Garrison is one of the leading government attorney recruiters in Washington, DC. Learn how we can help you! < Back to For Candidates Government Attorneys For Candidates Government Attorneys Home Kaitlyn Hunter Bio Erin Sears Bio Matt Schwartz Bio Dan Binstock Bio Key Contacts: Amy K. Savage Bio Decades of Experience For over three decades, we have placed countless government attorneys in private practice–both those with prior law firm experience and those without. Our government candidates range from those at the highest leadership levels in agencies to those who would slot in as junior or mid-level associates. Broad range of agencies We work with lawyers from a wide range of agencies, offices, commissions, boards and other governmental bodies, including (but not limited to): Department of Justice (DOJ) Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) Federal Trade Commission (FTC) Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC) Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) Food and Drug Administration (FDA) Department of Treasury (DOT) Federal Reserve Board Consumer Fraud and Protection Board (CFPB) Commodities Futures Trading Commission (CFTC) Federal Courts (with the exclusion of judges, who must have prior law firm experience) International Trade Commission (ITC) White House The Hill Department of Homeland Security (DHS) Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) Government Accountability Office (GAO) Federal Communication Commission (FCC) Partners and counsel Making a move from the government to private practice (whether returning to private practice or entering for the first time), requires addressing numerous questions at the outset, such as: Is my background best suited for equity partner, non-equity partner, or counsel? What are the ethical limitations and how can I approach firms without unnecessarily triggering recusals? What’s a fair compensation range, given my background, and can I expect a multi-year guarantee? How competitive is the market for similarly situated people, and is this the right time to enter the market? How do I begin developing a compelling business plan? We have placed many government attorneys into law firms - here are some of the most common questions we help associate candidates address: Do I have the skills needed to make a move to a law firm? If not, what can I do to make myself more marketable? What is it like to work in a law firm? What differences can I expect from my current job? When is the right time for me to make a move? How long is too long to stay in the government if I ultimately want to go to a firm? Will I lose any class years if I move to a firm? If I am ready to move, what does the market look like? What firms will appreciate my skillset? What can I expect in compensation? Associates Once we help you address the relevant questions at the outset and you decide to go to market, we assist you in navigating each subsequent stage of the process. We will help you with your resume, develop your brand for private practice, work closely with you on your business plan (when relevant), utilize our network to make introductions, present your materials, schedule your interviews, conduct mock interviews with you, handle negotiations and guide you through everything else that arises. We provide concierge-level guidance, minimizing stress and maximizing the strength of your opportunities and offers. How we help you What clients are saying: Always available and responsive when I had questions, and proved an invaluable source of information and feedback. Associate Top-tier Global Firm A rock through the lateralling process. Associate Top-Tier National Firm Associate Top-Tier Global Firm After meeting with so many recruiters and feeling pressured to consider firms that weren’t good fits, finding Garrison was a breath of fresh air. High touch. High truth. High trust. 2000+ Attorneys placed 175 Law firms have hired our candidates 98.3% Of our candidates stay with their new employer for at least one year 75% Retention rate of partners after five years (industry average is 50%) Our Recruiters Reach out to our team:

Your search firm should reflect the same professional standards you uphold with your clients. Let Garrison handle your lateral partner recruitment. 8. Getting over the finish line Even once a partner accepts, there’s still the possibility of counter-offers, cold feet, or other unexpected complications that can undermine the deal. We understand the nuances of making a move and the deep level of trust we develop with candidates makes an important difference. We are skilled at helping partners address issues such as giving notice effectively, handling counter-offers, and ultimately making the transition with minimal disruption. We address some of these issues early in the process, ensuring they are anticipated and dealt with appropriately if they develop. 