July 2025 – Kaufman & Canoles is pleased to announce that Rakesh J. Parikh has joined the firm’s Richmond office as Of Counsel in the firm’s Commercial, Corporate & Public Finance, and Mergers, Acquisitions & Strategic Alliances practice groups.

Mr. Parikh focuses his practice on representing business owners, operators, private equity sponsors, and management teams in mergers and acquisitions, corporate reorganizations, entity form advice, company formations, corporate governance, and securities offerings. He also advises clients on a wide range of commercial agreements, including vendor contracts, technology and intellectual property matters, insurance, finance, and general regulatory compliance.

Prior to joining Kaufman & Canoles, Mr. Parikh represented private equity firms and middle-market companies as outside counsel, served as Senior Counsel for a global insurance company, General Counsel for a leading national fuel distributor, and as a Senior Associate at Williams Mullen. This combination of in-house and private practice experience gives him a unique perspective on both the legal and practical aspects of deal-making and business growth.

“Deals are not just about contracts—they’re about people, timing, and getting the right outcomes for businesses and their owners,” said Rakesh J. Parikh. “I’m excited to join Kaufman & Canoles and continue helping clients close meaningful transactions, grow strategically, and protect what they’ve built. My focus has always been practical, business-minded counsel that moves deals forward and solves problems, not creates them.”

Mr. Parikh earned his J.D. from the College of William & Mary Law School, his M.B.A. from the College of William & Mary, Mason School of Business, and his B.S. and B.A. from North Carolina State University.

Kaufman & Canoles’ Commercial practice group is comprised of educated professionals, who offer practical experience in organizing and structuring business entities, including joint ventures, proprietorships, S corporations, C corporations, limited liability companies, partnerships, and non-profit organizations. The team offers advice in Franchising, Transactional Matters, Sales & Distribution, Formation of Business Entities, and General Business Planning.

Kaufman & Canoles’ Corporate & Public Finance team works closely with issuers – emerging businesses, public companies, and privately held corporations – and underwriters to structure and complete initial public offerings, follow-on public offerings of common and preferred stock, public offerings of debt securities, shelf offerings, and institutional private placements, including PIPE (private investment in public equity) transactions.

The Kaufman & Canoles Mergers, Acquisitions & Strategic Alliances Group is comprised of seasoned transaction attorneys, drawing upon decades of collective experience to guide public companies and privately held businesses through complex asset and stock sales and purchases as well as mergers and other business combinations. The team partners with investment banking firms and accountants to manage deals effectively and resolve regulatory compliance, employee benefits, environmental, intellectual property, labor and employment, real estate, and tax issues to ensure the smooth structuring, negotiation, and execution of clients’ transactions.

The contents of this publication are intended for general information only and should not be construed as legal advice or a legal opinion on specific facts and circumstances. Copyright 2025.