Liz McGarry is a Senior Director with Lateral Link, and brings more than a decade of legal recruiting experience to her practice. Based in Chicago, Liz leverages her deep roots in the Midwest market and firsthand experience as both a practicing attorney and law firm business professional to facilitate strategic career transitions. She works with attorneys across a broad range of practice areas and seniority levels, advising associates, counsel, and partners on their long-term career goals while partnering with firms of all sizes, including AmLaw firms, elite boutiques, and leading regional firms, to identify and attract exceptional legal talent.

Liz joined Lateral Link following a successful tenure at a prominent Chicago-based legal recruiting boutique where she earned a reputation for her thoughtful approach, strong market insight, and ability to connect attorneys with opportunities that aligned with both their professional ambitions and personal priorities.

Prior to transitioning into legal recruiting, Liz spent more than seven years practicing law, handling complex commercial disputes and high-stakes insurance coverage matters while advising clients on strategic litigation issues. In addition to her legal practice, she was actively involved in attorney development, client relations, and pro bono initiatives. She also served as a Practice Manager at a prominent AmLaw firm, overseeing strategic operations, practice group growth, and talent management initiatives.

Together, these diverse experiences provide Liz with an insider’s understanding of the evolving pressures, priorities, and shifting dynamics that attorneys and law firms face at every stage of practice, enhancing her ability to advise both candidates and law firm leadership with credibility and insight. 

A proud graduate of the University of Notre Dame, Liz earned her undergraduate degree in 2004 before moving to Chicago to attend Loyola University Chicago School of Law, where she received her J.D. in 2007.

Today, Liz leverages her extensive network, localized market expertise, and national platform at Lateral Link to help attorneys navigate an increasingly competitive lateral market with confidence, discretion, and long-term perspective.

Liz lives in Chicago’s western suburbs with her husband and three children.