Creating Better Futures
Our team is committed to assist you in creating a better future, for yourself or for your clients. We assist clients and other key advisors, through our unique planning processes, in making a difference for you, your loved ones, your business and your friends.
Individual team members bring various backgrounds and diverse experiences together to create a set of different problem-solving skills to assist our clients and their key advisors, and take pride in helping every client and every strategic advisor achieve their unique goals.
Our Team
Founding Partner
Michael Cherewka
VA-accredited Attorney
Mike is the founder of the Cherewka Law. He is a graduate of Bucknell University (B.S.B.A., Accounting, cum laude) and The Dickinson School of Law (J.D., cum laude). Mike began his career in the Tax Department of Ernst & Whinney in 1981, and has been in private practice since 1983. Mike is also a member of Wealth Counsel, Elder Counsel, and Estate Planning Counsel.
Mike is a founding member of Paramount Settlement Services, LLC., a full-service central Pennsylvania title company, and is the Broker for Pro Business Properties, Inc., a real estate brokerage specializing in residential and commercial real estate representing both buyers and sellers. Mike is also a licenses Broker in Maryland.
Mike has spoken frequently on a national and regional level, and has taught programs for many companies, such as Prudential, Morgan Stanley, and many more. He is a contributing author to a Matthew-Bender Treatise, Pennsylvania Taxes, and to Strictly Business, a book explaining planning strategies for small businesses. Mike is also a licensed Continuing Education Provider for Pennsylvania for the CPA, CFP, PID and a regular instructor for the PA Bar Institute.
Outside of practicing law, Mike resides in Hampden Township with his wife, Michele, and their Golden Retriever, Cassie, and enjoys spending time with his family both in and out of Pennsylvania.
Email: mcherewka@cherewkalaw.com
Junior Partner
Nick Montagnese
Wealth Counsel Member Attorney | Elder Counsel Member Attorney
Nick graduated from Dusquene University in 2010, and then from Duquesne University School of Law in 2013. He became a member of the Pennsylvania Bar in 2013 and is also licensed in Maryland and Florida. He has worked for the Allegheny County Court of Common Pleas and the Pennsylvania State Senate. Nick regularly practices in the areas of Real Estate, Estate Planning, Probate and Trust Administration, Elder Law, Nonprofits, Business, and Corporate Law. Nick is a founding member of Paramount Settlement Services, LLC., a full-service central Pennsylvania title company, and is an Associate Broker with Pro Business Properties, Inc., a real estate brokerage specializing in residential and commercial real estate representing both buyers and sellers.
Nick and his wife Chelsea live in Carlisle with their two children. In addition to enjoying activities with his family including mountain biking and hiking parts of the Appalachian Trail near their home (purely recreationally as they are a self-described non-competitive family…) Nick is a skilled wood worker. The very table he works at in the Cherewka Law office is one of his own pieces and his goal is to eventually get into cabinetry.
Nick loves the supportive culture that the Cherewka Law team has intentionally built and nurtured over the years and fully believes in the way they practice law.
Email: dmontagnese@cherewkalaw.com
Associate Attorney
Morgan Cassel
Morgan Cassel joined Cherewka Law in 2017. She graduated from Vermont Law School in 2017 and became a member of the Pennsylvania Bar in 2018. Morgan regularly practices in the areas of Real Estate, Estate Planning, Probate and Trust Administration, Elder Law, Nonprofits, Business, and Corporate Law. She is also a member of Wealth Counsel and Elder Counsel.
At Cherewka Law, Morgan is committed to truly making a difference in the lives of her clients. She believes in not only bringing solutions to the table but an openness to looking at things differently and helping people feel confident in the closure they obtain.
She lives in Dover with her husband Ezra, son and their Bernese Mountain dog. Morgan loves traveling, soaking up new adventures, and hopes to one day visit all 7 continents! If Morgan wasn’t a lawyer, she’d likely be a Marine Biologist. Morgan loves sharks and has even experienced free swimming with sharks and hopes to do it again someday.
