Justin T. Allen

Professional Experience

Justin Allen practiced law as a litigator for almost eight years at Wright Lindsey Jennings before joining the Arkansas Attorney General’s office as Chief Deputy Attorney General. As Chief Deputy, Allen gained considerable experience in government relations matters. In that position, Allen was responsible for all legal departments within the office and handled legal issues faced by the State, including constitutional issues, consumer protection, environmental, antitrust, criminal appeals, habeas corpus, Medicaid fraud and administrative law. He also worked with the Governor’s office, legislators, agency directors and private interests on matters of legislation and policy.

Allen’s more recent experience includes:

• Providing government relations and lobbying services to clients in the areas of energy, telecommunications, gaming, alcohol and tobacco regulation, agriculture, healthcare, economic incentives, business development and manufacturing.
• Assisting clients in working with the Little Rock city government and its Board of Directors.
• Assisting clients in working with Attorneys General across the country.
• Defending businesses in investigations and litigation pursued by the Arkansas Attorney General.
• Assisting businesses with projects involving the Arkansas Economic Development Commission and the Department of Finance & Administration.

As Chief Deputy Attorney General, Allen’s experience included:

• Appearing before the Arkansas Supreme Court to argue on behalf of the State with regard to the legality of its lethal injection process and its rights to riparian property (Arkansas Dept. of Correction v. Frank Williams, Jr., State of Arkansas v. Hatchie Coon Hunting & Fishing Club, Inc.).
• Management of the State’s interest in the case of Oklahoma v. Tyson Foods et al., including arguing the State’s motion to intervene in the Federal District Court of the Eastern District of Oklahoma.
• Management of the State’s interest in the long-running school funding case (Lakeview v. Arkansas) and in the desegregation litigation still pending in federal district court.

Recognition

Allen obtained his law degree from the University of Arkansas at Little Rock William H. Bowen School of Law in 1999, where he graduated first in his class. While in law school, he served as the Research Editor for the UALR Law Review and was a member of the UALR National Trial Team. Allen obtained his undergraduate degree from the University of Arkansas in 1995 where he obtained membership in the Gold Key Honor Society and Phi Alpha Theta History Honor Society.

Allen was recently named to the inaugural “Arkansas 200” by Arkansas Business, recognizing 200 influential Arkansans in the business community. He also participated in the 10th anniversary class of Leadership Arkansas sponsored by the Arkansas State Chamber of Commerce. In 2011, Arkansas Business recognized Allen in the publication’s annual 40 Under 40 list. Since 2012, Mid-South Super Lawyers has acknowledged Allen for his work in the area of Government Relations. Allen was selected for inclusion in The Best Lawyers in America© in their 2021, 2022 and 2023 editions in the field of Administrative/Regulatory Law.

Allen serves as a regular contributor to Talk Business & Politics. He has also contributed to the following publications:

• Survey of Case Law, Constitutional Law, 20 U. Ark. Little Rock L. Rev. 615 (1999)
• Contributing Editor, Tort Law Desk Reference, A Fifty State Compendium (Aspen Law & Business, 2000)
• Contributing Editor, Consumer Law Handbook (Arkansas Bar Association, 2000)
• Contributing Editor, Products Liability Defenses: A State-by-State Compendium (Defense Research Institute, 2004)
• Contributing Editor, Arkansas Form Book (Arkansas Bar Association, 2004)

Community Involvement

Currently, Allen actively serves on the Arkansas State University Three Rivers Board of Visitor’s and on the Board of Directors for the Little Rock Regional Chamber of Commerce and the Arkansas State Chamber of Commerce. He also serves on the Sheridan Parks & Recreation Board in his hometown.