Cherie L. McKenna

Cherie L. McKenna represents a thoughtful blend of litigation skill and mediation expertise, serving families throughout Western Massachusetts with distinguished service since 1998. Based in Springfield, McKenna has built a reputation as one of the region's most respected family law attorneys and mediators, known for a personalized, strategic approach to helping families resolve their most challenging disputes.

Cherie L. McKenna earned her Juris Doctor, cum laude, from Suffolk University Law School in 1998, demonstrating academic excellence in her legal studies. She has been helping clients regain control of their lives since that time, making 1998 the beginning of more than 25 years of dedicated family law practice. Her admission to practice in Massachusetts, Rhode Island, and the U.S. District Courts for both Massachusetts and Rhode Island gives her the ability to serve families across the Massachusetts-Rhode Island border region and to represent clients in federal court when necessary.

What particularly distinguishes Cherie L. McKenna's practice is her expertise as a trained family law attorney and mediator. Rather than viewing mediation and litigation as competing approaches, McKenna integrates them thoughtfully. She understands that mediation often serves families better than traditional litigation, allowing parties to cooperate in reaching agreement rather than having a judge impose solutions. In mediation, parties maintain control over outcomes, costs are typically lower, and ongoing conflict is often reduced. McKenna's training in mediation, combined with her litigation skills, means she can recommend the approach most appropriate for each client's situation.

As a top-rated divorce mediator on the 10% MediatePros ten list, McKenna is recognized among the nation's top mediators. This recognition reflects client satisfaction, peer respect, and demonstrated expertise in helping families resolve disputes through mediated negotiation. The MediatePros ranking, based on consumer ratings and reviews, provides independent verification of McKenna's mediation excellence.

McKenna's practice encompasses the full spectrum of family law matters. Divorce cases, from uncontested divorces where parties have reached agreement to contested divorces involving substantial disagreement about property division, custody, or support, are handled with over 25 years of accumulated expertise. Her strategic approach means that each case strategy is tailored to the client's specific circumstances, goals, and priorities, rather than applying cookie-cutter approaches.

Child custody matters represent a significant focus of McKenna's practice. She understands that custody determinations are profoundly important to children and families. Rather than treating custody as a simple legal matter, McKenna takes time to understand each family's dynamics, each child's needs and preferences, and the relationships between parents and children. This thoughtful approach often results in custody arrangements that actually work for families long-term.

McKenna has particular expertise in handling cases involving domestic violence. These cases require special sensitivity and understanding of the unique dynamics of abusive relationships. McKenna recognizes that safety concerns must be paramount in custody and visitation determinations. She brings compassion for victims of abuse combined with advocacy that protects their interests in custody and safety.

Child support and spousal support determinations are handled with careful attention to Massachusetts and Rhode Island law and each family's specific circumstances. McKenna ensures that support obligations are fair, realistic, and properly calculated under applicable law.

Alimony and spousal support cases are approached with attention to economic fairness and the purposes that alimony serves in providing economic stability after marriage dissolution.

McKenna's professional commitments reflect her standing in the legal community. She is an active member of the Hampden County Bar Association, demonstrating commitment to the local legal community and ongoing professional development. Her membership in the Massachusetts Council on Family Mediation reflects her expertise and commitment to advancing mediation as an effective dispute resolution tool. Her appointment to the panel of attorneys for the Children's Law Project of Hampden County demonstrates that judges have appointed her as a guardian ad litem to represent children's interests in custody and family law disputes. These court appointments reflect judges' confidence in her judgment, fairness, and ability to represent vulnerable people's interests.

McKenna's office at 75 Market Street in Springfield places her in the center of Western Massachusetts' largest city, accessible to families throughout the region. Springfield and surrounding communities represent distinct areas with particular demographics and community characteristics. McKenna's presence in Springfield reflects her commitment to serving Western Massachusetts families.

McKenna's approach to family law is refreshingly thoughtful and personalized. Rather than treating every case the same way, she develops strategies tailored to each client's circumstances and goals. This personalized approach, combined with her expertise in both litigation and mediation, creates representation that truly serves clients' interests.

With more than 25 years of family law experience, a cum laude law degree, recognition as a top-rated divorce mediator, active professional involvement, court appointments as guardian ad litem, and commitment to helping families resolve disputes through thoughtful, strategic representation, Cherie L. McKenna represents experienced, respected, and skilled legal representation.

Whether you're facing divorce, custody disputes, domestic violence issues, support matters, or seeking mediation services, Cherie L. McKenna brings the combination of litigation skill, mediation expertise, and genuine commitment to family wellbeing that makes a meaningful difference. Contact her at 413-241-7906 to discuss your family law matter and discover how her personalized, strategic approach can help your family move forward.