
About Cheryl L. Stengel
Cheryl Stengel was admitted to the State Bar of California in 1995. She has focused exclusively on bankruptcy and insolvency work her entire career, both debtor
and creditor representation. She established her solo practice in 2013, following many years as an associate attorney at a San Diego bankruptcy law firm. She is experienced in all aspects of Chapter 7, 11, and 13 bankruptcy and adversary proceedings and has represented hundreds of individuals and business entities.
She has testified as an expert witness on bankruptcy matters in San Diego Superior Court
Cheryl is a certified legal specialist in Bankruptcy Law by the State Bar’s Board of Legal Specialization. She is a member of the U.S. Bankruptcy Court, Southern
District of California, Local Rules Advisory Committee and serves on the State Bar of California’s Client Security Fund Commission. She is a volunteer attorney
with the California Western Community Law Project. She served on the board of directors of the San Diego Bankruptcy Forum from 2015 ‐ 2018 and served a
3 year term on the Bankruptcy Law Advisory Commission for the State Bar of California Board of Legal Specialization. She has also volunteered with several
nonprofit groups and youth sports organizations.
Education
Thomas Jefferson School of Law, J.D., 1995
Western State University, B.S., Law, 1992Certifications and Awards
- Certified Legal Specialist in Bankruptcy Law
- Board of Legal Specialization of the State Bar of California, 2007
- Foothills Bar Award, 2017 (for public service in the East County legal community)
Professional Organizations
- State Bar of California
Member, 1995 ‐ 2025 - San Diego Bankruptcy Forum
Board of Directors, 2015 ‐ 2018
Member, 1996 ‐ 2025 - National Association of Consumer Bankruptcy Attorneys
Member, 2005 ‐ 2025 - Foothills Bar Association of San Diego County
Board of Directors, Officer, Co‐Chair Civil Litigation Section, 2006 ‐ 2018
Member, 2006 ‐ 2022
Admitted to Practice in the United States District Court for the Southern, Central, Northern, and Eastern Districts of California and in the Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals.
- State Bar of California
Professional Activities
Client Security Fund Commission, State Bar of California
Member, 2024 ‐ presentUnited States Bankruptcy Court, Southern District of California
Local Rules Advisory Committee
Member, 2018 ‐ 2021; and 2025 ‐ 2027California Western Community Law Project
Bankruptcy Panel Volunteer, 2014 ‐ present
Class Speaker, Overview of Bankruptcy & Common Client Problems & StrategiesBankruptcy Law Advisory Commission, State Bar of California
Member, 2011 ‐ 2014Hot Topics for Lenders and Secured Creditors
Co‐Speaker, California Lawyers Association, 2023The Automatic Stay: A High Level View Focusing on
Recent Case Law and Strategic Tips
Co‐Speaker, San Diego Bankruptcy Forum, 2020Evaluating Tax Returns
Co‐Speaker, National Assn. of Chapter 13 Trustees Annual Conference, 2020Interplay Between State Court Judgments & Nondischargeability in Bankruptcy
Co‐Speaker, San Diego Bankruptcy Forum, 2018The Omitted Creditor in a Bankruptcy Case: Now What?
Author, Foothills Bar Association Newsletter, April 2018“Coffee With Counsel” Program: Bankruptcy Law
San Diego County Bar Association’s Lawyer Referral and Information Service
Co‐Speaker, 2018Court Practice Series: Decoding the Bankruptcy Court
Co‐Speaker, San Diego County Bar Association, 2016Bankruptcy: An Overview
Speaker, Senior Resource Professionals, 2016Reassessing a Bankrupt Life
Speaker, The Inspired Works Podcast on iTunes, 2014Nuts and Bolts of Bankruptcy
Speaker, Thomas Jefferson School of Law Alumni Association, 2013Seeking Protection From Creditors in the Bankruptcy Court: Buying Valuable
Time or Ticking Time‐Bomb?
Author, Common Assessment Magazine, Third Quarter 2013 issueSecured Real Estate Transactions: Enforcing the Loan
Co‐Speaker, San Diego County Bar Association‐New Lawyer Division, 2011Judgment Enforcement/Debt Collection Issues in Creditor Representation
Co‐Speaker, Civil Litigation Section of the Foothills Bar Association
of San Diego County, 2011Open Doors to Federal Courts Program
Participant and Speaker, 2010San Diego Volunteer Lawyer Program, Participant, 1996 ‐ 2011
Other Activities
East County Family YMCA
Board of Management, Marketing/Membership CommitteeRancho San Diego ASA Girls Softball
Board of Directors and VolunteerQuest Soccer Club
Assistant Coach and Team Manager.
