Diversity, Equity & Inclusion
Leadership
![Yamazaki, Maya](/-/media/images/people/y/yamazaki-maya/yamazaki-maya-mobile-new.jpg?rev=1c75074edd224aeeb5ebd6205f90a53a&hash=FCB4C95474351AFC256B497C850B3B0E)
Office of Diversity, Equity & Inclusion
Amy Flint
Senior DEI Engagement Manager (They/She)
Seattle
Valerie Markle
DEI Community Manager (She/Her)
Los Angeles
Ayanna Ryans-Holder
DEI Growth Manager (She/Her)
New York
Patrick Stanton
DEI Specialist (He/Him)
Seattle
Lauren Calogero
DEI Specialist (She/Her)
Seattle
While we have much work to do, we are proud of the recognition we have received for our DEI efforts:
Excellence in Diversity Award, 2023
Mansfield 6.0 Certification Plus Designation, 2023
Mansfield 5.0 Certification Plus Designation, 2022
Mansfield 4.0 Certification Plus Designation, 2021
Mansfield 3.0 Certification Plus Designation, 2020
Compass Award, 2021-2023
Tipping the Scale Award, 2019-2023
Gold Standard Certification, 2014-2023
Fellowship Overview
At DWT, we are committed to ensuring our firm and our industry reflect our communities. To that end, our Pre-Law Diversity Fellowship Program seeks to strengthen the pipeline of talent interested in pursuing a career in the legal profession. The purpose of the program is to provide guidance and support to current college students. By offering a virtual academy, pairing students with experienced mentors, and providing them with an LSAT preparatory course, we aim to cultivate their excitement for the legal field and help them strive for success.
We are proud that this program is co-sponsored by several of our clients, including Amazon, Expedia, Microsoft and T-Mobile.
Fellowship Includes:
- Virtual Academy – two half-day legal immersion "virtual" seminars
- Assignment of a year-long attorney mentor from one of our client partners
- Quarterly virtual cohort
- A fully funded LSAT preparatory course (upon completion of the fellowship)
- A fully funded BARBRI Law Preview preparatory course (upon acceptance into law school)
Program Eligibility
To be eligible to apply for this program, students must:
- Be a sophomore or junior enrolled full time and in good academic standing in an accredited 4-year degree program in Washington state
- Be committed to fostering a diverse, equitable, and inclusive profession
- Intend to matriculate into law school within two years of undergraduate graduation
Application
Applications for the program open in October and close in November of each year. Accepted students will be notified in January following that year’s application season.
To apply for the program:
- Complete the online application (available later this year).
- Upload a current resume
- Upload your current undergraduate transcript (unofficial transcript is acceptable).
- Upload a PDF or Word document responding to both essay prompts below:
- Essay #1: Please tell us about yourself by responding to all three of the prompts below. (300 total words or less)
- Why are you interested in exploring a career in the legal field?
- Describe a challenge you faced, how you navigated it, and what you learned.
- Tell us about something you are particularly proud of (an achievement, demonstrated leadership, etc.).
- Essay #2: What do you hope to gain from participating in the Pre-Law Diversity Fellowship Program? (100 words or less)
Timeline
The program begins in January and ends in December. In addition to attending the virtual cohort meetings and the July virtual academy, fellows are also expected to meet with their mentors regularly throughout the year.
Program Co-Sponsors
As DWT is committed to continually working to ensure our firm and our industry reflect our communities, we are proud to offer a one-year fellowship co-sponsored by several of our clients, including Amazon, Expedia, Microsoft, and T-Mobile.
Apply
Please visit our Careers site in early December to apply for 2025.
Our vision is to foster a culture where all talented individuals—including those who are traditionally underrepresented in the legal profession—can have, and can see, a path to success.
Our Pillars
Fostering a culture that generates a sense of belonging, supports authenticity and intersectionality, and embraces and appreciates our differences.
Building and recruiting a diverse pipeline of talent and ensuring our professionals have equitable access to opportunities, information, and leadership.