2. Reflecting your brand in the market When working on your search, we positively project your firm’s image and brand. Partners consistently tell us, “I never call recruiters back, but your approach was so refreshing I had to return your call.” Based on many years of experience, we know what stands out from the noise and resonates with partners, especially those who may not be actively looking. When a partner receives a call from Garrison, they likely know our firm and reputation for selectivity. The fact that we are conducting a search on your behalf reflects our belief in the quality of the opportunity, and this is consistently reinforced through our approach. Recruiting Partners and Groups < Back to For Employers 1. Designing the strongest search narrative The partners you seek are contacted multiple times a week by multiple firms and the outreaches begin to all sound the same. This is where we are different. We have learned that the most important ingredients for attracting a lateral partner are a strong strategic vision and a well-articulated search narrative. Marketing a search to lateral partners is much different than marketing your law firm services to clients, and we are experts in knowing what resonates with your target partners. To develop the strongest narrative, we go beyond “why are you looking?” and uncover selling points that will better position you in the market. Our detailed and comprehensive approach stands out and maximizes the likelihood of a favorable response. 5. Transparency and efficiency We are straight shooters, which ensures that we aren’t time wasters. We tell you the good, bad and sometimes ugly, all with a goal towards maximizing your efforts. While some search firms avoid uncomfortable conversations, we view them as essential. We will help you avoid embarking on searches without a realistic sense of the market and your likelihood of success. Our approach enables you to make the smartest business decisions when it comes to investing your time and resources. 3. Access to the “invisible partner market” From our many years in the market, we have a broad network of partners and trusted relationships at high levels. Some of these partners are not actively in the market and don’t respond to recruiter outreach - but they do trust us to quietly inform them of certain standout opportunities. 6. Responsiveness and clear expectations From the moment we begin working together, you will realize that responsiveness and clear communication are woven into everything we do. We are always available, including evenings and weekends, and our response time is usually within a couple of hours. We also set expectations in terms of search updates and check-ins and keep you well informed at every stage. 4. Highest likelihood of success We are always gratified to hear comments such as, “We tried this search in the past, and the difference is night and day. We have never received as many meetings.” While we cannot guarantee a placement for every search, we do guarantee that our proven approach will provide you the highest likelihood of success. Erin Sears Bio Dan Binstock Bio Key Contacts: Amy K. Savage Bio Our Track-Record and Approach We are highly selective with our searches to ensure our full focus and attention. As a result, our track record outpaces the market. After five years, our retention rate is 75%, compared to the industry average of 50%. Our unique process helps you stand out in a highly competitive market, so you can attract and engage a broader range of partners and groups – not just read about them in the news. For Employers Recruiting Partners and Groups Home 7. Close contact and insight throughout the process We go far beyond presenting candidates and scheduling interviews. Once discussions begin, we remain in the trenches skillfully guiding and navigating the process at each stage, such as advising on interview strategies, candidate feedback, negotiation, and assisting with due diligence. At the same time, we know when to step back to enable you to develop organic connections with the partners. Representative placements Representative Practice Groups Antitrust counseling and litigation practice group into the DC office of an AmLaw 50 firm. Antitrust practice group into the DC office of a New York firm to complement the firm's existing antitrust counseling practice. Appellate/commercial trial group into the DC office of a national law firm. Banking regulatory practice group into AmLaw 25 firm. Corporate and securities, bank regulatory, and healthcare partners at a Southeastern-based, mid-sized firm establishing a Washington office to complement its existing lobbying practice. Corporate practice group from a UK-based firm into an AmLaw 100 firm to expand international capabilities within the US. Government contracts counseling and litigation group into the DC office of a global law firm. Government contracts practice group from an AmLaw 200 firm into an AmLaw 100 firm to co-lead and expand the firm's existing government contracts practice. Health care transactional and regulatory practice in New York into the NY office of a mid-Atlantic firm. Immigration group from an AmLaw 15 firm into another AmLaw 15 firm. Insurance coverage firm (Chambers ranked) acquisition into an AmLaw 150 global firm. Intellectual Property/Internet Governance practice group into the DC office of an AmLaw 100 firm. Investor-focused project finance practice group into an AmLaw 50 firm. IP (patent litigation and prosecution) practice group into the DC office of an AmLaw 100 firm. IP litigation practice in east and west coast offices of an AmLaw 50 firm. IP practice group into a DC IP boutique. Multi-city white collar/securities enforcement practice group into NY and DC offices of AmLaw 