A "Videogame Lawyer" With a Passion for Paying It Forward In a year that brought many challenges, one very bright spot for all of us at DWT was getting to celebrate Seattle partner Maya Yamazaki and her recognition by three influential organizations: • • •
National Asian Pacific American Bar Association (NAPABA): Best Lawyers Under 40. Minority Corporate Counsel Association: Rising Star. Puget Sound Business Journal: 40 Under 40.
The streak was impressive but not surprising to clients and colleagues who know Maya, her excellence, her leadership, and her generosity. Maya is a tech transactions lawyer. Her work includes helping videogame creators incorporate the IP of world-class companies and artists into the industry's most recognized gaming franchises. "With the support of the firm, I've built this practice at my own initiative," says Maya, "and had the freedom to take it any direction I wanted."
THE STREAK WAS IMPRESSIVE BUT NOT SURPRISING TO CLIENTS AND COLLEAGUES WHO KNOW MAYA Maya learned her client service ethic from her parents, who came to this country from Japan, founded a small print shop, and grew it through hard work. Maya is well known at the firm as a key voice on diversity, equity, and inclusion. Though her participation in NAPABA's annual meetings, she helped establish a new model for how the firm approaches diversity conferences, emphasizing opportunities for junior associates to promote themselves and their work to high-level clients. "I have reached a position of influence where I can help other similarly situated people be successful," says Maya. "That to me is my biggest accomplishment."
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