Sylvia defends clients in mass tort, environmental, public nuisance claims, and other complex civil litigation in state and federal courts. She has substantial experience in all phases of litigation, including discovery, motions practice, and trial preparation.
Before joining McGuireWoods, Sylvia served as a law clerk for the Honorable Rebecca Beach Smith, United States District Judge for the Eastern District of Virginia.
During law school, Sylvia served as a judicial extern for the Honorable Roger L. Gregory of the United States Court of Appeals for the Fourth Circuit and was executive editor for the University of Richmond Law Review. Upon graduation, she received the T.C. Williams Law School Scholarship Award, presented to the graduating student who made the most significant contribution to legal scholarship. Before law school, Sylvia worked in education, teaching English in France and social studies in Bronx, New York.
- Represents successor to lead pigment manufacturer. Won dismissal of over 150 claims under Wisconsin’s risk contribution doctrine in Eastern District of Wisconsin.
- Represents Big Three automaker in products liability cases concerning the use of asbestos in friction products.
- Represented municipality against federal environmental claims and public nuisance in federal court.
- Represented railroad company as punitive damages counsel in personal injury actions.
Events
- Speaker, "Impacts of Dobbs v. Jackson Women’s Health Organization on Health Care Providers," 2023 Health Law Section Program, North Carolina Bar Association, April 21, 2023
Insights
- Author, Product Liability & Mass Tort Monitor: July 2025, McGuireWoods Legal Alert, July 21, 2025
- Author, Eleventh Circuit Denies En Banc Request, Confirms Holding that Class Action Incentive Payments are Improper, McGuireWoods Legal Alert, August 15, 2022
- Author, Fourth Circuit Outlines Burden of Proof for Objector to Class Action Settlement, McGuireWoods Legal Alert, March 24, 2022
- Contributing Author, “Chapter 13: Multidistrict Litigation", Infectious Disease Litigation: Science, Law & Procedure, February 2021
- Author, State Environmental Enforcement Policies During COVID-19 and Response to EPA “Discretion” Policy, McGuireWoods Legal Alert, April 2, 2020
- Author, EPA Indicates that It May Relax Enforcement Measures for Narrow Categories of Environmental Legal Obligations Occurring After March 13, 2020, if Pandemic Causes Inability to Comply, McGuireWoods Legal Alert, March 30, 2020
- Author, Note, Grow Up Virginia: Time to Change our Filial Responsibility Law, 51 U. Rich. L. Rev. 265, 2016
- Named to “Virginia Rising Stars,” Class Action/Mass Torts, Super Lawyers, Thomson Reuters, 2022, 2023, 2024, 2025
- Named to “Pro Bono Service Honor Roll,” Virginia Access to Justice Commission, 2022