Richard Cherry is a seasoned litigator with an emphasis in complex civil, labor and employment, and appellate litigation.  He has extensive bench and jury trial experience involving criminal prosecutions and civil disputes. Mr. Cherry is a highly accomplished public sector attorney, having spent over 14 years of his career practicing municipal law and criminal prosecution in both Kalamazoo, Michigan and Chicago, Illinois.

Mr. Cherry has experience in all aspects of civil litigation, including claims involving breach of contract, commercial tax appeals, arbitrations, employment discrimination, and administrative procedures. As the Deputy City Attorney for Kalamazoo, Mr. Cherry defended the municipality as well as its officials and employees in both state and federal court claims.  Mr. Cherry achieved summary judgments, favorable jury verdicts, and successfully negotiated settlements.  Mr. Cherry also has municipal finance experience and has served as counsel for the Kalamazoo Brownfield Redevelopment Authority and Economic Development Corporation.

As a Miller Johnson attorney, Mr. Cherry represents public and privately held companies, family-owned businesses, non-profit organizations, health care providers, municipalities, company executives, and private individuals.

Professional Affiliations and Activities

Mr. Cherry is admitted to the bar in both Michigan and Illinois. He currently serves on the leadership board for Habitat for Humanity of Kent County, the Sherman Lake YMCA Board of Directors and on the Kalamazoo Choral Arts Board of Directors.  Additionally, he is a both a member and former President of the Judge Charles A. Pratt Bar Association.  Mr. Cherry is also a member of Michigan Association of Municipal Attorneys (MAMA).

Mr. Cherry was selected as a 2024 Leadership Council on Legal Diversity (LCLD) Fellow. The LCLD Fellows Program is an ambitious, highly structured training program designed to build relationships and leadership skills in high-potential attorneys from diverse backgrounds.

Community Activities

Mr. Cherry is the former Board President of the Douglass Community Association and Board Member of the Kalamazoo County Bar Association. He also organized the Kalamazoo County Amnesty Day events in 2018 and 2019, and has served on the board of directors for Crescendo Academy.  Additionally Mr. Cherry has participated in several speaking engagements throughout the community, including Kalamazoo College, Mt. Zion Baptist Church, and Kalamazoo area high schools.  Mr. Cherry also teaches at the Kalamazoo Valley Community College Police Academy.

Education

Mr. Cherry is a graduate of the Wayne State University Law School, where he graduated with honors in legal writing. He earned his law degree in 2005.

He received a Bachelor of Arts degree in Political Science from Kalamazoo College in 2001.