Law Firm M&A | MSO Advisory | Business Consulting | Predictive Analysis

Frederick Shelton is one of the nation’s leading authorities on law firm M&A, MSOs, and strategic business models. As CEO of Shelton & Steele, he advises founding groups and small to mid-market firms on how to scale, merge, or align with capital partners - without sacrificing their culture, autonomy, or identity.

With over 25 years of experience in the legal sector, Frederick has served as Chief Marketing Officer for a multifaceted law firm, Executive Director of a patent boutique, and Director of Legal for a 2,000+ employee company. His rare combination of operational and strategic insight makes him a trusted advisor to firms navigating complex growth decisions.

Who He Advises

Frederick represents law firms ranging from small boutiques with less than $5M in annual revenue to organizations exceeding $100M. He ensures that every transaction - whether a merger, acquisition, or MSO alignment, creates clearly defined, strategic advantages in writing, without eroding the firm’s autonomy or culture. His business management consulting focuses first on the firm and then provides analysis as to whether a merger or MSO arrangement would be strategically advantageous.

“Over 20% of the firms we advise are counseled not to pursue an M&A or MSO option. This is because the challenges they are facing won't be solved from outside. The most impactful changes that need to be made are often internal."

Publications, Media Appearances and White Papers

“Law Firm M&A: The Essential Guide for the Acquired Side” Frederick Shelton, 2024. A comprehensive playbook for equity partners evaluating mergers with larger firms.

“Legal MSOs: What Law Firms Must Know Before Engagement” Frederick Shelton & Ayven Dodd, 2025. A strategic guide for firms exploring the MSO model and capital-backed partnerships.

His articles and insights have been featured dozens of times in Forbes, Bloomberg Law, Success Magazine, Law360, American Lawyer Media, and Authority Magazine. He currently writes for Attorney at Law Magazine and the Street Smart Law Blog (links below). 

Predictive Analysis & Thought Leadership

Frederick is widely recognized as a futurist of the legal profession. His predictions have consistently preceded market reality:

• His published AALM article predicted the rise of Virtual Lawyering - a year before COVID made it reality.
• His AALM article predicted that AI would be the game-changing tech for the profession of law, three years before Chat GPT was released.
• His AALM article forecasted the arrival major players in the Alternative Business Structure (ABS) law firm space, before KPMG did exactly that.

• He predicted in American Lawyer Magazine, that the Legal MSO would level the playing field for small to mid-sized firms seeking to compete with AmLaw’s, a year before Burford Capital and others entered the field.

​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. Shelton & Steele also 

provide free career & Rainmaking consulting to diverse and veteran attorneys.

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.