she advises student-athletes, universities and coaches on legal matters related to Title IX and gender equity. Her work also extends to name, image and likeness issues.
NEW YORK, NY, November 26, 2024 /24-7PressRelease/ -- Leigh Ernst Friestedt, Esq., has been selected for inclusion in Marquis Who's Who. As in all Marquis Who's Who biographical volumes, individuals profiled are selected since current reference value. Factors such as position, noteworthy accomplishments, visibility, and prominence in a field are all taken into account during the selection process.
Ms. Friestedt, an accomplished attorney specializing in sports law, has made significant contributions to the field of gender equity in athletics. As the founder of Equity IX, LLC, she advises student-athletes, universities and coaches on legal matters related to Title IX and gender equity. Her work also extends to name, image and likeness issues, a burgeoning area intersecting with Title IX compliance.
Ms. Friestedt's expertise in helping girls and women achieve equal opportunities in sports is widely recognized particularly through her involvement with the Vanderbilt Law School Advisory Board. Her dedication to this cause is further exemplified by her pro bono work on the landmark Title IX lawsuit, A.B. et. al. v. Hawaii State Department of Education and Oahu Interscholastic Association.
Ms. Friestedt's first area of expertise is in investment banking. She started her professional journey as a financial analyst in mergers and acquisitions at Bowles Hollowell Conner & Co. and Donaldson, Lufkin & Jenrette from 1996 to 1998. She also held positions as a vice president at Lazard from 1998 to 2005 and a senior vice president at GE Capital where she led the business development team in Media, Communications & Entertainment from 2005 to 2008.
Academically, Ms. Friestedt earned a Juris Doctor from Vanderbilt University Law School in 1996 and a Bachelor of Arts in history from Brown University in 1993. During her time at Brown, she was a member of the Division I Women's Varsity Lacrosse Program for all four years. Her experiences as a female student-athlete fueled her passion for Title IX advocacy.
In recognition of her various achievements, Ms. Friestedt has received numerous awards, such as being named Intercollegiate Women's Lacrosse First Team All-New England, receiving an Academic All-Ivy Selection at Brown University and being inducted into the Athletic Hall of Fame at Holton-Arms School. She has also authored numerous publications focusing on women's sports and Title IX issues, including "Title IX vs. NCAA: A Gameplan for Championship Equity," published by the Vanderbilt Journal of Entertainment & Technology Law.
Outside her professional life, Ms. Friestedt enjoys playing tennis, skiing, wake surfing, screenwriting and spending time with her family. She has also contributed civically in her personal time by mentoring young girls aspiring to attend boarding schools and supporting them through college.
Ms. Friestedt's future goals include consulting with universities to ensure Title IX compliance and raising awareness of the importance of gender equity in sports. She wants to collaborate with educational institutions to provide equal opportunities for female student-athletes without resorting solely to litigation, believing that working together with universities can effectively address disparities and create lasting change in the realm of sports equity.
About Marquis Who's Who®:
Since 1899, when A. N. Marquis printed the First Edition of Who's Who in America®, Marquis Who's Who® has chronicled the lives of the most accomplished individuals and innovators from every significant field of endeavor, including politics, business, medicine, law, education, art, religion and entertainment. Who's Who in America® remains an essential biographical source for thousands of researchers, journalists, librarians and executive search firms around the world. The suite of Marquis® publications can be viewed at the official Marquis Who's Who® website, www.marquiswhoswho.com.
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