Sharon Fairley

After receiving her J.D. degree from the law school in 2006, Sharon served as an Assistant Attorney General in the Criminal Appeals section of the Office of Illinois Attorney General. In March 2007, Sharon joined the United States Attorney’s Office for the Northern District of Illinois. As an AUSA, Sharon investigated and tried a variety of criminal cases involving federal criminal law violations such as illegal firearms possession, narcotics conspiracy, bank robbery/murder, murder for hire and economic espionage. In April 2015, Sharon joined the City of Chicago, Office of the Inspector General as First Deputy Inspector General and General Counsel. OIG’s mission is to encourage efficiency, effectiveness, economy and integrity within City agencies. As General Counsel, Sharon works to ensure the office’s investigations and audits conform to a complex legal framework which encompasses federal, state and municipal law. Sharon also oversees OIG’s Hiring Oversight Section which monitors and reviews City hiring practices to ensure they comply with Hiring Plans established by federal court order. Prior to law school, Sharon held various positions in marketing management, marketing consulting and advertising management, working for and advising multi-national corporations on some of the most well-known consumer brands. Sharon graduated magna cum laude from Princeton University with a B.S. degree in Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering. Sharon also obtained an M.B.A. degree in Marketing from The Wharton School of the University of Pennsylvania.