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
- Co-Author of Why the Legal Profession is the Nation’s Least Diverse (and How to Fix It), Vol. 47 Mitchell Hamline L. Rev. (2021)
- Attorney-Client Privilege: What Every Attorney Needs to Know, Minnesota CLE, Co-editor (2018)
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)
- 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
- Listed in The Best Lawyers in America (2021)
- Listed in Chambers USA, America's Leading Lawyers for Business-The Client's Guide (2020)
- 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
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Article: Why the Legal Profession is the Nation’s Least Diverse (and How to Fix It)
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Award: Sybil Dunlop recognized by Minnesota Lawyer as an Attorney of the Year
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Award: Greene Espel Receives Nods for Diversity and Inclusion
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Award: The Best Lawyers in America 2021 Recognizes 17 Greene Espel Lawyers
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Award: Chambers USA 2020 Ranks Greene Espel and its Attorneys
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2019 Super Lawyers and Rising Stars Lists Include 18 Greene Espel Attorneys
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Greene Espel Lawyers Receive Recognition in 2018 Super Lawyers and Rising Stars Lists
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Sybil Dunlop Recognized as a 2018 Diversity & Inclusion Honoree by Minnesota Lawyer
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The Women Attorneys of Greene Espel Reflect on Key Lessons
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Press mentions: Bob Gilbertson Comments on Solutran Verdict in Law360 Article
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Federal Jury Rules in Favor of Client Solutran In Patent Infringement Case Involving Check-Processing Technology
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Super Lawyers Recognizes Thirteen Greene Espel Lawyers in 2017
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Dunlop to Give an Ed Talk at the Minnesota State Bar Association Convention
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Greene Espel Hosts Screening of Balancing the Scales
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Dunlop to Conduct Discussion on Implicit Bias at MDLA Diversity CLE Seminar
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Six Greene Espel Attorneys Named North Star Lawyers for Pro Bono Service
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Super Lawyers 2016 Recognizes Sixteen Greene Espel Attorneys
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Dunlop to chair, Greene to speak at motion practice CLE
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Greene Espel client becomes first patent owner to score complete victory in PTAB CBM proceeding
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Super Lawyers 2015 recognizes fifteen Greene Espel attorneys for honors
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Dunlop speaks at Minnesota CLE New Lawyer Experience
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Forsgren, Dunlop speak at Minnesota CLE on trial practice
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Super Lawyers 2014 recognizes twelve Greene Espel attorneys for honors
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Greene, Dunlop, Kimble speak at 2014 Employment Law Institute
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Super Lawyers 2013 recognizes eleven Greene Espel attorneys for honors
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Greene Espel client American Family wins defense judgment in patent-infringement case
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Dunlop speaks at Minnesota CLE panel
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Dunlop and Swenson teach search and seizure CLE
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Dunlop teaches excessive force CLE
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Sybil Dunlop joins firm
Practice Areas
- Business Litigation
- Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion
- Intellectual Property
- Politics and Elections
- Pro Bono
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