Cherie credits her career success to the work ethic her parents instilled in her. “Perseverance and ‘stick-with-it-ness’ are what keep a person trucking,” she says. As a legal assistant at McLeod Law for almost 20 years, Cherie epitomizes those qualities.

Officially, Cherie works for three partners — Robert Fooks, Maria Nathanail and Darren Fach. Unofficially, she also sees herself as working for their clients. “I make lawyers’ lives easier by anticipating what they need to move a file forward quickly and correctly,” she explains. Similarly, she makes clients’ lives easier by being “the ear to their lawyer,” helping to expedite their issues. “Clients feel safe knowing they can reach me and I’ll do my best to support them.”

With three sons, one grandchild and another on the way, Cherie understands the importance of family. She considers McLeod’s clients family too, deriving great joy from watching corporate clients grow. She’s worked with one for 18 years, supporting its expansion from a small Calgary company to an international success. “That’s what makes corporate law so exciting — seeing your ‘little birds’ take flight.”

No surprise, when she’s not at work, Cherie enjoys getting out of her head. She finds that zen riding her two horses, hitting the trails.

In celebration of our milestone anniversary, 40 Years 40 Stories celebrates the diverse expertise, personalities and points of view that have helped our firm grow with the Calgary community since 1980.