Sheila Baynes grew up in Palmyra, just 25 miles east of the city of Rochester. She went to college at Harvard, led wilderness adventures in Alaska and Wyoming, got a master’s degree, and taught high school English and social studies before heading to NYC and Washington DC to launch her career as a lawyer. When she decided she wanted more balance in her life, she returned to Greater ROC, bought a beautiful, historic house, opened her own law firm and started a family. Sheila knows it was the right move because now she feels she can be the best parent, professional and colleague possible.
“Part of the magic of coming back here is that it’s my family's home going back for multiple generations … there's a lot of rootedness and connectedness that comes along with that.”
Sheila came from a big family and spent a lot of time outdoors—in the Finger Lakes and on Lake Ontario—boating, hiking, riding bikes, roller skating and playing along the Erie Canal. She fondly reflects on the tight-knit community and knowing her neighbors, which she admits she didn’t realize at the time was so special. When thinking about her positive, active childhood, Sheila pictured a similar experience for her child and didn’t believe anywhere else compared to the Greater Rochester region.
“I've always sought out challenge and adventure. Parenting, to me, is the greatest lifelong adventure … I wanted to live in a place that would best set up both my daughter and myself to thrive. And that's how I ended up here.”
Rochester’s quality of life, low congestion and manageable cost of living are major factors. Sheila says life is easier in a lot of small ways that add up to a big difference in her ability to be the most present parent. Things are more easily accessible.
“We're able to live in a beautifully crafted historic home in a lovely neighborhood. We have access to all the natural wonders of the area. My daughter hopefully will be able to take music lessons at the Eastman School of Music. We can be involved in the community and contribute through civic engagement.”
"Rochester is full of amazing hidden gems and it’s so vastly underrated. There's so much space for Rochester to shine and be proud of itself."
When Sheila initially moved back to Rochester she was working remotely for the international law firm Orrick, handling cutting-edge cases in the US Supreme Court and the federal courts of appeals across the country. Desiring more connection and integration with the local legal community, she transitioned to a century-old Greater ROC-based law firm before founding Aurelian Law, PLLC.
“Our vision was that we could have a firm where we could have it all. We could have the highest level of legal work that normally you would find only at a law firm in New York City, Washington DC or San Francisco. We could do that work here, but we could also enjoy the fantastic quality of life that Rochester offers and the work-life balance that we could create for ourselves here.”
Sheila emphasizes that living here allows that kind of flexibility for her and her partners. Plus, with a downtown federal courthouse and a short flight to/from NYC, Rochester is well-positioned for Aurelian Law to offer great value to clients.
While Sheila acknowledges that no place is perfect, she notes the solid foundation of Rochester remains: People who have the instinct to innovate, take care of their neighbors and have each other's backs, along with myriad natural resources to support our region.
“I've spent two decades moving all around the country and I'm not planning on going anywhere. I am so excited to watch my daughter grow, watch my law firm grow right here in the Greater Rochester area.”
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