Sydney S. McLafferty is a respected trial attorney and statewide legal leader with a career defined by advocacy, preparation, and principled leadership. She represents injury victims and their families with clarity and resolve, particularly when facing large corporations, insurance carriers, and institutions that resist accountability.
Sydney S. McLafferty Partner

A Career Dedicated to Civil Justice
Although Sydney comes from a family of attorneys, her commitment to personal injury law was shaped early in her legal training. During her first year of law school, she recognized the profound impact of representing people who had been injured or wronged and who were often outmatched by corporate defendants and insurers. That realization became the foundation of her career.
Since then, Sydney has dedicated her practice to helping injured individuals and families navigate complex legal challenges while also protecting access to the civil justice system. She is known for her thorough preparation, strategic judgment, and willingness to take cases as far as necessary to pursue fair outcomes. Clients rely on her not only for legal skill but for steady guidance during some of the most difficult moments of their lives.
Trial-Ready Advocacy With Statewide Leadership
Sydney’s practice reflects a deep understanding that meaningful results often require leverage, preparation, and readiness to litigate. While many cases resolve through negotiation, her approach is built on preparing every matter as if it will be tried. That posture strengthens outcomes and ensures clients are never pressured into unfair resolutions.
In addition to her work with individual clients, Sydney has played a significant role in shaping civil justice advocacy across Ohio. She has held nearly every leadership position within the Ohio Association for Justice, including serving as President and Immediate Past President. Her leadership reflects the respect she has earned from peers statewide and her commitment to protecting the rights of injured people beyond her own caseload.
Grounded, Compassionate, and Family-Focused
Originally from Wyoming, Ohio, Sydney now lives in Upper Arlington with her husband, Scott, and their two sons. Outside of work, much of her time is spent supporting her children at football, basketball, and baseball games, which often fill weekends. That perspective as a parent informs her work and reinforces her understanding of what families stand to lose when injuries disrupt daily life.
Get to Know Sydney S. McLafferty Professional Background
Bar Admissions
- Supreme Court of Ohio, 2003
- United States District Court for the Southern District of Ohio, 2013
- Supreme Court of the United States of America, 2019
Honors
- Immediate Past President, Ohio Association for Justice, 2023-2024
- Top 50 – Women Ohio Super Lawyers: 2022–2026
- President, Ohio Association for Justice, 2022-2023
- Top 50 – Columbus Super Lawyers: 2021–2026
- Top 25 – Women Columbus Super Lawyers: 2021–2024
- Vice President, Ohio Association for Justice, 2020-2021
- Alliance of Women Trial Lawyers, Board Member, 2020-2021
- Treasurer, Ohio Association for Justice, 2019-2020
- National Women’s Trial Lawyers Top 25, 2019 – Present
- National Trial Lawyers Top 100, 2019 – Present
- Secretary, Ohio Association for Justice, 2018-2019
- Women’s Caucus Chair, Ohio Association for Justice, 2013-2017
- Board of Trustees, Ohio Association for Justice, 2014-Present
- Advocates Circle, Ohio Association for Justice, 2010-Present
- Board of Directors, Central Ohio Association for Justice, 2013-2017
- Negligence Committee Chair, Central Ohio Association for Justice, 2007-2014
- Ohio Super Lawyers, 2018, 2019, 2020, 2021, 2022, 2023, 2024, 2025
- Ohio Super Lawyers Rising Star, 2010, 2014, 2015, 2016, 2017
- Capital Associates Planning Committee, 2003-2004
Education
- Bachelor of Arts, The Ohio State University (2000)
- Juris Doctorate, Capital University Law School (2003)
Professional Associations
- Ohio Association for Justice
- American Association for Justice
- Central Ohio Association for Justice
- Ohio State Bar Association
- Columbus Bar Association
- Million Dollar Advocates Forum
Community Involvement
- Nationwide Children’s Hospital
- Mid-Ohio Foodbank
- YWCA Family Center
- Franklin County Children’s Services Holiday Wish Program
- Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation
- Volunteer with the Cleft Lip and Palate Center at Nationwide Children’s Hospital
Awards & Recognitions






