About
Shelby E. Parnes, a shareholder at Vedder in Chicago, handles acquisitions, sales, and investments for private equity sponsors, family offices, corporate buyers, and business owners, staying with them from the first planning session to the closing. Investors based in the U.S. and abroad retain her when they buy, sell, or put capital into U.S. companies, including venture capital and growth equity rounds. Most of her deals are middle-market work, and she also regularly takes on lower-middle market transactions as well as larger ones. She earned her J.D. from the University of Chicago Law School in 2008. For portfolio companies, she provides ongoing corporate counsel and handles their add-on acquisitions.
Who is a good fit for Shelby E. Parnes
- Private equity sponsors buying or selling a portfolio company.
- Family offices acquiring or selling a U.S. business.
- Business owners preparing to sell to a sponsor or a corporate buyer.
- Investors from abroad buying into a U.S. company.
Education and admissions
- Education
- University of Chicago Law School, J.D., 2008
- McGill University, B.A., 2005
- Bar admissions
- Illinois, New York
Recognition
- Crain’s Chicago Business - Notable Women in Law (2023)
- Leading Lawyers - Mergers & Acquisitions Law; Secured Transactions Law; Securities/Venture Finance, Leading Lawyer (2023-2026)
- M&A Advisor - Emerging Leader (2022)
Specialties
Buy-side M&A representationSell-side M&A representationPrivate equity platform and add-on deals
Deal profile
- Typical deal size
- Any deal size
- Remote work
- In-person / regional