Steven J. Sherlag

When he founded Steven J. Sherlag, P.C., Mr. Sherlag knew he wanted to make a difference in the lives of people in Portland, Oregon. He does just that through his practice, where he defends clients against criminal charges or in professional licensure issues, and he advocates for them in matters such as sexual harassment in the workplace, bicycle accidents, and survivors of elder and sexual abuse.

In 2017 Mr. Sherlag joined forces with Michael De Muniz to form Sherlag | De Muniz LLP, bringing together two like-minded defense lawyers -- experienced, aggressive, and sensitive to the pressures our clients face when their lives are under the microscope.  Mike is a SuperLawyer too.  In 2022, David T. McDonald joined the firm as Of Counsel -- so now it's the power of three.  David is one of the very best lawyers in Oregon, frequently a SuperLawyer too, stalwart of the Oregon Criminal Defense Lawyer's Association, chair of its Education Committee for many years and frequent speaker.  

As a highly skilled litigator with decades of experience, Mr. Sherlag takes his job to protect a client’s rights seriously. He knows that while many legal battles never see the courtroom, it is imperative to prepare as though trial is imminent. This means he conducts a thorough investigation of the situation and aggressively pursues the best possible outcome. At the same time, he is sensitive to the fact that a criminal charge or personal injury may be extremely upsetting for those dealing with it.

Through his involvement with professional organizations, Mr. Sherlag has access to new techniques and technology useful in his practice. He is a member of the National Association of Criminal Defense Lawyers, the Oregon Criminal Defense Lawyers Association, the National Police Accountability Project and the National Lawyers Guild. Additionally, Mr. Sherlag is a published author and frequently requested as a guest speaker.

Mr. Sherlag has earned a number of accolades throughout his career, including the following: he has an Avvo “Superb” rating; he has earned the highest peer rating possible of AV Preeminent* from Martindale-Hubbell; he has been listed in The National Trial Lawyers: Top 100; and the Oregon Trial Lawyers Association has recognized his expertise, bestowing upon him its Arthur H. Bryant Public Justice Award.

In 1988, Mr. Sherlag received a Bachelor of Arts from the University of Michigan. He then attended The University of Michigan Law School, earning a Juris Doctor in 1991.

*AV®, AV Preeminent®, Martindale-Hubbell Distinguished and Martindale-Hubbell Notable are certification marks used under license in accordance with the Martindale-Hubbell certification procedures, standards and policies. Martindale-Hubbell® is the facilitator of a peer review rating process. Ratings reflect the anonymous opinions of members of the bar and the judiciary. Martindale-Hubbell® Peer Review Rating™ fall into two categories – legal ability and general ethical standards.