Offit Kurman is joining forces with nationally-recognized attorney Jack Garson and Garson Law. Effective November 1st, Mr. Garson, Mark Jewell, Brian Hundertmark, and Taylor Hicks will join Offit Kurman’s offices in Bethesda.
For Offit Kurman, the affiliation with Garson Law continues a 24-month pattern of significant, sustained growth. Since 2017, the firm has grown by 50%, including expansions in New York and Charlotte, North Carolina.
The opportunity for Mr. Garson to join the firm came from his long-time business relationship with friend and colleague Ted Offit, co-founder and Chairman/CEO of Offit Kurman.
“I used to say, ‘I’ll give up my law firm when you pry it out of my cold, dead hands.’ That was before I truly considered Ted’s offer,” said Mr. Garson. “Joining Offit Kurman allows me to focus on what I do best, which is to devote myself to practicing law and helping clients achieve their goals.”
Organizations throughout the United States have relied on Mr. Garson and his team for guidance and representation in complex real estate, business law, and construction law matters. Having negotiated with some of the largest firms in the world, Garson Law has earned a reputation as a go-to law firm for sophisticated real estate and construction transactions, as well as related disputes.
“When the nation’s top cops need a top attorney, they turn to Jack Garson,” said James E. McPherson, Executive Director of the National Association of Attorneys General — a Garson Law client. “Without Jack’s remarkable skills, preparation, and dedication to our success, we would not have achieved the results we did.”
Asked why he chose to affiliate with Offit Kurman rather than another law firm, Mr. Garson cited Offit Kurman’s pattern of expansions, proven business strategy, and platform for attorney growth — common themes among the legal professionals who have joined the firm.
“I can summarize the fit in four words: trust, smarts, skills, and breadth,” he said. “There’s an obvious intelligence that shapes the way Offit Kurman organizes itself and satisfies client needs. It’s not haphazard; not reckless. Every decision has a logical basis.”
“It’s a tremendous confidence booster to make a transition like this,” he added. “Over the years, I’ve built something I’m proud of and established a reputation of skill and responsiveness. That reputation is very important to me, but I don’t need to climb to the top of the mountain again. Now, it’s about practicing in a way that delivers extraordinary results for clients. Offit Kurman is a natural environment to do that.”
“There is an obvious fit with the two firms that was apparent over the many years that I have known Jack and his team,” Ted Offit said. “Their expertise in complex business, real estate and construction projects will provide immense value for our clients and their businesses. Together, Garson Law and Offit Kurman are a force to be reckoned with, on both the regional and national levels.”
More information about Jack Garson and the other attorneys joining Offit Kurman in Bethesda can be found below:
Jack A. Garson serves as a legal advisor for numerous local, regional, and national companies, focusing on business, commercial real estate, and construction law. In addition to providing legal counsel, Jack serves as a strategic advisor and negotiator for many clients, providing guidance on issues such as the growth and sale of businesses, liability and risk reduction, the hiring and retention of key personnel, and protecting and enhancing profitability, as well as negotiating the resolution of complex commercial disputes.
Mr. Garson has been selected to be included in The Best Lawyers in America, has repeatedly received Super Lawyers designation, has been recognized as a D.C. region Legal Elite, and has received a Martindale-Hubbell Peer Review Rating of "A.V." since 1995, representing the highest possible ratings for legal ability and ethical standards. He was named a 2013 Top Rated Lawyer in Real Estate and a 2014 Top Rated Lawyer in Construction Law by American Lawyer Media and Martindale-Hubbell.
Mr. Garson is the author of How to Build a Business and Sell it for Millions (published by St. Martin's Press). In addition, he is a contributor to Forbes.com. He has authored numerous business and legal columns for a wide variety of other major publications. His published insights have led to interviews and profiles in media outlets such as The New York Times, The Washington Post, and Bloomberg Businessweek.
Brian J. Hundertmark has more than 30 years of experience representing information technology companies, trade associations, artists and authors, and other businesses concerned with technology and intellectual property.
In addition to bringing his years of experience to legal services, such as registration and enforcement of intellectual property rights, Mr. Hundertmark provides his clients consultation and advisory services related to their intellectual property and technology needs.
Mr. Hundertmark’s clients also rely on him for their estate planning, business succession, and business law needs. He has assisted new ventures in their organization, represented businesses in mergers and acquisitions, provided for the succession planning of closely-held companies, and guided feuding business owners through amicable partitions of their interests.
Mr. Hundertmark is a frequent speaker on business and technology law, estate planning, and business succession and asset protection matters.
Mark Jewell has been practicing law for more than a decade with a focus on construction contracting—particularly multi-family housing construction—and business transactions. As one of fewer than 30 attorneys in the state of Maryland to have been certified by the U.S. Green Building Council Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design as a LEED Accredited Professional, Mr. Jewell is particularly well-qualified to assist builders and owners in the drafting and negotiation of contracts for projects meeting LEED certification requirements.
Mr. Jewell is a graduate of American University’s Washington College of Law where he served as a senior associate on American University’s International Law Review. Prior to practicing law, he worked in management for a major utility company and then for a provider of consulting services to the utility industry.
Taylor Hicks is an associate attorney, focusing her practice on real estate, construction, and business law.
Ms. Hicks graduated from the University of South Carolina School of Law. While in law school, she clerked at the Lexington County Solicitor’s Office and 5 Star Life Insurance Company. Prior to law school, she graduated from Miami University.
Ms. Hicks periodically performs pro bono work for Manna Food Bank, reviewing contracts and giving written recommendations. In addition to her pro bono work, she is a member of the Montgomery County Bar Association, the Maryland State Bar Association Young Lawyers Section and the Montgomery County Women’s Bar Association.
For more information about Offit Kurman’s legal services and the new attorneys joining the firm in Maryland, visit offitkurman.com.
ABOUT OFFIT KURMAN
Offit Kurman is one of the fastest-growing full-service law firms in the United States. With over 200 attorneys in 14 offices that stretch from New York to North Carolina, we represent privately-held companies and families of wealth throughout their business life cycles. Our mission is to provide our clients with “The Better Way” to grow their organizations, protect their businesses’ and families’ wealth, and resolve their most challenging legal conflicts. In addition to our quality of attorneys and breadth of legal services, Offit Kurman is distinguished by our unique operational structure, which encourages collaboration rather than internal competition. The same approach that makes our firm attractive to legal practitioners gives clients unlimited access to experienced counsel in every area of the law. Trust, Knowledge, Confidence—in a partner, that’s perfect.
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