Masters Starts, Carrie

Sheila handles the firm’s estate planning, trusts, and probate practice. She also assists small businesses with start-up and post start-up issues, including the formation of corporations, limited liability partnerships, and limited liability companies. Sheila works with farmers and other land owners on real estate matters and assists with the firm’s litigation matters. Sheila manages the firm’s appellate practice and has argued before the South Dakota Supreme Court and the Eighth Circuit Court of Appeals on numerous occasions.

After graduating from Augustana College in Sioux Falls, South Dakota in 1992, Sheila attended the University of Iowa College of Law, graduating with highest distinction in 1995. Sheila clerked for the Honorable Thomas M. Shanahan in the federal district court in Omaha, Nebraska for two years before joining the firm in 1997. She became a partner in 2002.

Sheila and her husband Chris Sonne live in Yankton. Like her counterparts in the firm, Sheila is actively involved in the community, currently serving as Board Chair for the Heartland Humane Society and as a Vice Chair of the Yankton Area Foundation. She also is a director for the Lutheran Social Services of South Dakota Foundation and The Center. Previously, Sheila served on the boards for Big Friend/Little Friend, Yankton Women’s/Children’s Center, Yankton Arts Association, Trinity Lutheran Church, and Lutheran Social Services of South Dakota.

In her spare time, Sheila enjoys coaching basketball for the Yankton Special Olympics, cooking, traveling, and cajoling her dogs to walk nicely on a leash. Sheila is the firm’s best fantasy football player, Steve Huff’s claims to the contrary notwithstanding.