“For centuries, women have had to work twice as hard to be considered half as good as men. They have been denied the right to vote, to be in public unescorted, or to speak their mind. Luckily many of us stand on the shoulders of giants who have sacrificed their pride, their dignity and sometimes their lives to achieve equality.” Sheila Hiestand said, “Their efforts resulted in the ERA (Equal Rights Amendment), Title IX (requiring equal treatment for female athletes), higher paying jobs, and access to top positions in the corporate world. And we are forever grateful.”
Hiestand has defied the traditional role for women in many ways throughout the years. While earning her undergraduate degree she started in two Final Four appearances and has since applied that drive to every aspect of her life. She has worked tirelessly to fight for injured people for more than 20 years, resulting in various awards. Sheila is rated AV Preeminent by Martindale-Hubbell and has a Perfect 10 rating from AVVO. Sheila is named one of the Top 100 Trial Lawyers in Kentucky by the National Trial Lawyers Association, one of the Top 25 Women Lawyers in Kentucky, has been recognized as a Super Lawyer for 10 consecutive years, and is a member of the Million Dollar Advocates Forum.
“But our work is not yet done. For our daughters and ourselves, we must continue to fight for equality of all women. Not just in the boardroom, but in the classroom and even in our homes,” said Hiestand. “This will require supporting each other, and stopping any negative stereotypes. We must also support woman beyond our borders who do not yet have any rights, but are treated as property.”
When not practicing law, Sheila loves to compete in triathlons and Ironman competitions. She plays viola, violin, cello and piano and is a past member of the Lexington Singers. Sheila is also fluent in Spanish and volunteers at the Federal Correctional Institute to assist Spanish-speaking inmates with legal matters pro bono.
“Women account for 51% of the world’s population,” she said, “It’s time we show the world exactly what that means.”