Generating opportunities to learn about DEI in order to elevate our individual and collective consciousness.
Collaborating with external stakeholders, including our clients, affinity bar organizations, other external diversity organizations, and the broader business and investment community.
Leadership Commitment
67%
of the executive committee is diverse*
*Diverse includes women, people of color, LGBTQ+ individuals, veterans, and people with disabilities (data from 01.01.24)
60%
of practice group chairs are diverse*50%
of partners-in-charge are diverse*50%
of the Attorney Evaluation Committee is diverse*2023 Annual Report
Highlighting some of our diversity, equity, and inclusion efforts over the last year. We are proud of our efforts, but recognize that we have work to do. We are committed to move this work forward, expeditiously, and intentionally.
Contact Us
We're here to help. Email us with any questions or comments and we'll get you connected to the right person.
Diversity & Inclusion: Contact Us
Your Journey Starts Here
We want future colleagues who spend their summers with us to get the full experience of working at DWT. That includes doing complex work for market-leading clients alongside colleagues who care about your interests and who have expertise and insight that can help you learn how to build a practice. It also means joining a community that values excellent work and client service, teamwork, fostering a diverse, equitable, and inclusive culture, giving back to our communities, and leading rich personal lives outside the office.
So, what does that actually look like? It's doing everything from drafting motions and contracts to assisting with pro bono matters to preparing for and attending client meetings, depositions, negotiations, and trials. It's getting legal and skills training from our practice and industry groups and being paired with mentors based on your particular goals and interests. And it's getting to know your colleagues at work and beyond, through affinity groups, events like our Summer Associate retreat, and countless conversations over lunch and coffee.
By the end of the summer, you'll know what it's like to be a first-year associate at DWT—and a member of our community. Come join us!
We accept applications for our 1L Diversity Scholarships via our website beginning December 1. Emailed applications are not accepted. The application deadline is usually in early January and applications are reviewed on a rolling basis. The offices hiring 1Ls vary by year. Check the position listings in late November for availability.
DEC Leadership
Yusuf Z. Zakir
Chief Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion Officer (He/Him)
Los Angeles
Maya Yamazaki
Partner (She/Her)
Co-chair, Technology, Communications, Privacy & Security Practice; Chair, Technology Practice;
Chair, Diversity Executive Council (DEC)
Seattle
Peter S. Johnson
Partner (He/Him)
Interim Managing Partner
Seattle
DEC Lawyers
Camilo Echavarria
Partner (He/Him)
Diversity Executive Council
Los Angeles
Lynn J. Loacker
Managing Director, Project W (She/Her)
New York
Chris Ford
Partner (He/Him)
Co-chair, ESG Group
Chair, DEI Client Engagement Committee
Washington, D.C.
Scott R. Commerson
Partner (He/Him)
Co-chair, LGBTQ+ Affinity Group
Los Angeles
Dipa N. Sudra
Partner (She/Her)
Succession Planning Partner
Seattle
Partner (She/Her)
Portland, Seattle
Ken Payson
Partner (He/Him)
Co-chair, Class Action Defense Group
Chair, Practice Group DEI Committee (Litigation)
Seattle
DEC Professional Staff
Kelli Kohout
Chief Administrative Officer (She/Her)
Seattle
Martinelle Stevenson
Senior Director of Talent Development and Training (She/Her)
Seattle
Rachel James
Human Resources Director (She/Her)
Seattle
Michael Nguyen
Director, Talent Acquisition (He/Him)
San Francisco
Julia Bennett
Chief Marketing & Business Development Officer (She/Her)
Washington, D.C.
Tiffani Lambie
Director, Diversity, Equity, & Inclusion Operation (She/Her)
Seattle
Amy Flint
Senior DEI Engagement Manager (They/She)
Seattle
Valerie Markle
DEI Community Manager (She/Her)
Los Angeles
Ayanna Ryans-Holder
DEI Growth Manager (She/Her)
New York
Patrick Stanton
DEI Specialist (He/Him)
Seattle
Lauren Calogero
DEI Specialist (She/Her)
Seattle