Ayven Dodd
President
Legal MSO Sell-Side Advisor
ORIGINS
Ayven Dodd started with Shelton & Steele in 2015 and by 2018 was the most successful legal recruiter and M&A specialist in the firm’s 30-year history. He has assisted and advised on lateral and group moves, M&A and since early 2025, legal MSO transactions. Mr. Dodd’s expertise on legal MSOs has been recognized and published in legal journals such as Law 360 and Attorney at Work.
"The most rewarding part about my position is the connections made and relationships cultivated. It hardly feels like work when most of your jobs revolves around helping people."
AREAS OF FOCUS
Mr. Dodd specializes in the lateral recruitment and placement of law firm partners, groups, M&A and MSO transactions. His initial focus was working with New Law Business Models, elite boutiques and mid-sized firms that offer completely transparent and merit-based compensation platforms. This experience provided a natural transition to assisting law firms entering agreements with both Standard and Private Equity-Backed Legal MSO's (Management Services Organizations).
Ayven is also Shelton & Steele's Chief Diversity, Equity & Inclusion Officer. In this role, he ensures that our firm has both proper representation and the programs necessary to create an environment of inclusion. Additionally, he monitors and documents the DE&I representation within our clients so that Shelton & Steele works exclusively with those organizations whose efforts, reflect the Shelton & Steele culture and corporate philosophy.
OFF THE CLOCK
A lover of the arts, when Ayven isn't working, you'll find him creating music, spending time with his family and friends and as an active volunteer at the local homeless shelter in Las Vegas.
The Seven Pillars of Legal MSO Deals
Attorney at Work
Partner Psychology: Preparing for a Legal MSO Deal
Attorney at Work