Joseph “Joe” R. Banash is an Associate in the Billings office. Joe’s practice focuses on commercial litigation, including insurance matters, natural resources and mining-related disputes, contract issues, and negligence claims.
Before pursuing law, Joe served as a firefighter in West St. Paul, Manitoba, Canada, where he was an active member of the training committee and gained hands-on experience in emergency response, teamwork, and leadership. He also managed operations in his family’s construction business, overseeing client relations, contracts, hiring, training, and sales, and worked as a loan support clerk at a credit union. These roles shaped his problem-solving skills, discipline, and ability to perform under pressure – qualities that inform his legal practice today.
During law school, Joe clerked for the East Central Judicial District in Fargo and worked as a Summer Associate at Crowley Fleck. He also served as President of the Moot Court Association and Symposium Editor of the North Dakota Law Review. He organized the 2025 North Dakota Law Review Energy Law Symposium, which brought together judges, practitioners, and academics to address emerging issues in energy law. He also published a case comment in the North Dakota Law Review analyzing the U.S. Supreme Court’s decision in Twitter Inc. v. Taamneh, focusing on online platform liability and the broader implications of Section 230.
Joe established himself as a standout advocate through his success in both national and internal moot court competitions. He was a semi-finalist in the prestigious Giles Sutherland Rich Intellectual Property Moot Court Southern Region Competition, a competitor in the nationally recognized Burton D. Wechsler First Amendment Moot Court Competition, and earned Third Best Oralist at the highly competitive Touro National Moot Court Competition in Law & Religion. In law school, Joe’s advocacy skills were equally distinguished. He won Best Petitioner Brief in the Internal Moot Court Competition, advanced to the final round of the 1L Internal Moot Court Competition, and was ultimately inducted into the Order of the Barristers.
His leadership and service were recognized when he was selected as the Outstanding Law Student Leader for the Class of 2025, an award voted on by students, faculty, and staff to honor exceptional leadership in student organizations, classes, or the community.
A native of Manitoba, Canada, Joe is an avid outdoorsman who enjoys hiking, skiing, hunting, fishing, off-roading, and motorcycle touring. He also prioritizes staying fit and healthy.