
  • Eighth Circuit Court of Appeals
  • Member, American Bar Association
  • Member, Ohio State Bar Association
  • Member, Cleveland Metropolitan Bar Association

Awards & Honors

  • Martindale-Hubbell® AV Preeminent®
  • Recognized in The Best Lawyers in America® since 2022 for Practice Areas:
    • Corporate Law
    • Real Estate Law
    • Trusts and Estates
  • Recipient of Lakewood Catholic Academy's "Insignis Award"

Community Activities

  • Law Director for the City of Fairview Park
  • Secretary of the Sisters of Charity Foundation of Cleveland Board
  • Life Member, Judicial Conference for Eighth Judicial District
  • Former Member and Chairman of the Cuyahoga Arts & Culture Board of Trustees
  • Former Member and Past President, Lakewood Civil Service Commission (1996 - 2017)
  • Past Member, Lakewood Hospital Board
  • Past Member and Officer, Board of Trustees of the Lakewood Hospital Foundation
  • Past Chairman Board of Directors, Lakewood Catholic Academy
  • Member of Lakewood City Council (1992 - 1995)