Credentials
Career
Ms. Lee’s expertise in the banking arena originates from her years at a Southern California savings bank where she served on the merger team. She participated in corporate finance debt offerings and borrowings, retail bank branch sales and purchases, and authored the corresponding indenture documents, offering circulars, proxy statements, reorganization agreements, related employment contracts and Director & Officer Questionnaires.
Cheryl also counseled executive management on stock exercises, conflicts of interest, corporate structure & policy matters, SEC & Federal Reserve regulations, implications of strategic plans and real estate consequences. During those years, Ms. Lee also authored the Bank’s CRA Statement.
Simultaneously with her years as a professor, Cheryl counseled various businesses on the negotiation, mediation, drafting and review of contracts, employee stock option exercises, diversity inclusion, corporate governance and corporate structure. She also conducts conflict resolution in connection with contracts and commercial leases.
Cheryl serves as CEO and Chief Legal Officer at Bay Vista, overseeing the organization’s affordable housing portfolio and community development initiatives.
She leads Bay Vista’s real estate development, acquisitions, and management operations, specializing in affordable housing, HUD programs, low-income tax credits, and tax-exempt bonds. Notable achievements include managing the $21.4 million sale of a 268-unit affordable housing project and directing the $15 million Lisbon Vista Heights development.
Cheryl guides Bay Vista’s seven subsidiary corporations and handles all legal matters affecting the organization. She also directs grant procurement and founded Synergy CoWorks Centres in Escondido and Southeast San Diego—collaborative workspaces designed to foster entrepreneurship and community partnerships.
Under her leadership, Bay Vista has expanded its commercial property holdings and recently acquired an 18,000 sq ft property for the Lisbon Vista Village multipurpose community and educational center.
Education
A 1982 Bachelor of Science in Group & Public Communications & Journalism recipient from Northeastern University, and a 1985 graduate of Duquesne University School of Law, while in law school she won appointment to Duquesne’s Appellate Moot Court Board and began a limited practice of law under Pennsylvania B.A.R. 321 & 322 Certification in the areas of Condemnation, Eminent Domain and Aviation Law for the County of Allegheny.
Doctor of Jurisprudence, Transactional Concentration
Duquesne University Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania
B.S. Communications and Journalism, Group and Public Communication
Northeastern University Boston, Massachusetts
Completed Southwestern Securities Regulation Course
Teaching
For the past 30 years, Cheryl has taught at ABA accredited law schools throughout the country, San Diego State University, as well as the San Diego Community College District and the Grossmont-Cuyamaca Community College District. As an Associate Professor of Law and Adjunct Professor she developed curriculum in legal education, general communication and educational programs which brought together the San Diego business and academic communities. She served on numerous faculty committees from 1997-2008 and was voted Outstanding Professor of the year in 2006 while at Golden Gate University School of Law.
Ms. Lee’s contracts expertise began in 1981 during law school when she helped draft the original Basic Use Agreement for all tenants and concessionaires of the new Mid-Field Airport terminal which replaced the original 1952 Greater Pittsburgh International Airport terminal. She teaches Contracts, Securities Regulation, Banking Law, Corporations, Agency & Partnership, Remedies, Real Estate Law, Employment Law, Commercial Law-Sales/Leases/Secured Transactions, and Small Business Management.
San Diego State University / Grossmont College / San Diego Community College District
Adjunct Professor
Western State University College of Law
Associate Professor of Law, Tenure Track
Widener University School of Law, Delaware
Associate Professor of Law, Tenure Track
Thomas Jefferson School of Law
Visiting Associate Professor of Law, Director of Academic Support,
Director of Diversity Affairs
Thomas M. Cooley Law School
Assistant Professor of Law, Tenure Track
