Cheryl Mandala has extensive experience representing clients in civil litigation and appeals, including seven years as a tort, employment, and education lawyer in private practice and three years defending the State of Alaska against tort claims.  She has successfully represented institutional clients in complex administrative, trial court, and appellate proceedings, as well as in negotiating favorable out-of-court settlements of such actions.  

Prior to joining CGL in 2025, Cheryl was Deputy Chief Administrative Law Judge of the Alaska Office of Administrative Hearings (OAH), which she joined in 2015.  During her time at OAH, Cheryl specialized in complex administrative hearings, with a particular focus on professional licensing.

In addition to her civil litigation practice, Cheryl’s experience as an administrative law judge makes her uniquely qualified to provide hearing officer, arbitration, and mediation services. Cheryl has completed a 40-hour mediation training program for judges and has successfully mediated numerous disputes over the last ten years.

Cheryl holds a master’s degree in public policy from the University of Minnesota, and graduated Order of the Coif from Stanford Law School.  She began her legal career as a law clerk to Alaska Supreme Court Justice Alexander O. Bryner (ret’d).