Brooks, Pierce, McLendon, Humphrey & Leonard LLP

63 Best Lawyers awards

Brooks, Pierce, McLendon, Humphrey & Leonard LLP logo

Awarded Practice Areas

Administrative / Regulatory Law Mergers and Acquisitions Law

Biography

Elizabeth Spainhour represents media, communications, and technology companies in a variety of regulatory and business matters. She also provides counsel to businesses on key issues involving privacy, digital marketing, and the rapidly changing digital environment.

With a focus on companies in the media and technology industries, Elizabeth provides comprehensive advice and strategic counsel related to mergers and acquisitions and regulatory matters involving these businesses.

She has significant experience advising television and radio stations as well as digital and online businesses.

Elizabeth’s extensive experience includes representing broadcast media clients before the Federal Communications Commission. She regularly counsels clients on FCC regulatory issues applicable to mass media, including political, EEO, children’s programming, contests and promotions, ownership, licensing and renewals, and online public file requirements. She routinely assists clients with critical business contracts such as network affiliation and retransmission consent agreements.

Elizabeth frequently works with digital media companies and other online businesses to provide advice and strategic counsel on privacy matters of concern. She works with clients to assess data collection and use practices and to craft responsive privacy policies. She is a Certified Information Privacy Professional (CIPP/US).

Brooks, Pierce, McLendon, Humphrey & Leonard LLP

63 Best Lawyers awards

Brooks, Pierce, McLendon, Humphrey & Leonard LLP logo

Overview

  • The University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, J.D., graduated 2005
  • The University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, M.A. , graduated 2002
  • Dartmouth College, B.A., graduated 1995

  • North Carolina, North Carolina Bar Association

  • Umstead Act Unfair Competition Panel - Member
  • Federal Communications Bar Association - Member
  • International Association of Privacy Professionals - Member
  • Carolina Privacy Officials Network - Member
  • American Bar Association - Member
  • North Carolina Bar Association - Member
  • NC Bar Association Privacy and Data Security Committee - Member and Past Chair
  • Wake County Bar Association - Member
  • Legal Aid of North Carolina Lawyer on the Line Program - Volunteer Attorney

  • U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of North Carolina
  • North Carolina, North Carolina Bar Association
  • Umstead Act Unfair Competition Panel - Member
  • Federal Communications Bar Association - Member
  • International Association of Privacy Professionals - Member
  • Carolina Privacy Officials Network - Member
  • American Bar Association - Member
  • North Carolina Bar Association - Member
  • NC Bar Association Privacy and Data Security Committee - Member and Past Chair
  • Wake County Bar Association - Member
  • Legal Aid of North Carolina Lawyer on the Line Program - Volunteer Attorney
  • The University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, J.D., graduated 2005
  • The University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, M.A. , graduated 2002
  • Dartmouth College, B.A., graduated 1995
  • U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of North Carolina

Client Testimonials

Awards & Focus

Recognized in The Best Lawyers in America® 2026 for work in:
  • Administrative / Regulatory Law
  • Mergers and Acquisitions Law
Additional Areas of Practice:
  • Advertising Law
  • Communications Law
  • Litigation - Regulatory Enforcement (SEC, Telecom, Energy)
  • Media Law
  • Privacy and Data Security Law
Awards:
  • Selected by her peers for inclusion in The Best Lawyers in America© in Administrative/Regulatory Law and Mergers & Acquisitions Law (2022-2025)

  • Recognized in North Carolina Lawyers Weekly's "Leaders in the Law" (2019)

  • Recognized in North Carolina Super Lawyers (Thomson Reuters) as a “Rising Star” in Communications (2011-2015)

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