JESSICA B. FAIRCHILD 
Partner

Jessica Fairchild advises private equity firms, venture investors, closely held and family-owned businesses, founders, boards of directors, and middle-market companies across industries on their most important strategic transactions and business decisions.

A Chambers-ranked Corporate M&A lawyer with more than 25 years of experience, Jessica represents clients in sophisticated buy- and sell-side transactions and advises on governance, corporate strategy, and the legal issues businesses face throughout their lifecycle. She leads clients through mergers, acquisitions, divestitures, recapitalizations, equity investments, joint ventures, corporate reorganizations, and other complex corporate transactions. She also counsels boards and executive leadership on governance, fiduciary duties, and significant business matters.

Many clients rely on Jessica as outside general counsel as their businesses grow, evolve, and pursue new opportunities. She frequently leads multiple related transactions that together advance broader strategic objectives, helping clients execute growth strategies while minimizing legal and business risks.

As an entrepreneur, law firm founder, and co-chair of the Firm’s management committee, Jessica understands firsthand the opportunities and challenges business owners face in building and growing successful enterprises. Combined with her background in accounting, that experience gives her a practical perspective that clients value when evaluating transactions, assessing risk, and making significant business decisions.

Negotiating against sophisticated counterparties and some of the world’s largest law firms, Jessica is known for understanding not only the legal issues involved in a transaction but also the commercial objectives driving it. She anticipates challenges, navigates complex negotiations, and keeps transactions moving efficiently toward closing.

Jessica also advises clients on matters with an international dimension, helping overseas businesses establish and expand operations in the United States while assisting U.S. companies pursuing opportunities in global markets. Many of her client relationships span years, reflecting the trust executives, investors, and business owners place in her judgment and skill.

Before co-founding Croke Fairchild Duarte & Beres LLC in 2019, Jessica served as general counsel to Chicago 2016, the nonprofit organization that led Chicago’s bid for the 2016 Olympic and Paralympic Games. She advised the board of directors and executive leadership while overseeing all legal matters for a complex organization with more than 200 employees and working closely with the chief legal officers of the City of Chicago and the United States Olympic Committee. Earlier in her career, she practiced corporate law at Sidley Austin, where she focused on mergers and acquisitions, corporate governance, and securities matters.

Jessica has frequently been recognized as one of Chicago’s top women lawyers, including being named to Crain’s Chicago Business’ Notable Women in Law list in 2026, 2024 and 2022.

Jessica is committed to mentoring the next generation of attorneys and supporting women entrepreneurs and business leaders. She is an angel investor and limited partner in organizations and investment funds that support women founders, including The Velocity Catalyst Fund, How Women Invest and The Josephine Collective.

Jessica received her J.D. in 2000 from The University of Chicago Law School, where she graduated with high honors and her B.S. in Accounting in 1997 from the University of Illinois (Urbana-Champaign), where she was recognized on the Bronze Tablet.  Jessica also played four years of varsity tennis at the University of Illinois.

Representative Matters (Buy Side):

• Represented private equity sponsor in multiple platform and add-on acquisitions across the software and SaaS industries.
• Represented portfolio company of a private equity sponsor in multiple acquisitions of wellness and rehabilitation product offerings.
• Represented portfolio company of a private equity sponsor in multiple acquisitions in the ingredient and supplement space.
• Represented family office in acquisition of leading entertainment marketing and content production company.
• Represented several independent sponsors (i.e., fundless sponsors) in formation, structuring and acquisition matters, including platform investments in the following industries: software, professional services and wealth management / broker-dealer.

Representative Matters (Sell Side):

• Represented founder-owned IT managed services provider in sale to a private-equity owned portfolio company.
• Represented family-owned logistics provider in its recapitalization by a private equity sponsor.
• Represented sole owner of frozen foods distribution company in its sale to a private-equity owned portfolio company.
• Represented sole owner of business technology consulting and services firm in its sale to a Brazilian strategic acquiror.
• Represented privately-owned leading integrated retailer in sale of a high end appliance distribution business to a public company acquiror.
• Represented privately-owned leading integrated retailer in sale of a portion of its warehousing business to a strategic acquiror.
• Represented management team in sale of consulting firm to large private equity-backed talent advisory and executive search firm.
• Acted as U.S. counsel for a UK-based company (with U.S. operations) in its recapitalization by a private equity sponsor.

Other Matters:

• Represented renewable energy developers in acquisition, debt and equity investment matters.
• Represented investors in several European football clubs.
• Represented a number of growth stage companies on corporate, governance and venture capital fundraising matters.