Cheryl Suann Williams

LL.B., LL.M. (ADR)

Working exclusively in family law for over 22 years,  Cheryl has gained a reputation as a highly-respected, skilled, tough, but resolution-based family lawyer, whether she is negotiating marriage and cohabitation agreements, resolving divorce and separation cases through Collaborative Law, Mediation, Arbitration, or when necessary, lengthy court Trials to the Court of Appeal. To her clients, she is known as calming, and compassionate, yet straightforward and efficient. Cheryl takes great pride in having closely worked with and mirroring the principles and work ethics of three family law lawyers who were subsequently appointed as judges of the Superior Court of Justice, Family Court Branch, including her former business partner, The Honourable Laura E. Fryer.  With these skills, she successfully protects clients’ rights. 

Cheryl is particularly known for her extensive experience dealing with complex family law disputes involving child custody and access, child and spousal support, financial, and division of property issues. She uses her advanced education and experience in Alternative Dispute Resolution to resolve high-conflict cases.  Cheryl’s particular areas of strength are her experience in the complex family law needs of high-net-worth clients (where her legal team is often combined with experts to conduct forensic asset tracing, income analysis and actuarial valuations to arrive at accurate financial calculations), and in cases involving contentious custody, parenting, parental alienation, child abduction and mobility issues (where her team often involves qualified professionals to determine the best interest of the child, a key principle of family law in Canada).

In her Mediation practice, Cheryl uses her advanced studies and training in Alternative Dispute Resolution to assist parties (with or without their lawyers), in finding cost-effective resolutions to their disputes outside of the Court process. 

Cheryl is an avid academic writer and speaker, and is frequently called upon to comment on legal issues, and is often featured as a guest expert on various television shows. She is committed to volunteering her time to improving the legal profession, mentoring students and lawyers and regularly providing seminars to the general public on family law issues.  She has also lectured at Humber College’s Paralegal Degree, Osgoode Hall Law School’s Masters of Law (LL.M.) and Riverdale Mediation’s Extensive Mediation Training courses.  She has written for the Ontario Bar Admission Course section on Divorce Law and her academic papers are published in family law publications, Lawyers Daily and Advocate Daily. On numerous occasions she has been invited to write and present for the Law Society of Ontario, Ontario Bar Association (OBA), Canadian Association of Black Lawyers and Institute of Law Clerks of Ontario, Greater Toronto Area Accountants Network,  Black Female Lawyers Network, as well as various other professional and community organizations.   

Cheryl strives for a positive outlook on life and looking “upwards and onward” no matter how challenging the situation. This philosophy is reflected in her practice, academic papers, and in her personal life focused on conflict-resolution.  Since 2004, Cheryl has appeared in an educational film on separation and divorce produced for the public by the Superior Court of Justice for the Mandatory Information Program entitled "Moving Forward" and narrated by Lloyd Robertson.   Given her personal success through adversities, she is one of five lawyers selected by the Ontario Bar Association in its award-winning 2013 advertising campaign, titled “Why I Went to Law School,” promoting the legal profession in Ontario.

Cheryl started her career in law in 1994 through her involvement with the Barbra Schlifer Commemorative Clinic assisting victims of physical and sexual violence; an intensive study in family law during law school; and articles at the Ministry of the Attorney General, Office of the Children's Lawyer involving custody, access and child protection disputes.  She quickly learned that her true passion lies in the personal satisfaction she gains by helping a family in crisis and later joined highly-reputable family law boutique firms in downtown Toronto and Markham.  

When not working, she enjoys time with family, cooking, entertaining, and interior decorating and has shown her skills on Home and Garden Television (HGTV). She is also passionate about Latin and ballroom dancing as music and exercise can make the worst day that much better.

Notable Cases

• In an extreme high-net worth case, Cheryl was successful in obtaining an Order for her client whereby a third-party was ordered to produce disclosure where it was shown that party was financially intertwined with the opposing party. 

• At the Court of Appeal, the Court upheld the precedent-setting Order Cheryl obtained for her client following a lengthy Trial, whereby the opposing party was to pay her client $400,000 of the requested $411,000 legal costs. These legal costs were sought after the Trial Court held that the opposing party displayed unreasonable conduct and bad behaviour during the litigation.    

• Cheryl successfully conducted an extensive six-week Trial involving complex financial issues where she called a Certified Business Valuator and appraiser to appear as expert witnesses.  Navigating the high-conflict issues involved, her client was also successful in obtaining sole custody and primary parenting of the child where an assessment had been conducted. 

• At the Court of Appeal, after the opposing party refused to provide adequate disclosure and repeatedly and unsuccessfully brought Motions before the Court despite having to pay costs, Cheryl succeeded in obtaining an Order to uphold the Superior Court of Justice’s Order restricting that party from bringing any further Motions. This ultimately led to a resolution of the protracted case without a Trial. 

• For a physically-abused breadwinner and professional client, Cheryl succeeded in her client not paying spousal support to the abusive dependent and opposing party, obtaining sole custody and primary parenting of their children, and a restraining order. 

• In a child abduction case, Cheryl obtained an Order for the return of the child to Canada.

• Despite a pension being equalized, Cheryl succeeded in obtaining spousal support for her client from the equalized pension post-retirement where it was shown that her client was in need of such support.