Sydne K. Collier
Overview
Experience
Representative Matters
Prior to joining Kirkland, Sydne was involved in the following matters:
Internal Investigations
- Advised executives of statewide Texas charter school in an internal investigation involving claims of possible attendance fraud by teachers and principals.
- Advised the executives of a licensed insurance agency of a multinational automotive manufacturer in an internal investigation involving claims of possible misrepresentation of customer data.
- Advised the audit committee of a publicly traded oil and gas exploration and production company in an internal investigation involving claims of possible accounting irregularity and gender discrimination.
Criminal and Civil Enforcement
- Served as second-chair defense counsel in $16 million healthcare fraud prosecution by DOJ.
- Represented music executive in an investigation and prosecution by DOJ alleging violation of the Foreign Narcotics Kingpin Designation Act.
- Successfully defended a Chief Financial Officer of a Nasdaq-listed company in an accounting and disclosure fraud investigation by the SEC in which no claims were asserted against the client.
- Represented and advised individuals in insider trading investigations by the SEC.
- Successfully defended a Chief Financial Officer of a Nasdaq-listed company in federal court by utilizing the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act to obtain a voluntary dismissal of a securities class action lawsuit.
- Represented registered investment advisers in connection with SEC Division of Examinations routine and risk-based examinations.
Commercial Litigation
- Represented member of Grammy-award winning musical group in trademark infringement lawsuit against group members in federal court.
- Represented high-net-worth individual in breach of fiduciary duty and fraud action against power of attorney for misappropriating over $9 million.
- Obtained favorable verdict, and monetary compensation higher than the jury verdict, on behalf of client in 4-day jury trial as first chair against a company in catastrophic personal injury case.
- Represented court-appointed trustee in federal class action alleging fraudulent transfer.
- Represented court-appointed receiver in an SEC enforcement action involving a multi-million dollar investment scheme and securities fraud.
Clerk & Government Experience
Judicial ClerkHonorable Sam A. LindsayUnited States District Court for the Northern District of Texas2022
Prior Experience
Holland & Knight LLP
Thompson & Knight LLP
More
Thought Leadership
Publications
Co-Author, “Internal Investigations: Retaining and Working with Forensic Accountants," Lexis Nexis Practical Guidance®, 2022
Co-Author, “Internal Investigations: Retaining and Working with Forensic Accountants Checklist," Lexis Nexis Practical Guidance®, 2022
Speaking Engagements
Panelist, “SEC's Division of Enforcement FY21: Highlights and What You Need to Know," African American Lawyers Section of the State Bar of Texas, December 16, 2021
Moderator, “Cash: The New Administration's Take on the Company's Balance Sheet," National Association of Corporate Directors (NACD) North Texas Chapter, August 11, 2021
Recognition
Presented with the Graduate of the Last Decade Award by Texas Tech University School of Law, 2022
Recognized as Texas Rising Stars® in Business Litigation by Thomson Reuters, 2022
Recognized as One to Watch in Commercial Litigation (2021–2022) and Criminal Defense: White-Collar (2022) in The Best Lawyers in America® by Woodward/White Inc.
Recognized as Top 40 Under 40 by The National Black Lawyer, 2020–2022
Memberships & Affiliations
Associate, North Texas Federal Criminal Law American Inn of Court, 2022–2023
Council Member, State Bar of Texas, African American Lawyers Section, 2021–2022
Patrick E. Higginbotham American Inn of Court, Associate, 2018–2019
Member, Junior League of Dallas
Member, Dallas Bar Association
Credentials
Admissions & Qualifications
- 2016Texas
Courts
- United States District Court for the Eastern District of Texas
- United States District Court for the Northern District of Texas
- United States District Court for the Southern District of Texas
Education
- Texas Tech University School of LawJ.D.2016
- Texas Tech UniversityM.B.A.2016
- Texas Tech UniversityB.B.A., International Businesscum laude2012