Sydney Upright

Biography

Sydney Upright is an associate in the firm’s Charlotte, North Carolina office, where she focuses her practice on complex litigation which includes business and commercial litigation, commercial transportation law, and railroad litigation. Before joining GWB, Sydney worked in private practice, where she served as lead counsel in a range of family law matters. In that role, she regularly appeared in court, representing clients through the various stages of complex legal matters.

Sydney graduated with her bachelor’s degree, summa cum laude, from West Virginia University. She earned her Juris Doctor from Penn State Law, with a concentration in advocacy and litigation. During this time, she served as a certified legal intern for the Penn State Law Family Law Clinic, gaining practical litigation and courtroom experience. Further, she worked as a law clerk, supporting litigation teams in trial preparation, assisting attorneys with discovery, and participating in case and business development.  She also interned with the Allegheny County Public Defender’s Office, where she conducted in-depth legal research and analysis, drafted various court filings, and participated in comprehensive criminal law training.

Outside of the office, Sydney enjoys reading and exploring local bookstores and coffee shops around Charlotte. She also enjoys spending quality time with her friends and family, which, of course, includes her two cats, Tillie and Rosie.

Education

Associations & Professional Memberships

• North Carolina Bar Association
• The Pennsylvania State University, Penn State Law Student Bar Association

Honors & Awards

• Penn State Law
  • CALI Excellence for the Future Award in Professional Responsibility
  • Penn State Merit Scholarship Recipient
  • Commonwealth Scholars Grant Recipient