Shelby E. Parnes

Shelby Parnes advises clients on mergers and acquisitions, private equity transactions, venture capital and growth equity transactions, and general corporate matters.

She represents private equity sponsors, family offices, strategic acquirers, and business owners across the transaction lifecycle, from deal planning through closing. Shelby's clients include domestic and international investors acquiring, selling, or investing in U.S. entities.

Known for her practical approach, Shelby excels at distilling complex transaction concepts into actionable advice that drives deals to completion. She helps her clients maximize investment value while mitigating risk through strategic, commercially focused solutions.

Shelby's practice spans middle-market deals typically valued at $500 million and below, though she regularly handles both lower-middle market transactions and deals exceeding $500 million. She also provides ongoing general counsel services to portfolio companies and assists with add-on acquisitions and corporate governance matters.

Shelby serves as Chair of Vedder's Associate Hiring Committee and sits on the firm's Diversity and Inclusion and Pro Bono Committees. She is actively involved in community leadership, serving on the boards of Uniting Voices Chicago and S.A.C.R.E.D., organizations focused on youth development and international community building.

Experience

• Represented the Krause Group in the sale of Kum & Go, a family-owned convenience store chain with over 400 locations across 13 states, and Solar Transport, a leading tank truck carrier and logistics provider, to Maverik, a Salt Lake City-based independent fuel marketer. Provided advice from deal planning through closing, helping Krause navigate a complex sale confidently and efficiently.
• Represented L Squared in its acquisition of Foundant Technologies.
• Represented L Squared in its acquisition of ERA Industries and various add-on transactions.
• Represented CGI, a global IT and business consulting services firm, in its equity purchase agreement to merge operations with Daugherty, a professional services firm specializing in artificial intelligence, data analytics, strategic IT consulting and business advisory services.