As a cooperative attorney, I am deeply committed to working with clients as partners to create and maintain robust democratic organizations that value equity, resilience, and protection of the earth for future generations.

Licensed in Washington State, Cheryl Markham is the founding attorney of Peoples Community Law (PCL), a cooperative law practice in the Seattle Metro area, serving all of Washington State. PCL serves the legal and advocacy needs of cooperatives and community members desiring to form cooperative structures and participate in building cooperative networks and a cooperative economy that respects the rights of nature. Cheryl began her journey as a cooperative enthusiast when her son was a wee tike, and she met a wonderful group of parents in her community who she joined with to open a childcare co-op. The experience of this venture was incredibly fulfilling and life changing.

After college Cheryl worked as a legal assistant at a local legal aid office in Santa Monica, California, where she participated in creating innovative access to justice programs for homeless individuals and families, and worked on several projects to convert ownership of multi-family housing to the tenants. Cheryl attended CUNY School of Law in NYC, and after graduating and passing the bar exam in Washington State, practiced as a community-based legal aid attorney with a passion for housing justice, tenant’s rights and fair housing. Cheryl also worked in public service as a Senior Policy Advisor for King County regional government in WA State where she collaborated with
an interdepartmental staff team and community-based partners to create innovative new policies and programs for equitable community development.
Cheryl recently completed the Master of Management, Cooperatives and Credit Unions, MMCCU, with the International Centre for Cooperative Management of Saint Mary’s University in Halifax, Nova Scotia, Canada, and graduated with her cohort in November 2024. Cheryl’s final research paper for the master’s degree is entitled, “When Nature Goes to Court: From the Emergence and Growth of Rights of Nature Toward Alignment with the Cooperative Identity.”