We’re Not Just Lawyers. We’re YOUR Lawyers.
We’re committed to every client. And invested in every outcome.
James A. (Jim) Erwin - Principal
James is the founding partner of Erwin Law LLC, a Chicago firm providing legal counsel in real estate, business, estate planning and bankruptcy. James’ practice focuses primarily on real estate and entrepreneurial business, representing his clients in residential and commercial real estate development, investment and management as well as small to mid-size business start-up and operations guidance. A fast-growing subset of his practice is in counseling athletes in the selection, maintenance and oversight of their real estate and business investments.
James graduated from Lake Forest College in 1989 with a B.A. in Business Administration and obtained his law degree from De Paul University’s College of Law in 1992, the same year in which he was admitted to the Illinois Bar. He earned a Masters in Tax Law (LL.M.) at Chicago-Kent College of Law in 1996 and was also admitted to the Bar of the United States Tax Court that year. In 1997, he was licensed to practice before the United States Supreme Court.
A member of numerous local, state and national bar associations, James is also committed to various philanthropic efforts including support and work for the Lane Tech 2nd Century Foundation, Merit School of Music and Welles Park (Chicago) Little League Baseball.
Shari Erwin - Partner
After obtaining a BA in accounting from DePaul University, Shari went on to graduate from DePaul University College of Law in 1996 and became a member of the Illinois bar that same year. She later was also admitted to practice before the US Tax Court. In 2006, Shari became a licensed CPA in the State of Illinois.
Combining her legal and accounting backgrounds, Shari has gained valuable experience in several high profile entities, including work with the Chicago Appeals Office of the Internal Revenue Service, Ernst & Young LLP, Chapman & Cutler, the National Bank of Canada, Commerzbank and Bearing Point.
She serves as a consultant to Erwin Law, providing expertise on areas of complex accounting and other compliance matters faced by the firm’s corporate clients.
Michael N. Oreluk - Associate
Michael graduated magna cum laude from Vanderbilt University in 2008, earning a B.S. in Cognitive Studies.
He earned his Juris Doctor from Tulane University Law School in 2011, with a Certificate in Maritime Law. During law school, he was published in the Tulane Journal of Technology and Intellectual Property for his analysis of digital property rights
Michael practices in the area of bankruptcy law. Prior to working at Erwin Law, he represented debtors in the filing of bankruptcy petitions, Rule 2004 examinations, contested hearings, and adversary proceedings.
Michael is admitted to practice in the State of Illinois (2011), the State of California (2013 Inactive Status), and the United States District Court for the Northern District of Illinois (2011 General Bar).
Daniel (Dan) Hawkins - Of Counsel
After serving the firm for ten years as its lead trial attorney, Dan will now support the firm’s litigation team as an outside consultant. The firm will continue to benefit from Dan’s extensive experience litigating real estate disputes, complex commercial cases, and construction defect cases.
Dan graduated from Michigan State University with a B.S. in Construction Management, working as a construction manager before receiving his J.D. from Chicago-Kent College of Law in May 2011. He earned his license to practice law in Illinois in November, 2011.
Prior to joining Erwin Law, Dan practiced as a litigation attorney for Brown, Udell, Pomerantz, and Delrahim, where he represented Chicago’s premier real estate developers in commercial litigation. He has also worked for the Chicago Board of Education where he selected and evaluated new leased facilities, negotiated leases, and drafted license agreements.
Ezekial McDonald-Lewis - Associate Attorney
Ezekial McDonald-Lewis joined Erwin Law in 2021, and practices in the areas of civil litigation and real estate, bringing to bear his background in title insurance and real estate matters.
Zeke passed the Illinois State Bar in 2020, and practiced civil litigation and family law before joining Erwin Law. He earned his Juris Doctor from the University of Wisconsin-Madison in December of 2019 and, while there, represented clients in landlord-tenant and employment litigation through the Neighborhood Law Clinic. He also helped collect research for a study on revocation of supervision in Wisconsin, and was a T.A. for first-year law students in property law and criminal law classes.
Zeke received his bachelor’s degree from the University of Wisconsin-Madison in December 2016, double-majoring in Legal Studies and Philosophy. He received a certificate in Criminal Justice, as well. His Criminal Justice internship, a requirement for the Program, resulted in a Probation and Parole Agent position through the Wisconsin Department of Community Corrections.
Paige N. Fox — Of Counsel - Paige N. Fox
Paige N. Fox (she/her), of Fox Law, LLC, brings compassion, understanding and knowledge to the practice of estate planning and elder law. She assists clients of all ages with estate planning, special needs planning, asset preservation and Medicaid planning, trust administration, probate estates, guardianship, negotiations with long-term care facilities, contract review and overall assistance with navigating the challenges seniors and individuals with disabilities navigate on a daily basis. She is able to empathize with clients while also communicating complex issues in a thorough, yet simplified, way so that they are able to better understand and appreciate the specific matter and considers herself an advocate for her clients throughout the entire aging process.
As President Elect of the Illinois Chapter of the National Academy of Elder Law Attorneys (NAELA), Chair for the CBA’s Young Lawyers Section Serving Our Seniors Committee, and Co-Chair Illinois NAELA’s Education Committee, Paige continues to develop her skill set and knowledge on elder law and estate planning matters. She also plays an active role for Illinois NAELA’s Membership, Sponsorship, and Social Media Committees, as well as NAELA National’s Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion Committee.
Paige was deemed a Rising Star by Super Lawyers in 2022 and 2023, an honor earned by only 2.5% of the top attorneys in Illinois under 40 years old or who have been practicing for 10 years or less. In June 2023, she was awarded the David C. Hilliard Award by the CBA’s Young Lawyers Section, in recognition of her outstanding work with the Serving Our Seniors committee.
Ms. Fox received her undergraduate degree from the University of Illinois Champaign-Urbana in 2012, where she majored in psychology with a minor in communications. She graduated from Chicago-Kent College of Law in 2015, where she earned her JD and a Certificate in Public Interest Law, receiving the Dean’s Certificate of Service in recognition of her 200+ hours of volunteer work during law school.
Paige is an active volunteer with the CBA’s Wills for Heroes Foundation, providing essential legal documents to first responders free of charge, as well as the CBA Lawyers in the Classroom program, helping second through eighth grade students better understand the U.S. Constitution, our legal system, and law-related careers. In 2021, Paige started her own project, #DoBetterChi, which consists of fundraising to create bags of food items and toiletries for individuals in Chicago’s Uptown area who are currently experiencing homelessness.
Alicia Erwin - Managing Real Estate Assistant
Angela Adams - Real Estate Assistant
Aida Hadzibulic – Staff Assistant
