Biography
Cheryl Stanton has deep experience advising higher education and financial institutions, as well as broad commercial litigation experience representing businesses in high stakes litigation matters. Cheryl currently focuses her practice on representing institutions of higher education and is a member of the firm’s Higher Education Team. She previously served as general counsel and corporate secretary for two closely-related private liberal arts colleges in Minnesota where she advised the president, senior management and the boards of trustees on all legal matters, including, board governance, employment, Title IX, contract negotiation, complex student conduct matters, regulatory issues and compliance, risk management, litigation, and faculty matters. Cheryl’s experience as a general counsel, corporate secretary, and director at a national bank adds depth to her legal portfolio.
Cheryl’s litigation experience enables her to proactively evaluate and mitigate risk throughout her client’s business enterprises. Her ultimate goal is to provide value to her clients.
Outside of her law practice, Cheryl is an avid motorcycle rider. She is a former director and a current member of Street Legal Motorcycle Club, a motorcycle club of judges, lawyers, and other legal professionals. In addition, she loves to travel and hike.
Representative Experience
- Advised closely-related college and university on the formation and refinement of a unique corporate governance model which included a single president for both institutions but two separate boards of trustees; oversaw all corporate governance; established the boards’ committee structures, charters and policies; prepared and revised all corporate documents, and devised the board member onboarding, evaluation and engagement programs
- Restructured, oversaw and advised on the Title IX programs for institutions of higher education, including drafting and revising the institutions’ Title IX policies and procedures, advising on complex Title IX issues, and preparation of determination letters
- Conducted comprehensive review of governance practices of bank and holding company, resulting in implementation of new and revised governance policies and practices and re-constitution of the bank board to enhance board independence
- Successfully combated threatened proxy fights by activist shareholders of bank and strategically engaged with shareholders to resolve other shareholder-related issues, including utilization of proxy solicitation
- Represented bank board of directors and executive management of financial institution in investigation and interrogation by Department of Justice related to a $28 million complex lapping and fraud scheme committed on financial institution by third-party mortgage company and thereafter worked with the Department of Justice to unwind complex lapping scheme leading to conviction of fraudsters. Brought related claims against financial institution’s insurers for bad faith insurance denial related to fraud which resulted in multimillion-dollar settlement for bank client
Education
- J.D. Mitchell Hamline University School of Law
- B.S. University of Minnesota
Memberships
- Street Legal Motorcycle Club
Achievements
- Minnesota Rising Stars by Minnesota Super Lawyers, 2006-2013
Publications
- Franchise Desk Book, Selected State Laws, Commentary and Annotations, 2001, Contributing Author, (Editor: Michael W. Garner) American Bar Association
- The Franchise and Dealership Termination Desk Book, 2004, Contributing Author, American Bar Association
Press Release