Elvin E. Charity earned his Bachelor of Arts degree in English from Yale University in 1975. He received his law degree in 1979 from Harvard University Law School. He was admitted to the Ohio bar in 1979 and to the Illinois bar in 1982.

From June, 1979 through December, 1981, Elvin was an associate with the Cleveland, Ohio law firm of Thompson, Hine & Flory. In 1982, Elvin joined the Chicago law firm of Hopkins & Sutter (now Foley & Larder) as an associate in the Real Estate Section. He was admitted as an income partner in 1985 and as an equity partner in 1989. From June, 1992 through December, 1993, Elvin served as of counsel to the firm of Greene and Letts. In January of 1994, Elvin established Charity & Associates, P.C., specializing in commercial real estate and municipal finance.

While on a leave of absence from Hopkins & Sutter during the period of June, 1985, through May, 1987, Elvin served in the Administration of the late Mayor of Chicago, Harold Washington, first as head of the Real Estate Division of the Corporation Counsel’s Office and, finally, as Assistant to the Mayor’s Chief of Staff.

He has over 30 years of experience in real estate law, representing banks, developers and governmental authorities in such areas as real estate lending, loan restructuring, workout of distressed assets, zoning, tax increment financing, leasing and land acquisition and disposition. He has been involved in real estate transactions in several states, including California, Florida, Wisconsin, Indiana, Michigan, Kentucky, Texas and Ohio, as well as Illinois.

Elvin currently serves as Chairman of the Chicago-Gary Regional Airport Authority and is the President of the South East Chicago Commission. From 1992 until January, 2000, Elvin served as Chairman of the Community Development Commission of the City of Chicago.

Elvin has three adult daughters, Tennille, Courtney and Corinne, and enjoys running and attending Ohio State football games.