Sylvia Cardona has a broad complex litigation practice representing companies and individuals in State Court, Federal Court, and Arbitration proceedings. In her practice, Sylvia handles disputes involving breach of contract, business torts, injunction litigation, real property rights, mineral rights, deceptive trade practice, negligence claims, personal injury, non-competes, 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. With over twenty years of courtroom experience, Sylvia passionately represents her clients, regardless of the size of the case.
In 2008, she was elected as the First Latina President of a 24,000-member organization, the Texas Young Lawyers Association (TYLA). Sylvia is active in her community and bar associations. Her commitment to service is rooted in her upbringing. The daughter of two migrant farm workers, she 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.
EDUCATION & BAR ADMISSIONS
LL.M., Georgetown University
Law Center, International and
Comparative Law
J.D., University of Oklahoma
College of Law, Order of Barristers
B.A., University of Texas at San Antonio
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
COMMUNITY INVOLVEMENT
- Texas Supreme Court Historical Society, Member by Invitation
- Texas Bar Foundation Board of Trustees (Secretary, Treasurer, and Sustaining Life Fellow)
- State Bar of Texas (SBOT)
- SBOT Litigation Section (Council Member)
- SBOT Corporate Counsel Section (Former Council Member)
- SBOT Advertising Review Committee (2016-2023)
- 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
- Nominations and Elections Committee, Chair
- Director (2006-2008)
- Law Focused Education Committee
- Low-Income Texans Committee
- Long Range Planning Committee
- San Antonio Bar Association
- Litigation Section (Chair, 2012-2013)
- San Antonio Bar Foundation, Fellow
- William S. Sessions Inn of Court
- Bexar County Women’s Bar Association/Foundation
- LEAD Academy: Founding Member/Steering Committee/Advisory Committee. LEAD is a leadership program aimed to assist women attorneys in attaining the highest level of success in their firms/organizations
- San Antonio Young Lawyers Association
- Director (2004-2007)
- Assisted in numerous member and civic related committees
ACCOLADES
- Recognized in Best Lawyers in America, 2020-2025; Commercial Litigation and Litigation-Construction
- Named Texas “Super Lawyer” by Thomson Reuters and Texas Monthly, 2014, 2016-2024
- Named to the Top 2020 Women Texas Super Lawyers list, Business Litigation
- 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, 2024
- 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
