Bio

Garit Lawson is a Managing Director at The Forbes M+A Group. He has 20+ years of experience as a Mergers and Acquisitions professional. He is known for his expertise in advising company owners on successful strategies for maximizing shareholder value, while accounting for the human “needs and wants” present in business transactions. His transactional specialties are technology-enabled manufacturing, consumer products, and business services. Prior to joining Forbes, he managed the Mergers and Acquisitions Advisory Services Group at Colliers International, formerly Coldwell Banker Commercial Advisors. Focused on mid-market transactions, he offered diversified buy and sell side advisory services, including mergers, acquisitions, buyouts, valuations, and fairness opinions. He began his M&A career as a senior associate at Interwest Acquisitions Advisors, a regional financial services advisory firm. He received his Masters degree from the University of Utah in Business Administration and Organizational Development, after which he worked as a project manager for Learning Designs, a company that provides new product introduction consulting services to pharmaceutical, biotechnology, and high tech companies. Garit has founded and operated companies in the consumer and business services industries, giving him distinct insights into businesses from the viewpoints of an owner, manager, and entrepreneur. When not working, Garit enjoys spending time with his two sons, and exploring the outdoors. He is an active athlete, having completed many adventure racing and endurance events. He continues to ski, swim, and bike, and is a frequent subscriber to Salt Lake’s City’s cultural organizations, attending film, dance, and theater performances. His strong commitment to education and volunteering is evident in his ongoing mentoring of economically-disadvantaged students in their transitions between high school and college, as well as college and professional sectors. He also serves on the Board of Directors of the Utah Children’s Theatre, a company that creates productions designed for younger audiences.