Calvin R. Edwards

Calvin Edwards defends local governments and private entities in litigation involving civil rights, employment disputes, and tort defense. He has extensive experience handling 42 U.S.C. § 1983 civil rights claims, personal injury, premises liability, and complex insurance coverage litigation and counseling.

Prior to joining Hinshaw, Calvin held positions at a boutique law firm and prior to that as an Assistant State’s Attorney of Cook County in the Civil Actions Bureau, Civil Rights and Torts Unit. In this latter role, he defended Cook County employees and governmental entities against claims involving constitutional law violations, personal injury, and premises liability.

Calvin also served as a judicial clerk for the Honorable Franklin U. Valderrama of the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of Illinois, the Honorable Cynthia Y. Cobbs in the Illinois Appellate Court, and the Honorable Judges Deborah M. Dooling (Ret.) and Carl A. Walker, formerly of the Circuit Court of Cook County’s Law Division, who has since been elevated to the appellate bench. Calvin also clerked on an interim basis for the Honorable Judge Thomas V. Lyons II.

During law school, he was managing and business editor of the DePaul Journal of Health Care Law and a member of the Moot Court Society. He now serves on the DePaul Moot Court Alumni Board, coaching and advising law students preparing for national moot court competitions.

• Black Men Lawyers’ Association
• Cook County Bar Association
• HLAI – Serving the Hispanic Lawyers of Illinois
• Hispanic National Bar Association

• Successfully defended Cook County law enforcement officers on appeal, upholding the validity of a settlement agreement’s general release clause.
• Secured an appellate victory reversing the grant of a petition to restore firearm rights under the FOID Card Act, arguing that federal law precludes restoring firearm rights following a federal conviction.
• Obtained multiple summary judgments in Section 1983 civil rights cases.
• Favorably settled several high-exposure cases against Cook County employees.

Calvin lives in Chicago. Outside of the office, he and his wife enjoy discovering new restaurants. Calvin is an avid Chicago Bears fan and enjoys traveling with his family.

• Upsilon Sigma Chapter of Phi Beta Sigma Fraternity, Inc.