10 Norfolk Southern legal leaders
Vice president law, senior deputy general counsel and assistant deputy general counsel are among the roles held by these ten Norfolk Southern legal leaders. A reader can learn how legal leaders work at Norfolk Southern from people who have held the role.
Professionals to explore
Christine R. Hardy
LinkedInExperience: Deputy General Counsel & Data Privacy Officer · Norfolk Southern
Christine R. Hardy has been Deputy General Counsel & Data Privacy Officer at Norfolk Southern since September 2021, based in Atlanta. The profile also lists Deputy General Counsel (2020–2021), Assistant Deputy General Counsel (2019–2020), General Attorney (2016–2019) and Assistant General Solicitor (2015–2016) at Norfolk Southern.
Elaina Blanks-Green
LinkedInExperience: Senior Deputy General Counsel · Norfolk Southern
Elaina Blanks-Green has been Senior Deputy General Counsel at Norfolk Southern since December 2023, a role the profile headline lists as taxation. The profile also lists Deputy General Counsel (2020–2023) and General Tax Attorney (2012–2020) at Norfolk Southern, and Attorney at Kaufman & Canoles (2003–2012).
Helen Hart
LinkedInExperience: Sr. Deputy General Counsel · Norfolk Southern
Helen Hart has been Sr. Deputy General Counsel at Norfolk Southern, a role listed from 2007 with no end date; the profile describes work as a regulatory and transactional lawyer guiding legal strategy and enterprise risk mitigation. Helen Hart also held Assistant Vice President Safety & Environmental at Norfolk Southern (2021–2023), and was Assistant General Counsel at Pepco Holdings (2005–2007) and an Associate at Vinson & Elkins (2000–2005).
Joseph Carpenter
LinkedInExperience: Vice President Law · Norfolk Southern
Joseph Carpenter has been Vice President Law at Norfolk Southern since November 2024, based in Atlanta. The profile also lists Senior General Counsel at Norfolk Southern (2002–2024). The profile says Joseph Carpenter started in the company's Litigation Section overseeing personal injury and property damage cases, and describes work across a wide range of legal subject areas.
Maisha Shaw
LinkedInExperience: Sr. Deputy General Counsel · Norfolk Southern
Maisha Shaw has been Sr. Deputy General Counsel at Norfolk Southern since July 2022, based in Atlanta. The profile also lists Assistant Deputy General Counsel at Norfolk Southern (2020–2022), and Head of Employment Legal (2nd VP Counsel) (2020), Head of Employment Legal (Corporate Counsel) (2018–2019) and Sr. Associate Counsel - Employment & Labor (2017–2018) at Aflac.
Matt Lockhart
LinkedInExperience: Deputy General Counsel · Norfolk Southern
Matt Lockhart has been Deputy General Counsel at Norfolk Southern since May 2022, based in Atlanta; the profile headline names litigation leadership, outside counsel management and enterprise risk. The profile also lists Assistant Deputy General Counsel (2019–2022) and General Attorney (2019) at Norfolk Southern, Partner at Dinsmore & Shohl LLP (2015–2019) and Associate Attorney at Huddleston Bolen LLP (2009–2015).
Rob Carden
LinkedInExperience: Assistant Deputy General Counsel · Norfolk Southern
Rob Carden has been Assistant Deputy General Counsel at Norfolk Southern since January 2021, based in Atlanta. The profile says Rob Carden provides legal advice internally and manages outside counsel firms on litigation and other legal matters affecting the company and the industry. The profile also lists Shareholder at Spears, Moore, Rebman & Williams, P.C. (2019–2021) and Associate at Leitner, Williams, Dooley & Napolitan, PLLC (2014–2018).
Toren Elsen
LinkedInExperience: Assistant Deputy General Counsel - Corporate · Norfolk Southern
Toren Elsen has been Assistant Deputy General Counsel - Corporate at Norfolk Southern since December 2022, based in Atlanta. The profile also lists Senior Counsel at Norfolk Southern (2018–2022), and Associate (2016–2018), Summer Associate (2015) and Litigation Paralegal (2008–2013) at Beveridge & Diamond PC.
Walker Stewart
LinkedInExperience: Assistant Deputy General Counsel · Norfolk Southern
Walker Stewart has been Assistant Deputy General Counsel at Norfolk Southern since September 2023, based in Macon, Georgia; the profile headline names complex litigation, trial strategy and risk management. The profile also lists Partner at Hall, Bloch, Garland, & Meyer, LLP (2011–2023) and Associate at Burr & Forman (2008–2011), and Law Clerk to United States District Judge Inge P. Johnson (2007–2008).
Choose the right perspective
Start with the person whose practice area matches your question, such as litigation, regulation, tax, privacy or corporate work. Weigh how long each person has held the current role, since a recent appointee and a long-serving lawyer may see the same question differently.
Questions to take into the conversation
- 01How do you divide work between your in-house team and outside counsel, and what makes you keep a matter internal?
- 02What changed in how you work with business leaders when you moved into your current legal role?
- 03Which skills from private practice or earlier in-house roles turned out to matter most in your current job?
Reaching Norfolk Southern legal leaders
How can I contact one of these Norfolk Southern legal leaders?
Pick one of the 10 people on this page and choose "Book a paid call", or describe your project to find others. You offer a fee for a 15-minute call or a written answer, Instant Expert finds the person's work email and sends the invitation, and they decide whether to accept. The list covers 1 company: Norfolk Southern, based on profile data retrieved on October 17, 2026. Being listed here doesn't mean someone has agreed to take calls.
How much does it cost to reach Norfolk Southern legal leaders?
You choose the offer, starting at $5 per person. The offer is what the person receives, and Instant Expert's fee is added on top, so a $100 offer costs you $125. The fee is 20% of what you pay. You're charged only when the person books the call or sends the answer.
What if they don't reply?
You pay nothing. Instant Expert sends follow-up reminders, and if the person hasn't booked or answered within 7 days, the request expires and any hold on your card is released. You can invite several of the 10 people on this list at once and cap your total spend, so you pay only for the ones who accept.
Can an AI agent ask one of these Norfolk Southern legal leaders a question?
Yes. An agent with a USDC wallet on Base can ask one question without an Instant Expert account. It names the person, for example by the LinkedIn URL on this page, and pays per ask over x402 (HTTP 402). The person answers in writing or by voice note, and if nobody answers within 7 days, the payment goes back to the wallet automatically. Claude and ChatGPT can do the same through the Instant Expert connector: setup is at /docs/mcp for Claude and /docs/chatgpt for ChatGPT. x402 docs
About this directory
This is a professional research starting point based on business profile data retrieved on . Titles and companies reflect that source snapshot; roles marked former had ended by then. Check the linked profiles for current details. Inclusion does not imply Instant Expert membership or availability.
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