3rd Annual Shirley's Legacy

On Sept. 21, the firm hosted its third annual Shirley's Legacy event honoring Shirley Shideler and Indiana's trailblazing women lawyers in the Indianapolis office. The event honored the late Shirley Shideler, a former partner, and trailblazing women lawyers in Central Indiana. In September 1964, Shirley became the first female associate at Barnes & Thornburg and in 1971 became the first woman to be named a partner in a large Indiana law firm. Five prominent female lawyers were honored this year: Judi Sobecki, U.S. general counsel, The AES Corporation; Sharon Barner, vice president and general counsel, Cummins Inc.; Erin Roth, senior vice president, general counsel and secretary, Wabash National Corporation; Carrie Hightman, executive vice president and chief legal officer, NiSource Inc.; Cynthia Kretz, vice president and general counsel, Cook Group Inc. The Indiana Lawyer covered the event in an article entitled "Women general counsel honored for keeping Shideler’s spirit alive," which was published on Sept. 22.