Cheryl Smith Fisher

1100 Rand Building
14 Lafayette Square
Buffalo, New York 14203

cfisher@magavern.com Phone (716) 856-3500  Fax (716) 856-3390  

Practice Areas:  Administrative Law, Appellate Practice, Commercial Law, Employment Law, Litigation, Legal Ethics, Health Law

Cheryl Smith Fisher is a partner in the Buffalo, New York law firm of Magavern Magavern Grimm LLP practicing in the areas of commercial litigation, bankruptcy, civil rights and employment law.

Ms. Fisher was admitted to the Bar in 1977 after graduating cum laude from the University of Buffalo School of Law where she taught research and writing and completed a student federal judicial clerkship with the Hon. John T. Curtin. From 1979-1984 she served as an Assistant United States Attorney for the Western District of New York.

In June of 2007, Ms. Fisher officially became the 100th President and only the third woman to head the 119-year-old Bar Association of Erie County ("BAEC"). She served as Vice President for one year after being elected in the spring of 2006. Ms. Fisher has served as a Director of the BAEC, and is a member of the New York State Bar Association and the Women's Bar Association. In the BAEC, Ms. Fisher serves as a member of the Professional Ethics Committee and for two years she served as Chair of the Committee. She is also a member of the Professional Ethics Committee of the New York State Bar Association and drafts opinions to be considered at their monthly meetings in New York City. She is a past member of the Civil Justice Reform Act Advisory Group for the Western District of New York. Presently, Ms. Fisher serves as the Chairperson of the Committee on Character and Fitness, Appellate Division, Fourth Department, and is also past Chair of the New York State Bar Association's Committee on Judicial Campaign Conduct. She is admitted to practice in all Courts of the State of New York and the United States Supreme Court.

For over twelve years, Ms. Fisher's principal community activities have been as a member of the Board of Directors of Child and Family Services of Erie County, Inc. She was Chair of the Board of Directors from 1993 to 1996, Vice Chair from 1990-1993, Chair of the Advocacy Committee from 1988-1989 and Chair of the Resource and Planning Committee from 1989 to 1993. She was also President of the Cathedral Park Counseling Service, Inc. from 1979-1983, and Lord of Life Adult and Child Services from 1999-2001. She has lectured on employment, commercial and health care law, as well as ethical issues for various bar association and business groups and teaches in the Incoming Residents Week Program at the Medical School. She is a graduate of Leadership Buffalo 2004. Ms. Fisher was awarded the 1999 Bishop Scaife Award for Outstanding Volunteer Service to the Community by Episcopal Community Services.