Spencer Fane LLP is pleased to announce Allison Garrett joined the firm’s Oklahoma City office as an of counsel attorney in the Litigation and Dispute Resolution practice group.
Allison will play a critical role in the firm’s higher education practice, resolving complex regulatory, administrative, operational, and transactional issues specific to public and private universities. Supported by a decades-long track record of success in legal, educational, and leadership roles, she most recently served as chancellor for the Oklahoma State Regents for Higher Education. In this position, she oversaw 25 public colleges and universities and their local governing boards, informed higher education policy, advocated for funding, implemented a statewide strategic plan for higher education, directed 20 statewide scholarship programs, and oversaw programs of study as the chief executive officer of the state’s higher education system.
During an illustrious career in the public and private sectors, Allison notably worked as general counsel and vice president of Walmart Stores, Inc.’s corporate division and later as vice president of the corporation’s benefits compliance and planning. Upon shifting to higher education, she served as associate professor of law at Faulkner University in Alabama, senior vice president for academic affairs at Oklahoma Christian University, executive vice president of Abilene Christian University, and president of Emporia State University (Kansas) before her tenure as the state chancellor. She was the first woman and ninth overall chancellor of the Oklahoma State Regents for Higher Education.
“Gaining Allison’s markedly unique experience and insight – which sits at the intersection of law, corporate planning, higher education, leadership, and government impact – will positively and significantly shape the firm’s higher education practice,” said Shannon Forth Davies, Office Managing Partner for Spencer Fane in Oklahoma City. “We are not only excited to welcome her in Oklahoma City, but to introduce her to the cross-office network of resources and collaboration that make the firm strong and drive its continued, measured growth.”
Allison received her bachelor’s degree from Oklahoma Christian University with honors before earning her Juris Doctor at the University of Tulsa College of Law. After earning her Juris Doctor and while completing her Master of Laws with honors at Georgetown University Law Center, she worked in private practice before serving as a staff attorney for the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission, acquiring in-depth legal knowledge of the inner workings of federal securities laws and regulations, investigations, and enforcement.
Allison is admitted to practice law in both Oklahoma and Arkansas and received the highest score on the Arkansas bar examination.
Underscoring her prolific and high-achieving career thus far, Allison earned two significant honors in 2024. She was included on the Oklahoma’s Most Admired CEOs list by The Journal Record and received the Oklahoma Thunderbird Medal from the Oklahoma National Guard, the latter of which is among the highest honors presented to a civilian.