Shelby is a partner & lead counsel in the firm’s Family Law Practice Group. With a half-decade of experience, Shelby dedicates her family law practice to providing practicable and sustainable solutions for her clients. Shelby works with each of her clients to develop a tailored legal approach based on each client’s individual circumstances and employs this strategy to achieve the best possible outcome for each client’s particular situation.

Shelby’s practice focuses on resolving complex divorce and family law matters, which include, but are not limited to, child custody; establishment, modification & enforcement of parenting time and/or legal decision-making; child support; spousal maintenance; business valuation; and division of marital assets & debts. When meticulous case management, strategic planning, and careful negotiations do not result in settlement, Shelby’s attention to detail, thorough preparation, and exceptional litigation skills stand out in the courtroom.

Outside the Firm

Shelby was born and raised in a small town in North Dakota, where she participated in many extra-curricular activities growing up, including volleyball, basketball, track, cheerleading, band, choir, and Science Olympiad. While attending the University of North Dakota, Shelby earned a double major in Psychology and Sociology, as well as a minor in Criminal Justice. Shelby continued to participate in extra-curricular activities at the collegiate level. She was a Teaching Assistant for five different university classes, was inducted into the Phi Beta Kappa Honor Society, and she served as the honorary Grand Marshal for the University’s 2013 Spring Commencement. Shelby was also a four-year collegiate athlete on the University of North Dakota Football and Basketball Cheer Teams.

Shelby received her law degree from Arizona State University Sandra Day O’Connor College of Law. During law school, Shelby spent much of her time assisting with the development of ASU’s Sports Law and Business Program. She assisted with two professional symposiums, was a member of the Sport & Entertainment Law Journal and was elected as the Journal’s Director of External Affairs during her third year. Shelby graduated in the top 20% of her class and was a recipient of the Pedrick Scholar Award all six semesters of her law school career. She even earned CALI Awards for Excellence, and the top grade in her Sports Law and Legal Advocacy class.

Following graduation, Shelby joined a Phoenix-based criminal defense law firm, where she was given the opportunity to grow the firm’s family law practice right out of law school. Shelby capitalized on this opportunity and successfully developed a sophisticated family law practice in the early stages of her legal career.

In Shelby’s free time, she enjoys hiking, biking, and spending time with friends, family, and her two pups: Stassi (Saint Bernard) and Taz (Chocolate Lab). Shelby plans to add another Saint Bernard puppy to the family very soon.

From the Firm

SM2 Legal is excited to welcome an extremely talented and experienced attorney to our team. Shelby is an example of someone who has shown that she values client service above all else, and her leadership in this regard made her a natural fit for partnership at our firm. This new partnership is a tangible and outward announcement of Shelby's hard work, abilities, and dedication to her clients.

Shelby has demonstrated that she has the legal skills, dedication, and work-ethic necessary to lead and manage SM2 Legal's Family Law Practice Group, making her extremely valuable to our firm and to our clients’ success. At SM2 Legal we take great pride in representing and developing relationships with each of our clients. There is no better sense of accomplishment than a client who feels that their voice has been heard, so that’s what we strive for on a daily basis.

Shelby is looking forward to continued success for her clients and the firm, stating: “Becoming Partner demonstrates the Firm’s confidence in my abilities as an attorney and member of this team and it’s a tremendous honor to be leading SM2's new Family Law Practice Group. I’m excited to continue putting in the work necessary to achieve positive results for my clients. I look forward to playing an integral role in establishing SM2 Legal as a top-tier family law practice.”

Shelby, who is becoming the firm’s first female Partner and Practice Group Leader (Family Law), has long been committed to furthering the careers of women in the legal industry, and believes this is a major step and platform to continue to advocate in furtherance of that goal.