Cheryl S. Richards, admitted to bar, 1987, Illinois; 1987, U.S. District Court, Northern District of Illinois. Education: University of Illinois, Phi Beta Kappa (B.S., 1982); Harvard Law School (J.D., 1987); Erikson Institute (M.Ed., 2003). Cheri began her career as a corporate finance attorney at Chapman and Cutler in Chicago. After moving to a small Chicago law firm, Cheri began representing a variety of small and mid-sized business clients on a wide range of general corporate, transactional and contract matters. In 1994, Cheri, along with Jeffrey D. Hupert, founded the partnership of Hupert, Richards & Wood in Chicago. At Hupert, Richards & Wood, Cheri was responsible for the firm’s business and commercial leasing practice. Cheri left her former partnership to work as a teacher at a public charter school in Chicago. She returned to the practice of law and joined the firm of Riordan, Fulkerson, Hupert & Coleman in 2008 and became a partner in 2010. Cheri represents a variety of business clients on general corporate, contract and transactional matters and she represents individuals and business owners on business succession and estate planning matters. Practice concentration: General business law, women’s business enterprises, business succession planning and estate planning.