Bio

As a former prosecutor, Sydney Paquette brings proven and accomplished experience as a seasoned litigator who handles complex civil cases and understands how to guide her clients through all phases of the legal process. This starts from the inception of a matter with developing strategic plans that align with business goals and objectives and then executing on them to achieve favorable resolutions.

Having taken more than 45 matters to jury trials in both state and federal courts, Sydney focuses her private practice on often sensitive and consequential labor and employment, transportation and logistics, and insurance defense cases, and all aspects of associated litigation within these areas. She has extensive experience handling all facets of pretrial litigation, discovery and trial work, including witness preparation and depositions.

Sydney’s experience representing municipalities, individuals and businesses at each stage of litigation as both a prosecutor and defense counsel give her a unique perspective to provide clients with the support and guidance needed to successfully resolve an impressive variety of matters.

Prior to joining Dysart Taylor, Sydney spent more than a decade as an assistant prosecuting attorney for the Jackson County (Missouri) Prosecutor’s Office and as a special assistant U.S. attorney for the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Western District of Missouri. There, she had direct involvement in all stages of prosecution, including grand jury proceedings, pretrial hearings, trials and post-trial motions.

Sydney also served a notable stint as prosecutor for the city of Overland Park (Kansas), where she handled trials for municipal ordinance violations, including DUIs, theft, battery and traffic charges at the local level and in the District Court on appeal.

Licensed to practice in Kansas and Missouri, Sydney also continues to handle work involving criminal defense for individuals on a variety of matters.

Experience

• Significant courtroom experience including more than 45 jury trials in both state and federal courts.
• Served the citizens of Jackson County as lead prosecutor in multiple homicide, assault and sex crimes trials.
• Led a long-term federal gang investigation involving drug and gun trafficking in the Kansas City metropolitan area and Sedalia, Missouri that included multiple wiretaps and resulted in the indictment and prosecution of more than 60 individuals.
• Served on multiple committees as a Local 42 member, including contract negotiations.
• Served as an instructor for the Child Protection Network, a collaborative group including the Jackson County Prosecutor’s Office, the Kansas City, Missouri Police Department, Missouri Children’s Division, Children’s Mercy Hospital and the Child Protection Center.