Authority

Frederick Shelton is the CEO of Shelton & Steele and one of the nation’s leading voices on law firm recruiting, mergers, market strategy and predictive analysis. With over 25 years of experience coordinating lateral partner moves, mergers, and consulting with law firms and Legal MSO’s. He serves as a trusted consultant to groups of attorneys seeking to start firms, as well as small and mid-market law firms seeking counsel on M&A and MSO transactions. 

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His insights and predictions have been featured in Forbes, Bloomberg Law, Success Magazine, American Lawyer Media, Authority Magazine, Reader’s Digest, The Chicago Tribune, and dozens of TV and radio outlets. He currently writes for Attorney at Law Magazine and the Street Smart Law Blog.

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A former Chief Marketing Officer of a multifaceted law firm, Executive Director of a patent boutique, and Director of Legal for a 2,000-employee corporation, Frederick brings rare operational insight into the pressures and possibilities facing today’s legal leaders.
His moral compass and the corporate philosophy he has created at Shelton & Steele is simple:

First and foremost, we will protect the candidate, group or firm that is positioning itself for acquisition or entrance into an MSA.

Vision

Frederick is widely recognized as a Thought Leader and Futurist in the profession. In 2019, he predicted the rise of virtual lawyering - a year before COVID made it reality.
That same year, he also prognosticated that artificial intelligence would be the most disruptive tech force to ever enter the practice of law, a prediction validated by the mainstream adoption of Legal AI by 2025.

In 2023 and 2024 he foresaw the coming advent and adoption of Alternative Business Structure (ABS) model law firms by major players such as KPMG.
During that time he also predicted growth of both standard and investor-backed Management Services Organizations (MSOs).
He currently lectures and counsels on the inevitable rise of “Holistic Professional Services Organizations” that will integrate lawyers, MBAs, CPAs, and technologists into unified consulting and result-driven platforms.

His white paper "Law Firm M&A: The Essential Guide for the Acquired Side", provides a comprehensive playbook for equity partners considering merging with larger firms, and his upcoming white paper "Legal MSO's: Everything Firms Need to Know" will be available in October of 2025. 

Legacy

Frederick is an advocate first and foremost for culture and autonomy. Whether guiding a lateral partner with a substantial book of business or advising a firm preparing for acquisition or MSA, his counsel centers on preserving the unique identity, legacy, and people that define his clients’ success.

He has represented firms ranging from small boutiques to $200M organizations, ensuring that the process of scaling, merging, or aligning with capital partners creates opportunity without eroding identity.

Humanity

Frederick’s professional success is grounded in a personal journey of resilience. Once a homeless teenager, his life changed when a minister gave him shelter until he was old enough to join the U.S. Navy. That act of compassion inspired Shelton & Steele’s guiding motto:

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“All ships rise with the tide. We shall not endeavor to have the largest ship. We will be the tide.”

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Because life once gave Frederick a break, Shelton & Steele is committed to

paying it forward—through diversity in leadership, mentoring, and

philanthropy. Today, 60% of Shelton & Steele is diverse, and 75% of the firm’s

senior management comes from diverse backgrounds.

Passion

Frederick’s commitment to growth extends beyond the

boardroom. He is an active philanthropist, donating both

resources and time—from serving meals at St. Vinny’s Bistro,

which feeds more than 400 homeless people per hour, to

championing ESG initiatives across the profession.

A competitor by nature, Frederick is also an avid league

tennis player who has qualified multiple times for USTA State,

Sectional, and National Championships. He is a writer, an artist,

and a former paid stand-up comedian who has performed at

iconic venues such as The Comedy Store and

Mandalay Bay Casino on the Las Vegas Strip.