Sylvan was born in San Antonio, Texas, and has lived most of his life in South and Central Texas. He received his undergraduate degree in History, with Special Honors, from the University of Texas at Austin in 1986, and obtained his law degree from the Southern Methodist University Deadman College of Law in 1989, graduating Cum Laude and Order of the Coif. During law school, Sylvan served as the Assistant Editor in Chief of the Southwestern Law Journal. He was admitted to the State Bar of Texas in 1989, and is licensed to practice law in the state courts in Texas, as well as the United States District Courts in the Western, Southern and Northern Districts of Texas. Sylvan is also licensed to practice before the United States Court of Appeals for the Fifth Circuit. Sylvan's legal career has been both rewarding and multi-faceted. After law school, from 1989 to 1990, Sylvan had the unique opportunity to serve as law clerk to the Honorable Edith Hollan Jones, on the United States Court of Appeals for the Fifth Circuit. Thereafter, Sylvan returned to San Antonio as an associate at Plunkett, Gibson and Allen from 1990 to 1994, practicing insurance defense and handling cases in the areas of personal injury, automobile accident, product liability, insurance, medical malpractice, and legal malpractice, from the defense perspective. From 1994 to 1996, Sylvan chose a new and challenging experience, following his wife, Amy, to Dallas while she completed her medical fellowship. During this time, Sylvan sought and obtained a unique and completely different experience-serving the under-represented poor at Legal Services of North Texas (civil legal aid). After practicing law at legal aid, Sylvan knew he could never work for insurance companies again. Upon returning to San Antonio, Sylvan co-founded Lang & Kustoff LLP in 1996, focusing one hundred percent of his practice on representing clients with claims related to insurance, construction matters, personal injury, and employment law. In 2008, Sylvan founded Lang Law Firm, P.C., where he continues the same focus of trial work, delivering personalized, client-focused results in an ever-changing world. Sylvan cherishes recreational time with his wonderful family, wife and two daughters. He has devoted over a decade of Board service and leadership to both Temple Beth-El and Saint Mary's Hall. His other hobbies include ranching, hunting, fishing, hiking and enjoying the outdoors.