The firm said her first project will be launching and facilitating a community legal assistance clinic this week for Grandparents Rearing Grandchildren (WA) Inc, a registered charity offering support services to grandparents who are raising their grandchildren on a full-time basis. 

“Murray and I are honoured to have Cheryl joining us this week. It is a privilege to welcome a senior solicitor of this calibre to our team,” HHG Legal Group executive chairman, Simon Creek, said.

“Cheryl’s years of experience in government service, private enterprise, board directorship and general legal practice, represent an outstanding resource for the Western Australian community, the growth of HHG Giving Back and the professional development of the junior solicitors at HHG Legal Group.”

Admitted to legal practice in 1984, Ms Edwardes predominantly practised in the areas of corporate law until she made the move to politics in 1989.

She was elected to the Western Australian Legislative Assembly as the Liberal member for Kingsley. She was immediately promoted to the frontbench as shadow minister for education and remained a senior frontbencher for the rest of her career, including serving as the first woman attorney-general of Western Australia from 1993 to 1995.

Following her retirement from politics in 2005, Ms Edwardes returned to private practice for a few more years but then made a commitment to assisting the Western Australian mining industry via a number of operational, advisory and directorship roles.

In addition to her roles within the mining industry, Ms Edwardes is also a part-time member of the Foreign Investment Review Board (FIRB) and a commissioner and deputy chair of the WA Football Commission.

In addition to her pro bono work for HHG Giving Back, Ms Edwardes will also be involved with mentoring solicitors and ad-hoc HHG Legal Group special projects.