Email: mcassel@cherewkalaw.com
Paralegal, Real Estate
Mandy Holder
Mandy has been with Cherewka Law since 2021. What she enjoys most about being a Paralegal with the firm is the structure of the work and how her role and organizational strengths support their clients through their real estate journey from settlement to closing. She looks forward to continuing to grow her business law acumen and work with more corporate clients for their real estate projects.
Mandy has a Bachelor of Arts degree from Marywood University where she studied Art Therapy and Studio Art. When she’s not handling real estate transactions or keeping the office plants thriving, Mandy takes pottery classes and has been decorating the Cherewka office one glazed pencil holder at a time!
Email: mholder@cherewkalaw.com
Paralegal, estate planning & administration
Michelle Bourgal
Michelle was raised in Northern New York where she obtained her degree in Business Administration and Paralegal Studies. After graduating, she began her career in Colorado. Michelle brings 8 years of paralegal experience to Cherewka Law where she has been part of the Estate Planning and Administration team since 2021. Michelle appreciates the balance of consistency and individuality that Estate Planning and Administration yields. There are logical steps to the process Cherewka walks its clients through, but every family and situation is unique.
What makes Cherewka Law such a special place to work according to Michelle? In addition to feeding their people very well, it’s the supportive environment and high level of empathy and understanding amongst the team.
Michelle’s active lifestyle outside of Cherewka includes adventures with her family and lots of outdoor activities. She has big items on her bucket list including plans to paddleboard through canyons.
Email: mbourgal@cherewkalaw.com
Paralegal, estate planning & administration
Jen Evans
After earning her Bachelor of Arts degree from Dickinson College, Jen received her Post-Baccalaureate Certificate in Paralegal Studies from HACC and began working as a paralegal in 2020. In 2023, the team at Cherewka Law was pleased to welcome Jen aboard. Being a smaller sized firm is one of the things that Jen loves most about working at Cherewka as well as the busier pace and working alongside colleagues that are both knowledgeable and fun.
Jen has no shortage of hobbies and is even willing to share them amongst her coworkers when they are feeling self-aware about their lack of extracurricular activities. The top of her hobby list includes: playing bocce ball with her two teenagers, trivia nights, reading, all things Disney, and enjoying her dog, Kramer.
Email: jevans@cherewkalaw.com
Paralegal, corporate law & real estate
Danielle “Dani” Johnson
Dani was born and raised in Michigan and earned her degree in Communications and Media Studies from the University of Michigan. After working in family law as a paralegal for 6 years, Dani made the move to Pennsylvania and into corporate and real estate law. The skills she brought with her from the earlier years of her career include the ability to stay calm even amid chaos and a keen attention to detail. She appreciates an organized office environment and believes that what makes Cherewka Law such a special place to work is that every person is truly rooting for the success of everyone else.
Dani enjoys taking her daughter on routine “post-dinner family walks” and when she really is looking for a good time, Dani loves to grocery shop… without a list!
Email: djohnson@cherewkalaw.com
Client services coordinator
Nicholas Lutz
Nicholas believes that the foundation of what makes Cherewka Law an exceptional place to work and why they can serve their clients so successfully is the firm’s commitment to teamwork. Jumping in and helping each other out, while maintaining a positive attitude, is critical. Nicholas’ role as Client Services Coordinator is especially crucial in sustaining happiness and harmony for the team and those they serve. “We get to help people build their legacies,” says Nicholas, who joined Cherewka Law in March of 2023.
Nicholas is originally from New Cumberland, PA so he understands the market and communities that Cherewka serves. Before getting into the legal field, Nicholas attended The Academy of Art University in San Francisco where he studied film writing and media. In his spare time, Nicholas enjoys creative outlets such as screenwriting. He also makes time for daily journalling and loves to read and participate in book clubs.
Email: nlutz@cherewkalaw.com