Former Assistant General Counsel for the National Transportation Safety Board Benjamin Allen Joins Holland & Knight
WASHINGTON (July 17, 2023) – Benjamin Allen, former Assistant General Counsel for the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB), has joined Holland & Knight as a partner in its Litigation Section and will practice out of the firm's Washington, D.C., office. He will also be a key member of the firm's Transportation & Infrastructure Industry Sector Group.
Mr. Allen has more than 20 years of aviation experience and served as Assistant General Counsel for the NTSB beginning in 2013. In this role, he led legal support for accident investigations in all modes of transportation, including engaging with numerous companies and their counsel to ensure compliance with applicable regulations as well as addressing issues related to public communications and release of information, civil litigation and discovery obligations, export control restrictions, protection of confidential business and commercial information, and participation in NTSB investigative hearings.
He has extensive experience handling on-scene crisis coordination with federal, state and local authorities, as well as private companies, and has been involved in federal investigations conducted by U.S. Department of Transportation (DOT) agencies, such as the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA), Federal Railroad Administration (FRA), Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA), Office of Inspector General (OIG), and Pipeline and Hazardous Materials Safety Administration (PHMSA), foreign civil accident investigation authorities, the U.S. Chemical Safety and Hazard Investigation Board (CSB), U.S. Coast Guard and other military departments. He also served as agency counsel in cooperation with the U.S. Department of Justice, U.S. Coast Guard and DOT in numerous administrative actions, criminal prosecutions and civil cases.
"Having someone with Ben's experience providing first-rate legal support in NTSB investigations and emergency response is an important part of maintaining and growing Holland & Knight's capabilities and reputation for transportation litigation," said Christopher G. Kelly, leader of Holland & Knight's Litigation Section. "We pride ourselves in providing these leading services to our transportation and insurance clients during the critical moments after an incident. The unique opportunity to hire Ben allows us to strengthen this hallmark of our litigation practice."
"After a decade at NTSB, I'm excited to join Holland & Knight, where I can apply my knowledge and experience navigating the complexities of NTSB investigations to help clients prepare for and respond to transportation disasters," said Mr. Allen. "Holland & Knight's excellent reputation and its representation of the world's leading transportation and infrastructure companies make the firm the perfect choice for the next step in my career."
Mr. Allen earned a J.D. degree from American University, Washington College of Law and a B.A. degree from Trinity University.