Sylvia Cardona has a broad complex litigation practice representing companies and individuals in both State and Federal Court proceedings. In her practice, Ms. Cardona handles disputes involving breach of contract, business torts, injunction litigation, real property rights, mineral rights, collection matters, deceptive trade practice, negligence claims, construction defects, personal injury, theft of trade secrets, and professional liability issues. Fluent in Spanish, she also has experience in cross-border transactions and assisting non-U.S. persons and entities with their U.S. businesses. She handles all aspects of litigation and serves as lead counsel in high-stakes related disputes.
Sylvia is very active in her community and bar associations. Her passion for service is rooted in her upbringing. The daughter of two migrant farm workers, Sylvia grew up with a strong work ethic and the dream that one could achieve success with discipline and “animo” (motivation). She applies these values to her clients’ cases and her volunteerism.
In 2008, she was elected as the First Latina President of a 24,000-member organization, the Texas Young Lawyers Association (TYLA). As part of her many volunteer efforts, Ms. Cardona enjoys speaking to students about the importance of an education and the importance of voting. Her service to the community has been featured in numerous publications and media, including the San Antonio Express News, San Antonio Woman, Univision/Dallas, KSAT 12, La Prensa, San Antonio's only bilingual newspaper, and KENS TV's Texas Spirit Campaign.
- Received Women’s Leadership Award by the San Antonio Business Journal, 2017
- Recognized by peers as one of San Antonio's Best Lawyers in Scene SA magazine, 2016
- Named Texas “Super Lawyer” by Thomson Reuters and Texas Monthly, 2014, 2016-2019
- Presented Special Achievement Award by the San Antonio Restaurant Association, 2014
- Named Texas “Rising Star” by Thomson Reuters and Texas Monthly, 2009-2014
- Presented leadership-based “Rising Star Award” by the San Antonio Women’s Chamber of Commerce, 2013
- Received Belva Lockwood Outstanding Lawyer Award by the Bexar County Women’s Bar Foundation, 2012
- Awarded State Bar of Texas Presidential Citation, 2011
- Received La Prensa’s “Outstanding Women in Action” Legal Award, 2008
- Recognized as one of Muscular Dystrophy Association’s “Legal Leaders,” 2008
- Named Texas “Rising Star” by peers in Scene San Antonio magazine, 2008 and 2009
- Received invitation from Chief Justice of the Supreme Court of Texas, Wallace B. Jefferson, to address attendees at swearing-in ceremony for successful Bar examinees (November 2008 & April 2009)
- President of a 24,000+ member organization, the Texas Young Lawyers Association (TYLA), 2008-2009
- Received TYLA President’s Award of Merit for Service to the Public and the Bar, 2007
- Named “Rising Star (40 under 40)” by the San Antonio Business Journal, 2004
- Community and humanitarian service contributions featured in numerous publications and media, including the San Antonio Express News, San Antonio Woman, Univision/Dallas, KSAT 12, La Prensa, San Antonio's only bilingual newspaper, and KENS TV's Texas Spirit Campaign
- Speaker at various State Bar of Texas CLE courses, including the Texas Minority Attorney Program and the Advanced Civil Trial Course; served as course director in SBOT CLE sponsored programming; and direct involvement in planning, coordinating and executing several CLE programs for corporate counsel
- State Bar of Texas (SBOT)
- SBOT Corporate Council Section [approx. 4,700 state-wide membership]
- Former Chair and current Council Member
- SBOT Advertising Review Committee (2016-present)
- SBOT Director, District 10, Place 2 (2010-2013)
- Judicial Section Committee (Alt. Advisor)
- Standing Committee on Court Rules (Advisor)
- Texas Bar Journal Board of Directors
- Continuing Legal Education Committee
- Local Bar Services Committee
- Texas Minority Counsel Program Committee
- Annual Meeting Committee (Co-chair, 2010-2011)
- SBOT Director (as representative of TYLA) (2007-2010)
- Texas Bar Foundation Board of Directors
- Texas Bar Journal Board of Directors
- Continuing Legal Education Committee
- Nominations and Elections Committee (for SBOT President-elect candidates)
- Texas Young Lawyers Association (TYLA)
- Immediate-Past President (2009-2010)
- President (2008-2009)
- Administration of 40+ member board of directors and 22+ committees
- President-Elect (2007-2008)
- First elected Hispanic female into state-wide, 24,000+ member organization
- Executive Committee
- Nominations and Elections Committee, Chair
- Director (2006-2008)
- Law Focused Education Committee
- ProBAR Committee
- Low-Income Texans Committee
- Long Range Planning Committee
- San Antonio Young Lawyers
- Director (2004-2007)
- Assisted in numerous member and civic related committees
- Director (2004-2007)
- San Antonio Bar Association
- Litigation Section (held office for four years; Chair, 2012-2013)
- International Law Section
- Mentor/Mentee Committee
- State Bar of Texas
- Corporate Council Section
- Litigation Section
- Texas Supreme Court Historical Society, Member by Invitation
- Texas Bar Foundation, Fellow
- San Antonio Bar Association
- San Antonio Bar Foundation, Fellow
- William S. Sessions Inn of Court
- Bexar County Women's Bar Association/Foundation
- Founding Member/Steering Committee of LEAD Academy, a leadership program aimed to assist women attorneys in attaining the highest level of success in their firms/organizations
Areas of Practice
- Litigation/Trial Practice
- Business/Commercial Litigation
- Oil and Gas Litigation
- International Law
- Construction Litigation
Education
- LL.M., Georgetown University Law Center, International and Comparative Law, 2002
- J.D., University of Oklahoma College of Law, Order of Barristers, 2001 li>
- B.A., University of Texas at San Antonio, 1998
Bar Admissions
- Texas
Court Admissions
- Supreme Court of the United States
- U.S. Court of Appeals for the Fifth Circuit
- U.S. District Court for the Western District of Texas
- U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of Texas
- U.S. District Court for the Northern District of Texas
- U.S. District Court for the Southern District of Texas
Languages
- English
- Spanish