Cheryl L. Borland

I serve as counsel for closely-held companies and start-ups at every stage of their business journey. I work with companies to ensure that they are eligible for certification and advise them on strategic planning, real estate, joint ventures and divestitures as well as help them plan their exit strategy including preparing their estate.

As new women-owned and minority-owned businesses outpace any other new business formation, it is crucial to guide these clients to ensure that they comply with corporate governance as well as the regulations for certified companies. My practice is focused on acting as outside general counsel and business advisor for my clients in order to set them up for success.

Cheryl has over 20 years of experience as corporate counsel advising closely-held companies throughout the full life cycle of their businesses. She guides clients through their business formations, especially around compliance with principles of corporate governance, choice of entity and drafting entity formation documents. She devotes much of her practice to helping small- and women-owned businesses navigate the legal system and launch their companies, including obtaining and leveraging appropriate certifications as Women Business Enterprises (WBEs), Small Business Enterprises (SBEs), Minority Business Enterprises (MBEs), Veteran Businesses Enterprises (VBEs) and the like. Cheryl also handles mergers and acquisitions, joint ventures and strategic alliances by negotiating terms and drafting ancillary documents needed to complete the transaction. In addition, Cheryl works with clients on business succession plans by coordinating estate planning for owners of single or multiple business ventures.

Cheryl has served as legal counsel for clients in a variety of industries including construction, manufacturing, trucking and transportation, distribution and logistics, restaurants and bars, retail, professional services, engineering firms, marketing companies, investment advisory groups, hedge funds, investment capital firms, wholesalers and industrial sales, real estate holding companies and telecommunications companies. She also works with entrepreneurial incubators in the Greater Cincinnati area as a legal advisor.

Outside of the Firm, Cheryl extends her commitment to diversity to a variety of non-profit endeavors. She is an active member of the Women’s Business Council Ohio River Valley (WBEC-ORV), as well as WBEC-East, which are regional partner organizations for the Women’s Business Enterprises National Council (WBENC), the largest certifier of WBEs in the country. She was recognized as the Volunteer of the Year at WBEC-ORV’s Annual Catch the Wave Conference in 2016. Cheryl is also a member of the Executive Council for the Ellevate Network and serves as Co-President for the Cincinnati Chapter. Additionally, Cheryl is the First Vice Chair of the Steering Committee for the Derby Diversity & Business Summit, which aims to promote diversity within executive leadership and the corporate supply chain. She also serves on the Board of Directors for Reaching Out For Kids, Inc. and the Dupuytren Foundation. On top that, Cheryl is on the Advisory Council for the Women Business Collaborative (WBC), which is an alliance of business women’s organizations working together to achieve equal position, pay and power for all women in business.