Zachary Norris is the Niskanen Center’s Legal Director, providing legal services across all of Niskanen’s policy areas. Norris drafts policy analysis, legislative text, and regulatory comments; helps staff navigate open records laws and complex administrative procedures; and when necessary litigates cases to advance Niskanen’s policy priorities.

Norris has 20 years of experience practicing civil, administrative, and criminal law. He began his career at the Oregon Federal Public Defender’s Office, then spent over 15 years at international law firms handling complex and high-profile transactional, administrative, and litigation matters. His work includes advising renewable energy projects, defending California’s cap-and-trade program, litigating land use disputes, representing immigrants, and advancing end-of-life care policy.

Norris earned a law degree from Lewis & Clark and a bachelor’s degree from Texas Christian University, with further study at Columbia and Johns Hopkins universities. A former teacher and nonprofit co-founder, he now coaches high school basketball in Wisconsin.