Elizabeth A. Allen

Elizabeth A. Allen is Chief Legal Officer, General Counsel and Secretary. She joined NPR in February 2021 and brings 25 years of legal experience.

Before coming to NPR, Allen spent the last 16 years at Gannett Co., Inc. Most recently, she served as its Vice President, General Counsel and Secretary, where she oversaw the operations of the Law Department, helped the company execute its strategic plan and managed a broad range of complex commercial negotiations and litigation. When the company's publishing business was spun off in 2015 to create the then-new Gannett, she counseled extensively to support its new public status and Board of Directors. Allen first joined Gannett as Assistant General Counsel in 2004. In her various roles at the company, she was a key advisor on issues relating to corporate governance, mergers and acquisitions, complex commercial negotiations, administrative proceedings, litigation, antitrust and executive compensation, among other legal work.

Prior to joining Gannett in 2004, Allen was an associate at Nixon Peabody LLP. She specialized in antitrust, litigation and compliance investigations. Since that time, she has also participated in related professional and industry organizations. Allen served as the National Policy Advisor to National Bar Association President Clyde Bailey, and for several years as chair of the NBA's Communications Law section. She has been active in the News Media Alliance and the Media Law Resource Center.

Allen earned her bachelor's degree in economics from Harvard University and her law degree from Georgetown University Law Center.