Cheryl Kelly receives Women's Justice Award

Congratulations to Thompson Coburn partner Cheryl Kelly, who is one of the recipients of the 2011 Women’s Justice Awards granted by Missouri Lawyers Weekly. She is honored in the Business Practitioner category, which recognizes women business practitioners who improve the quality of justice or contribute to the betterment of the legal profession.

Cheryl is on the Board of Legal Advocates for Abused Women (LAAW), and is a Court Appointed Special Advocate (CASA) for children who reside in St. Louis County and are brought into State custody. A CASA helps professionals on the team assigned to assist children in the system in communicating with each other and helps in relaying to the supervising Court the different professionals’ positions. A CASA also serves as an additional resource for the Court in furthering the best interests of children. 

LAAW helps victims of domestic violence in obtaining orders of protection, educates law enforcement regarding these kinds of disputes, and takes other steps to assist in breaking the cycle of domestic violence. Thompson Coburn underwrites certain LAAW activities and participates in its volunteer lawyer program. Cheryl assisted the Women’s Initiative in developing the firm’s program supporting LAAW.  

The Women’s Justice Awards are given to women from across the state of Missouri who have demonstrated leadership, integrity, service, sacrifice and accomplishment in improving the quality of justice and exemplifying the highest ideals of the legal profession. The awards reach out to women in various segments of the legal community, including the bar, the bench, public office, business, academia and nonprofits.