ABOUT CHERYL In addition to a traditional Family Law practice which has focused on the negotiation and preparation of domestic contracts and, in particular marriage and cohabitation agreements, Cheryl has a specific interest in the area of Adoption Law. Cheryl has represented or provided legal advice to adoptive parents and biological parents, as well as adoption agencies and licensees in relation to adoption issues and adoption proceeding during the last 35 years. Since permanent adoption licences were introduced in legislation, Cheryl has been licensed by the Ministry of Children and Youth Services to place children for adoption in Ontario and to facilitate certain interjurisdictional placements. She has also advised international adoption agencies and prospective adoptive parents regarding the requirements of the Hague Convention on the Protection of Children and Cooperation in Respect of Intercountry Adoption.

Cheryl has also assisted clients in relation to the preparation and completion of contracts in relation to Assisted Reproductive Technology involving third parties such as egg or sperm donor or embryo donation agreements. Cheryl has been a member of a number of advisory committees and panels considering changes to adoption legislation and implementation issues, and has made numerous presentations on legal and ethical issues in relation to adoption to lawyers, social workers and adoption licensees/agencies. Cheryl has also been involved in the preparation of guidelines and training manuals for various professional groups whose work is touched by these issues.. Cheryl was a member of the Expert Panel on Infertility and Adoption for the Province of Ontario, as well as co-chair of the Adoption Working Group of the said Panel. The report of the said Panel, entitled “Raising Expectations” was released in 2009, and may be found here. more... See more text