50 firm. Multi-office environmental/infrastructure regulatory and litigation practice from boutique firm into an AmLaw 10 global law firm. Patent litigation practice group to co-head patent litigation practice at top-tier IP/patent firm. Patent litigation practice into an AmLaw 50 firm. Patent prosecution practice group from an AmLaw 100 firm to another AmLaw 100 firm. Political law practice from an AmLaw 25 firm to another AmLaw 25 firm. Privacy practice group from a Northeast-based AmLaw 200 firm to Midwest-based AmLaw 200 firm to establish and co-head practice. Privacy practice group into an AmLaw 100 firm to co-head global privacy practice. Private equity/transactional practice into an AmLaw 50 firm. Project finance practice group into the DC office of a UK-based firm to expand its agency-lender-focused project finance practice and enhance the firm's international capabilities. Real estate practice group into the DC office of an international law firm. Structured finance group from top Wall Street-based firm into AmLaw 15 global firm. Telecommunications regulatory and transactional practice into the DC office of an east coast-based firm. Transportation practice from an AmLaw 100 firm to another AmLaw 100 firm. White collar litigation and investigations practice into an AmLaw 50 firm. Representative Individual Partners Antitrust attorney (Chief-level) from the Criminal II Section, Department of Justice to an AmLaw 50 firm as partner in their antitrust practice group. Antitrust attorney (Chief-level) from the Department of Justice to the DC office of an AmLaw 15 firm as an antitrust partner. Bankruptcy partner from international law firm to a leading Magic Circle firm. Capital markets partner (formerly in-house) into AmLaw 50 firm. Capital markets partner from the DC office of an international law firm to the DC office of an AmLaw 75 firm. CFIUS partner from an AmLaw 100 firm to lead the national security/CFIUS practice at an AmLaw 50 firm. Commercial litigation partner from a leading DC-based firm into an AmLaw 200 firm. Commercial litigation partner from the DC office of a global firm to the DC office of a large national firm. Consumer finance/CFPB attorney as partner into AmLaw 50 firm. Corporate/finance partner into DC office of leading national firm to help grow firm's east coast corporate/finance practice. Corporate/M&A partner from an AmLaw 50 firm to another AmLaw 50 firm to lead its corporate practice. Corporate partner from an AmLaw 100 firm to an AmLaw 200 firm. Energy/FERC partner from AmLaw 200 firm into AmLaw 50 firm. Energy/project finance (renewable) practice head into AmLaw 50 firm. Energy partner from an AmLaw 15 firm to a Texas-based firm with a growing office and energy practice in DC. Energy partner into regional firm to enhance its east coast-based energy practice. Energy regulatory partner from an AmLaw 50 firm into DC office of Northeast-based firm. Export control partner from an AmLaw 100 firm to Washington, DC boutique. FDA partner from a full-service, AmLaw 100 firm into a high-end FDA boutique. Federal government department GC (former partner at a top-tier, DC-based firm) into an AmLaw 100 firm to serve as privacy partner. Financial services enforcement/FinTech group co-head into AmLaw 25 firm. Former Deputy Chief Trial Counsel from the Federal Trade Commission to an international AmLaw 100 firm as antitrust partner. Government relations and regulatory affairs counsel from a Congressional committee into an AmLaw 100 firm’s political law group. Health care/life sciences partner as co-head in AmLaw 100 firm. Health care regulatory/transactional attorney from mid-Atlantic regional firm to an AmLaw 100 firm. Investment management/’40 Act partner into AmLaw 50 firm. IP/patent (337) litigation partner from leading IP litigation practice to an AmLaw 50 firm to lead its Section 337 practice. IP appellate practice co-head from a litigation boutique to a prestigious patent boutique. IP partner from an AmLaw 25 firm to an AmLaw 75 firm. ITC/337 patent litigation practice co-head from an AmLaw 100 patent litigation practice to another AmLaw 100 firm’s patent litigation practice. Litigation partner from an AmLaw 100 firm to a DC-based litigation boutique. Litigation partner from an AmLaw 25 firm into another AmLaw 25 firm. Patent litigation partner from an AmLaw 100 firm to DC office of an AmLaw 200 firm. Patent litigation practice co-head from a dominant trial boutique to a prestigious patent boutique. Patent partner from an AmLaw 100 firm into west coast-based firm’s DC office. Principal Assistant Chief of the DOJ Fraud Section into an AmLaw 10 firm as a white-collar partner. Products liability partner from an international trial and litigation firm to a DC-based litigation boutique. Project finance/energy partner into AmLaw 100 firm. Promotion placement of an associate from an AmLaw 50 firm to an AmLaw 50 global law firm as a partner in their antitrust practice group. Real estate counsel from AmLaw 50 firm into a suburban business/real estate firm as a partner. Real estate counsel from an AmLaw 50 firm as partner into AmLaw 200 firm. Real estate partner into large AmLaw firm to play a key role in its national real estate practice. Securities regulatory partner from an AmLaw 50 firm into a Magic Circle firm. Tax partner from an