Sybil is a passionate and uncommonly persuasive advocate who helps clients resolve intellectual property and commercial disputes.

Sybil’s practice affords her substantial first-chair trial and arbitration experience, as well as experience before the PTAB. Clients appreciate that “she knows the rules and law to a tee, which allows her to focus on strategy,” that “[s]he really is 100% client-focused,” and that she is “the most responsive lawyer I have ever met in my life.” (Chambers and Partners, 2020). Bringing these skills to bear, Sybil has successfully led teams in litigations around the country.

Sybil’s experience includes representing Fortune 100 companies as they navigate disputes with contractors, clients, and business partners, including post-closing disputes involving net working capital or post-closing adjustments. She also helps clients evaluate, assess, and litigate intellectual property disputes from initial risk assessment through trial and appeal. As part of her IP practice, she represents clients before the Patent Trial and Appeal Board, including the first patent owner to score a complete victory in a Covered Business Method (CBM) proceeding.

In addition to her active litigation practice, Sybil is a national thought leader on Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (“DEI”). She co-founded Greene Espel’s DEI practice, which helps workplaces design and implement DEI strategies and programs to meet their goals. As part of this practice, Sybil offers award-winning DEI trainings which receive rave reviews from audiences around the country. Clients include Fortune 100 companies, cities, government institutions, bar associations, law firms, and non-profits. In recognition of her efforts, Minnesota Lawyer selected Sybil as one of its Diversity & Inclusion Honorees in 2018, and the Hennepin County Bar Association awarded her its Excellence Award for Advancing Diversity and Inclusion Award in 2019.

Sybil serves on the Infinity Project board, an organization dedicated to increasing the gender diversity of the state and federal bench. She offers her thoughts about the practice of law in a monthly column for Minnesota Lawyer entitled Sybil Procedure, and she hosts a recurring webcast series for Minnesota CLE.

Admissions

  • U.S. Court of Appeals for the Eighth Circuit
  • U.S. District Court for the District of Minnesota
  • State Bar of Minnesota

Professional & Community Affiliations

PROFESSIONAL AFFILIATIONS

  • Federal Bar Association
  • Hennepin County Bar Association
  • Minnesota State Bar Association
  • Minnesota Women Lawyers

COMMUNITY INVOLVEMENT

  • Collaborative Community Law Initiative, Board Member (2017 - present) 
  • Infinity Project, Board Member (2012-2015)
  • Smith College Alumni Association, Member

Thought Leadership

PUBLICATIONS

TEACHING AND LECTURING 

  • The Role of Lawyers in Systemic Change, UST Law Journal Fall Symposium: Protests & Reforms, Panelist (October 23, 2020)
  • A Checklist Approach to Successful Motion Practice, Minnesota CLE (September 25, 2020)
  • Bias and Hate Crimes: Efforts to Prevent and Respond to Injustice, 33rd Annual All-Day CLE Sponsored by tjw Minnesota Attorney General's Office (July 28, 2020)
  • Ethics in the Time of COVID-19, Minnesota CLE (May 15, 2020; December 4, 2020; February 4, 2021)
  • Civil Litigation A to Z: Case Management – Discovery Best Practices in Minnesota State Court, Minnesota CLE (May 2017)
  • Implicit Bias in the Legal Profession, MWL Conference for Women in the Law (April 2017)
  • Civil Litigation A to Z: Getting Started – Federal Court Practice Essentials, Minnesota CLE (April 2017)
  • Presenting a Compelling Fact Section in Judicial Opinions and Briefs, Quill and Bagel (March 2017)
  • Implicit Bias and Its Impact on the Legal Profession, 2017 City Attorneys Educational Conference (March 2017)
  • Federal Court Practice Essentials, Minnesota CLE (February 2017)
  • The Professional Education Group, Faculty (2016 – present)
  • How to Get Noticed for All the Right Reasons,  The New Lawyer Experience Seminar, Minnesota CLE (July 2015)
  • Excessive Force: Recent Federal and State Cases Every Practitioner Should Know, Police Liability Seminar, Lorman Education Services, Panelist (May 2013; February 2011)
  • Candid Advice for New Lawyers, The New Lawyer Experience Seminar, Minnesota CLE, Panelist (January 2013)
  • Search and Seizure: Recent Federal and State Cases Every Practitioner Should Know, Recent Trends Involving the Law of Arrest, Search and Seizure in Minnesota Seminar, Lorman Education Services, Panelist (November 2012)

Recognition

  • 2020 Attorney of the Year, Minnesota Lawyer
  • Listed in The Best Lawyers in America (2021-2022)
  • Listed in Chambers USA, America's Leading Lawyers for Business-The Client's Guide (2020-2021)
  • Hennepin County Bar Association Excellence Award for Advancing Diversity and Inclusion (2019)
  • Selected to Rising Stars list, Minnesota Super Lawyers (2013-2019)
  • 2018 Diversity & Inclusion Honoree, Minnesota Lawyer
  • Recognized as Minnesota State Bar Association North Star Lawyer for pro bono service (2016)
  • Recognized as Up and Coming Attorney, Minnesota Lawyer (2015)
  • Vanderbilt University Law School
    • 2L Mock Trial Champion and Top Litigator Award Recipient
    • Best Brief Award 2006
    • Scholastic Achievement Awards: Conflicts of Law, Professional Responsibility, and Legal Writing
  • Smith College
    • Andrew C. Slater Prize for Excellence in Debate

News

Greene Espel Attorneys Recognized in 2022 "Best Lawyers in the Midwest" Publication
Best Lawyers Recognizes 14 Greene Espel Attorneys on the 2022 Best Lawyers and Best Lawyers: Ones to Watch Lists
Best Lawyers 2021 “Women in the Law” Business Edition Recognizes Eight Greene Espel Attorneys

Practice Areas


Education

J.D., Vanderbilt University Law School, Order of the Coif; Senior Notes Editor, Vanderbilt Law Review

B.A., Smith College 


Experience

Law Clerk, U.S. District Court for the District of Minnesota, The Honorable James M. Rosenbaum

EMILY’s List, Political Research Deputy