Cheryl L. Fratello

Owner & Founding Attorney

Cheryl L. Fratello serves the legal needs of clients in the areas of Estate Planning, Probate, Estate Litigation, Elder Law, Real Estate and Wine Law. She assists clients with drafting estate planning documents, such as trusts and wills, asset protection, applications for Medicaid, and estate administration when a loved one has passed.

Cheryl was born in Newport, RI while her father was serving in the United States Navy. Her family relocated to Long Island in her early years and she spent most of her childhood and young adult life living in Stony Brook. Cheryl found her love of Long Island’s beautiful waters while working the gas docks at the Stony Brook Yacht Club where she is now a member. She dedicated years to teaching dance at the Long Island Academy of Dance. It was her hard work ethic that drove her to a career in the law and starting her own law practice.

Prior to founding Fratello Law, P.C. in 2012, Cheryl was a partner at Fratello & Fox, P.C. and practiced in the firm’s Elder Law, Trusts & Estate and Real Estate departments. There she had the pleasure of working with her father and aunt in the small family practice.

She is admitted to practice law in the State of New York and the United States District Court for the Eastern District of New York. Cheryl is an accredited attorney for the preparation, presentation, and prosecution of claims for Veterans benefits before the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) and completed the Alzheimer’s Association accredited AD Training Program.

Cheryl regularly lectures to local communities about important legal issues in trusts & estates, elder law, real estate and wine law. She has had the pleasure of teaching legal studies to college students at Brooklyn’s CUNY Kingsborough Community College as an adjunct professor and has lectured to students at Touro Law School, Hofstra Law School and C.W. Post – Long Island University.

EDUCATION:

Universite Reims Champagne Ardenne, Champagne, France
Diploma in Wine Law, 2018
Wine & Spirits Education Trust, International Wine Center, New York, NY
Diploma in Wine Candidate 2024, Levels 1, 2 & 3 Certification in Wine & Spirits, 2015
University at Buffalo Law School, Amherst, NY
Juris Doctor, 2004
Stony Brook University, Stony Brook, NY
Bachelor of Science in Biology, 1999
Goldman Sachs 10,000 Small Businesses
Program Graduate, 2020

APPOINTMENTS:

Suffolk County Women’s Bar Association, Officer & Vice President of Membership, 2023-Present
Nassau Suffolk Law Committee, Inc., Advisory Council Member, 2012-Present
Columbian Lawyers Association of Suffolk County, Board Member, 2022-Present
Columbian Lawyers Association of Nassau County, President & Officer, 2011-2017
Long Island Women’s Agenda, Board of Director, 2007-2012

AWARDS:

50 Top Women in Business, Long Island Business News 2023
Award of Recognition, Suffolk County Bar Association, 2023
Outstanding Women in Law Award, Hofstra Law School, 2016
Women of Honor – Women in Business Award, GEWWC, 2015
Leadership in Law Award, Long Island Business News, 2014
Super Lawyers Rising Star Award, Thomson Reuters, 2013-2017
40 Under 40 Award, Long Island Business News, 2010
Emerging Leader Award, Long Island Women’s Agenda, 2010

MEMBERSHIPS

New York State Bar Association
Suffolk County Bar Association
Suffolk County Women’s Bar Association
Suffolk County Women’s Business Enterprise Coalition
Senior Umbrella Network Suffolk (SUN)
Columbian Lawyers Association of Nassau County, Suffolk County & Kings County
International Wine Law Association (AIDV)
Smithtown Chamber of Commerce
St. James Chamber of Commerce
Syosset Woodbury Chamber of Commerce
Long Island Wine Council
Stony Brook Yacht Club

SPEAKING ENGAGEMENTS

July 26, 2023 “Estate Planning Essentials”, Stony Brook Yacht Club (Speaker)
May 25, 2023, “Estate Planning & Protecting Your Home”, Plymouth Estates (Speaker)
May 23, 2023, “Senior Housing Options & Protecting Your Home, Bayville Senior Center (Speaker)
September 16, 2022, “A Taste of Wine Law: NYS v. California, Suffolk County Bar Association (Speaker)
June 29, 2022, “First-time Homebuyer Workshop”, Port Jefferson Village Center (Speaker)
October 21, 2019, “Navigating the Medicaid Maze”, Commack Branch Public Library (Moderator)
November 5, 2019, “A Taste of Wine: New York State Ed.”, 1230 Club of Bay Ridge (Speaker)
April 26, 2019, “A Taste of Wine Law: Southern Italian Ed.” CLE, CLAB (Speaker)
May 8, 2019, “A Taste of Wine Law: Volcanic Wine Ed.” CLE, CLASC (Speaker)
November 29, 2018, “A Taste of Wine Law: Italian Ed.” CLE, CLANC (Speaker)
October 22, 2013, “Business Ethics”, Long Island University (Lecturer)
November 29, 2012 “Estate Planning 101”, Half Hollow Hills Community Library (Speaker)
March 1, 2012, “Women in Art”, Art League of Long Island (Moderator)
March 9, 2011, “Elder Law 101”, Huntington Hospital (Speaker)
March 7, 2011, “Estate Planning Basics”, National Grid Retiree Club (Speaker)
October 6, 2009, “Secrets of Long Island Power Women”, LIWA (Moderator)
June 25, 2009, “Help Wanted – You Got It, College Edition”, LIWA (Moderator)
May 7, 2009, “Help Wanted – You Got It”, LIWA (Moderator)
September 16, 2008, “Networking 101 for Women”, LIWA (Moderator)
October 16, 2007, “Estate Planning 101”, Sacred Heart Church (Speaker)
July 24, 2007, “Senior Housing Options”, Commack Branch Public Library (Speaker)
July 13, 2007, “Elder Law: Planning 101”, Syosset Public Library (Speaker)
May 18, 2007, “Advance Directives 101”, National Association of Social Workers (Speaker)
May 9, 2007, “Estate Planning 101”, Half Hollow Hills Community Library (Speaker)
February 27, 2007, “Senior Housing Options”, Farmingdale Public Library (Speaker)
November 15, 2006, “Solving the Puzzle of Senior Planning”, The Arbors (Speaker)
September 21, 2006, “Planning for Health”, The Bristal (Speaker)