AmLaw 100 firm into role as tax partner in another AmLaw 100 firm. Our proven process 8. Getting over the finish line 2. Reflecting your brand in the market 1. Designing the strongest search narrative 5. Transparency and efficiency 3. Access to the “invisible partner market” 6. Responsiveness and clarity 4. Highest likelihood of success 7. Close contact and insight throughout Representative Placements What clients are saying: You want them involved in the entire process, not just in making the introduction. I absolutely value their insights. Managing Partner AmLaw 100 firm Garrison is in the elite group that does their job very, very well. They are far more than recruiters – they are also trusted business advisors who understand the long-term. Chief Operating Officer Top-tier boutique Head of Lateral Partner Recruitment 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. High touch. High truth. High trust. 2000+ Attorneys placed 175 Law firms have hired our candidates 98.3% Of our candidates stay with their new employer for at least one year 75% Retention rate of partners after five years (industry average is 50%) Our Recruiters Reach out to our team:

Our Recruiters Reach out to our team: All Lateral Partner Tracker - DC Garrison News and Insights 4 days ago Garrison News and Insights New "Dear Dan" column Read Dan Binstock 's latest "Dear Dan" column, " Dear Dan: Lateral Partners, Mixed Feelings, and Ghosting ." (American Lawyer Online,... Jul 28 Lateral Partner Tracker - DC Christopher Healey joins Davis Polk Christopher Healey, previously Partner at Simpson Thacher & Bartlett, has joined Davis Polk as Partner in the firm's Investment... Jul 25 Garrison News and Insights Garrison quoted in American Lawyer Dan Binstock was quoted in "'Harder to Justify' Counsel Tiers in Big Law, Amid Focus on Nonequity Partners, Lateral Recruiting."... Jul 23 Garrison News and Insights Garrison Promotes Erin Sears to Partner WASHINGTON, D.C., July 23, 2024 – Garrison today announced the promotion of Erin Sears from Vice President to Partner. “We are very... Jul 15 Lateral Partner Tracker - DC Eduardo Bruera joins Baker Donelson Eduardo Bruera, previously Associate at King & Spalding, has joined Baker Donelson as Counsel in the firm’s Complex Litigation and Class... Jul 10 Garrison News and Insights Garrison quoted in American Lawyer Dan Binstock was quoted in "Exit Strategy: The Return From Government to Big Law." (American Lawyer Online, 7/10/24). Jul 7 Lateral Partner Tracker - DC Crystal Kaldjob joins Goodwin Procter Crystal Kaldjob, previously Partner at Morrison & Foerster, has joined Goodwin Procter as Partner in the firm’s Financial Services... Jul 3 Garrison News and Insights Garrison quoted in New York Law Journal Dan Binstock was quoted in "'More Extensive' Vetting: How Law Firms Are Picking Laterals," (National Law Journal, 7/3/24). Jun 26 Garrison News and Insights Garrison quoted in National Law Journal Dan Binstock was quoted in "Where Will Trump's Prosecutors Land After Sentencing?" (National Law Journal, 6/26/24). Jun 24 Lateral Partner Tracker - DC Elliot Kaye joins Cooley Elliot Kaye, former chair of the US Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC), has joined Cooley as Partner in the firm’s Global Product... Jun 24 Lateral Partner Tracker - DC Delia Deschaine joins Squire Patton Boggs Delia Deschaine, previously Member at Epstein Becker & Green, has joined Squire Patton Boggs as Partner in the firm’s Corporate Practice.... Jun 23 Lateral Partner Tracker - DC Austin Ownbey joins Akerman Austin Ownbey, previously Counsel at Foley Hoag, has joined Akerman as Partner. Austin counsels clients on a wide range of competition... Jun 18 Lateral Partner Tracker - DC Scott Jablonski joins Husch Blackwell Scott Jablonski, previously Partner at Berger Singerman, has joined Husch Blackwell as Partner in the firm's Financial Services & Capital... Jun 16 Lateral Partner Tracker - DC Victoria “Tory” Lauterbach joins Gibson Dunn Victoria “Tory” Lauterbach, previously Partner at Foley Hoag, has joined Gibson Dunn as Partner in the firm's Energy, Regulation and... Jun 14 Garrison News and Insights New "Dear Dan" column Read Dan Binstock's latest "Dear Dan" column, "Dear Dan: Blunt Advice from Top Law Firms About Legal Recruiters – Part Four: Bringing it... Jun 12 Lateral Partner Tracker - DC Matthew Lapin joins Wiley Rein Matthew Lapin, previously Partner at Porter, Wright, Morris & Arthur, has joined Wiley Rein as Special Counsel in the firm's... Jun 12 Garrison News and Insights Garrison quoted in Law360 Dan Binstock was quoted in "BigLaw Talent Wars Reach Congressional Oversight Attys." (Law360, 6/12/24). Jun 10 Lateral Partner Tracker - DC Mark Davies joins White & Case Mark Davies, previously Partner at Orrick, Herrington & Sutcliffe, has joined White & Case as Partner in the firm's Property Practice and... Jun 10 Garrison News and Insights Garrison quoted in American Lawyer Dan Binstock was quoted in "How Attorney Titles in Big Law Can Mean Everything, and Nothing, All at Once." (American Lawyer Online,... Jun 9 Lateral Partner Tracker - DC Michael Bergmann joins Cooley Michael Bergmann, previously Counsel at Cadwalader, Wickersham & Taft, has joined Cooley as Partner in the firm's Compensation and... Filter News and Insights News / Industry Moves