Much Shelist, P.C.

Corporate & Finance

Principal, Co-Chairman

With 30 years of experience practicing corporate law, Mitchell serves as a trusted advisor who brings deep experience in business management and the negotiation of complex mergers and acquisitions. He leverages his colleagues' diverse skillsets to provide efficient, full-service legal counsel that addresses sophisticated client needs.

Mitchell has vast experience on both sides of a deal, focusing his work on middle-market corporate transactions, including M&A for numerous private equity firms. He also negotiates and structures joint ventures, syndications, commercial lending transactions, management buyouts, and private placements valued in the billions of dollars.

Mitchell draws on his own background as a CPA, entrepreneur, and business leader, having served as an officer, director, and owner of a successful national home warranty company. He grew the company from a startup in one state to a business with locations in 48 states. Eventually, Mitchell managed the sale of the business to a large public company. He understands the inherent emotions and concerns clients face with major decisions and strives to integrate himself into their businesses to better advise on short- and long-term strategies.

In his role as outside general counsel, Mitchell develops robust relationships with clients, from entrepreneurs and emerging businesses to privately held companies, investment banks, and multigenerational family-owned businesses. He has represented Lakeshore Recycling Systems for nearly a decade, helping it grow from a family-owned business operating only in Illinois to a super-regional company with a presence in 10 states. He has advised on dozens of M&A transactions, including negotiating a recapitalization valued at close to $1 billion. Mitchell manages the purchase of strategic and accretive businesses, with the Much team successfully closing 23 transactions in 2021. In addition, he counsels LRS on day-to-day business and legal matters, including employment issues, union negotiations, insurance coverage issues, litigation, and real estate matters.

Mitchell served as Much's Managing Partner from June 2012 to June 2023. He was instrumental in the successful transition of firm governance from the founders to the next generation of leadership, and he played a vital role in the expansion of the firm's service offerings and client base. Mitchell continues to serve as a member of Much's Management Committee, proudly continuing the firm's tradition of strong, collaborative leadership.

English

American Bar Association Illinois State Bar Association Chicago Bar Association, Former Chair of the Young Lawyers Division Tax Law Committee Young Presidents' Organization Chicago Business Forum American Institute of Certified Public Accountants Illinois Certified Public Accountants Society Managing Partner Forum, Advisory Board Member

University of Illinois College of Law, J.D., cum laude, 1992 University of Illinois, B.S., magna cum laude, 1989 Certified Public Accountant

Mitchell is a longtime supporter of civic and charitable causes in metropolitan Chicago and beyond, and has made social responsibility and philanthropy two of the firm’s highest priorities.

Through his family’s private foundation, the Allen H. Roth Family Foundation, Mitchell and his family contribute to numerous children’s charities, programs for the developmentally disabled, and summer camps for underprivileged children. He also serves on the board of directors at Keshet, a nonprofit focused on creating an invigorating and loving environment for children, teens, and adults with special needs and disabilities.

Together with several other members of the Management Committee, who are also University of Illinois alumni, Mitchell created the Much Shelist Scholarships. These merit-based financial grants are awarded each year to two University of Illinois College of Business students.