Cal‐South “E” Coaching License Designation.American Youth Soccer Organization (AYSO) Region 168
Head Coach and Board of DirectorsGirl Scouts San Diego, Volunteer

About Cheryl L. Stengel
Cheryl L. Stengel was admitted to the State Bar of California in 1995. She has focused exclusively on insolvency work her entire career, including debtor, creditor, and trustee representation. She is experienced in all aspects of Chapter 7, 11, and 13 bankruptcy and has represented hundreds of individuals and business entities. She has served as an expert witness on bankruptcy issues in San Diego Superior Court. Cheryl established her law firm in 2013.
Cheryl is a certified specialist in Bankruptcy Law by the Board of Legal Specialization of the State Bar of California. She was a member of the United States Bankruptcy Court’s Advisory Board from 2018–2021. From 2015–2018, she served on the board of directors of the San Diego Bankruptcy Forum. Cheryl was a member of the Bankruptcy Law Advisory Commission for the State Bar of California from 2011–2014, where she assisted in drafting and grading the examinations for legal specialization and evaluated applications for certification. She served on the board of directors of the Foothills Bar Association of San Diego County for several years and held the position of President. Additionally, she has volunteered with several nonprofit and youth sports organizations.
Certifications and Awards
Certified Legal Specialist in Bankruptcy Law,
Board of Legal Specialization of the State Bar of California, 2007
Foothills Bar Award, 2017Education
Thomas Jefferson School of Law, J.D., 1995
Western State University, B.S., Law, 1992Professional Organizations
State Bar of California
Member since 1995Foothills Bar Association of San Diego County
Board of Directors, Officer, Co-chair Civil Litigation Section, 2006–2018
Member since 2006San Diego Bankruptcy Forum
Board of Directors, 2015–2018
Member since 1996National Association of Consumer Bankruptcy Attorneys
Member since 2005Admitted to Practice in the United States District Court for the Southern, Central, Northern, and Eastern Districts of California and in the Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals.
Professional Activities
Southern District of California, United States Bankruptcy Court Advisory Board Member, 2018–2021
Bankruptcy Law Advisory Commission, State Bar of California Commission Member, 2011–2014
The “Automatic Stay”: A High-Level View Focusing on Recent Case Law and Strategic Tips, Co-Speaker
San Diego Bankruptcy Forum, 2020Evaluating Tax Returns, Co-Speaker
National Association of Chapter 13 Trustees Annual Conference, 2020The Interplay between State Court Judgments and Nondischargeability in Bankruptcy, Co-Speaker
San Diego Bankruptcy Forum, 2018The Omitted Creditor in a Bankruptcy Case: Now What? Author
Foothills Bar Association Newsletter, April 2018“Coffee with Counsel” Program: Bankruptcy Law, Co-Speaker
San Diego County Bar Association’s Lawyer Referral and Information Service, 2018Court Practice Series: Decoding the Bankruptcy Court, Co-Speaker
San Diego County Bar Association, 2016Bankruptcy: An Overview, Speaker
Senior Resource Professionals, 2016Reassessing a Bankrupt Life, Guest Speaker
The Inspired Works Podcast on iTunes, 2014Nuts and Bolts of Bankruptcy, Speaker
Thomas Jefferson School of Law Alumni Association, 2013Seeking Protection from Creditors in the Bankruptcy Court: Buying Valuable Time or Ticking Time-Bomb? Author
Common Assessment Magazine, Third Quarter 2013 IssueSecured Real Estate Transactions: Enforcing the Loan, Co-Speaker
San Diego County Bar Association—New Lawyer Division, 2011Judgment Enforcement/Debt Collection Issues in Creditor Representation, Co-Speaker
Civil Litigation Section of the Foothills Bar Association of San Diego County, 2011Open Doors to Federal Courts Program, Participant and Speaker
United States District Court, 2010Bankruptcy and Family Law Crossover Issues, Speaker
Family Law Section of the Foothills Bar Association of San Diego County, 2010Asset Considerations and Exemption Planning in Bankruptcy, Speaker
Estate Planning Section of the Foothills Bar Association of San Diego County, 2010California Western Community Law Project, Bankruptcy Panel Volunteer, since 2014
Other Activities
East County Family YMCA,
Board of Management and Marketing/Membership CommitteeRancho San Diego ASA Girls Softball,
Board of Directors and VolunteerQuest Soccer Club
Assistant Coach and Team ManagerEarned Cal-South “E” Coaching License Designation
American Youth Soccer Organization (AYSO) for Region 168Board of Directors and Head Coach
Girl Scouts San Diego, Volunteer
