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, 2017

EDUCATION

Thomas Jefferson School of Law, J.D., 1995
Western State University, B.S., Law, 1992

PROFESSIONAL ORGANIZATIONS

State Bar of California
Member since 1995

Foothills Bar Association of San Diego County
Board of Directors, Officer, Co-Chair Civil Litigation Section, 2006-2018
Member since 2006

San Diego Bankruptcy Forum
Board of Directors, 2015-2018
Member since 1996

National Association of Consumer Bankruptcy Attorneys
Member since 2005

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.

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, 2020

Evaluating Tax Returns, Co-Speaker
National Association of Chapter 13 Trustees Annual Conference, 2020

The Interplay Between State Court Judgments and Nondischargeability in Bankruptcy, Co-Speaker
San Diego Bankruptcy Forum, 2018

The 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, 2018

Court Practice Series: Decoding the Bankruptcy Court, Co-speaker
San Diego County Bar Association, 2016

Bankruptcy: An Overview, Speaker
Senior Resource Professionals, 2016

Reassessing a Bankrupt Life, Guest Speaker,
The Inspired Works Podcast on iTunes, 2014

Nuts and Bolts of Bankruptcy, Speaker
Thomas Jefferson School of Law Alumni Association, 2013

Seeking Protection From Creditors in the Bankruptcy Court: Buying Valuable Time or Ticking Time-Bomb? Author
Common Assessment Magazine, Third Quarter 2013 issue

Secured Real Estate Transactions: Enforcing the Loan, Co-Speaker
San Diego County Bar Association—New Lawyer Division, 2011

Judgment Enforcement/Debt Collection Issues in Creditor Representation, Co-Speaker
Civil Litigation Section of the Foothills Bar Association of San Diego County, 2011

Open Doors to Federal Courts Program, Participant and Speaker
United States District Court, 2010

Bankruptcy and Family Law Crossover Issues, Speaker
Family Law Section of the Foothills Bar Association of San Diego County, 2010

Asset Considerations and Exemption Planning in Bankruptcy, Speaker
Estate Planning Section of the Foothills Bar Association of San Diego County, 2010

California Western Community Law Project, Bankruptcy Panel Volunteer, since 2014

OTHER ACTIVITIES

East County Family YMCA,
Board of Management and Marketing/Membership Committee

Rancho San Diego ASA Girls Softball,
Board of Directors and Volunteer

Quest Soccer Club
Assistant Coach and Team Manager
Earned Cal-South “E” Coaching License Designation

American Youth Soccer Organization (AYSO) for Region 168,
Board of Directors and Head Coach

Girl Scouts San Diego, Volunteer