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About Us
Garrison's History
Garrison (Garrison & Sisson) was founded in 1986 by Charlie Garrison, and soon thereafter, Martha Ann Sisson became a partner at the firm. Garrison was built on fundamental principles of integrity, thoroughness and excellence of service. Through the years, we have been committed to these principles when working with our clients.
In 1999, Nancy Palermo joined Garrison and was promoted to partner in January of 2006 when Charlie Garrison transitioned to an Of Counsel role. Dan Binstock and Matt Schwartz joined as partners in September of 2010, after running the DC offices of two national search firms.
In 2021, Martha Ann Sisson retired from the firm. Since then, partners Nancy Palermo, Dan Binstock and Matt Schwartz have led Garrison, along with a talented team of recruiters and professional staff.
High touch.
High truth.
High trust.
Our clients say we are different, in a good way. As said by the Head of Partner Recruiting for a Global AmLaw 25 firm, “What do you get when you mix the highest levels of professionalism with good people you just want to be friends with … Garrison.”
Indeed, many of our clients have become our friends over the years. Our relationships – grounded in trust and respect – enable us to operate on a higher level that’s unique in this industry.
Our philosophy
We believe that doing the right thing in the right way makes all the difference – professionally and personally. When you work with us, you’ll notice that:
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We are straight-shooters.
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We notice the details.
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We respond quickly.
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We don't cut corners.
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We are discreet.
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We have an uncompromising commitment to quality.
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Our leadership
Our industry involvement provides you with access to our comprehensive network and the most current information on market trends.
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We are leaders in the industry (e.g., former President and Ethics Chair of the National Association of Legal Search Consultants (NALSC), Top 100 Legal Consultant and Strategist (LawDragon, 2017 - Present)).
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We regularly speak at industry conferences (e.g., NALP, NALSC, Association of Corporate Counsel) on lateral recruiting.
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We are frequently quoted in the legal media (American Lawyer, National Law Journal, Law360, Bloomberg Law, etc.).
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We serve as advisors to top law schools (e.g., Harvard, Stanford, Northwestern, Georgetown) on the Washington, DC legal market.
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We have close relationships with decision makers at law firms and in-house legal departments (we regularly sponsor and host events for both).
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We have served as expert witnesses on attorney compensation.
Diversity, Equity and Inclusion
We understand the many moving pieces involved in helping employers to create diverse, equitable and inclusive work environments. Building diverse environments that reflect our broader society takes work both on the recruiting side and with respect to post-hire integration. We appreciate the importance of presenting our employer clients with a diverse slate of candidates for every search we do, and we work diligently to achieve that goal. When we work with diverse candidates, we recognize the additional factors that should be discussed and addressed to ensure that the fit will be ideal. We are always learning and remain committed to this important aspect of the lateral market.
Our results
We consistently deliver for our clients, and our results set us apart.
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2000+ attorneys placed.
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98.3% of our candidates stay with their employer for over one year.
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175+ law firms have hired our candidates.
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75% partner retention rate after five years (industry average is 50%).
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100+ corporations have hired our candidates.
Our decades of successful legal placements come from our decidedly different approach: An equal mix of intellectual rigor and emotional understanding. We bring personal attention and meaningful connection to every aspect of the recruiting process, serving as a trusted partner for employers and a skilled advocate for candidates.
