Our Team

Syl has a distinguished career in Florida, national, and international policy and politics spanning more than four decades. As a key strategic advisor to the firm, his political and policy expertise has been central to Ballard Partners’ growth in Florida and its expansion to national and international markets.

As Senior Partner of Ballard Partners, Syl works closely with the firm’s President and founder, Brian Ballard. Together, they have established the firm’s presence in major U.S. markets—including Washington, DC, Boston, Chicago, Los Angeles, and Sacramento—as well as internationally in Saudi Arabia, the United Kingdom, Argentina, Japan, and South Korea. He provides both strategic and personnel guidance to support the firm’s continued growth and global reach.

Syl collaborates with all members of the Ballard team on significant federal, state, local, and international issues for both domestic and foreign clients. His work focuses on U.S. government relations on behalf of foreign governments and private entities, with particular emphasis on health care, immigration, trade, tariffs, and tax matters before the Legislative and Executive branches of the U.S. government.

During his more than forty-year tenure in Washington, D.C., Syl has represented clients before nearly every major federal department, including the Departments of Health and Human Services, Justice, State, Transportation, Commerce, Treasury, Interior, and Homeland Security, as well as the Office of the U.S. Trade Representative.

A member of the District of Columbia Bar for more than four decades, Syl also had the honor of serving his country in the United States Air Force. His public service career included roles as Special Assistant to the General Counsel at the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, Special Assistant U.S. Attorney in the District of Columbia, and Assistant Director of a federal interagency task force at the U.S. Department of State during the Mariel Boatlift, one of the largest mass immigration crises in U.S. history.

Widely recognized for his leadership in government relations, Syl continues to advise clients navigating complex policy and political challenges around the world.