Carolyn Yamazaki
Los Angeles,CA
Summary
Results-driven leader with strong background in strategic management and organizational growth. Skilled in developing and implementing effective business strategies, optimizing processes, and driving team performance. Known for adaptability, effective collaboration, and delivering measurable outcomes in dynamic environments. Strong communication and problem-solving abilities, coupled with focus on fostering productive and positive team culture.
Overview
15
15
years of professional experience
1
1
Certification
Work History
Director, Business and Legal Affairs
Netflix
03.2024 - 11.2024
- Selected for a strategic secondment to Netflix’s Tokyo office to assess and optimize the local Business & Legal Affairs team during a critical growth phase.
- Diagnosed operational inefficiencies and cultural misalignments; implemented structural and workflow improvements to align with global corporate standards.
- Evaluated team capabilities, advised on retention and restructuring, and mentored key personnel on global Business Affairs practices—an emerging function in Japan.
- Delivered internal training to cross-functional teams and served as a subject-matter expert on corporate culture, deal-making, and efficiency.
- Represented the Tokyo Business Affairs team on APAC panels to share insights on legal/business operations and the company’s cultural DNA.
- Successfully onboarded and set up the incoming Head of Business & Legal Affairs for long-term leadership success in the region.
Director, Business and Legal Affairs
Netflix
01.2020 - 03.2024
- Brought on to assess and build team infrastructure during its early growth phase with little to no existing roadmap or operational framework.
- Identified critical gaps, established scalable global processes, and defined a strategic growth path for team expansion (UCAN, APAC, EMEA, and LatAm).
- Appointed as lead change manager (August 2023 – March 2024) to guide a team of 15 through a major transition and reorganization.
- Built cross-functional relationships with business partners, navigating organizational ambiguity to drive alignment and operational efficiency.
- Drafted, negotiated, and advised on studio-side commercial agreements, including vendor MSAs, resource buyout agreements, SaaS agreements, and AI/product development agreements.
- Provided strategic legal advice to business teams with a focus on “getting to yes.”
- Led cross-functional initiatives with product, engineering, operations, business, and legal stakeholders to ensure strategies complied with global and local laws (e.g., new AI regulations), including data privacy, copyright, labor, and employment.
- Spearheaded improvements to departmental processes, promoting scalability and efficiency in alignment with company growth and evolving goals.
Director, Business and Legal Affairs
Netflix
01.2017 - 12.2019
- Lead and build the non-fiction strategy and initiative in the APAC and LatAm regions
- Led and built the non-fiction strategy and initiative in the APAC and LatAm regions.
- Negotiated and drafted production services and development agreements across three territories.
- Negotiated above-the-line talent agreements, including directors, executive producers, and showrunners.
- Managed cross-functional activities across marketing, production, post-production, and global content localization.
- Liaised with production and finance to approve and negotiate production budgets.
- Collaborated with the content analysis department to develop negotiation strategy and pricing for both series and features.
- Oversaw production legal, including managing outside production counsel.
- Provided high-level legal consultation to documentary producers on First Amendment, clearance, fair use, copyright, criminal, and international law issues.
V.P., Business and Legal Affairs and Corporate Cou
Authentic Entertainment, LLC
06.2012 - 12.2016
- Provided corporate legal guidance, including strategic input on the company’s sale to Endemol Shine North America.
- Oversaw all production legal matters across multiple formats; negotiated licensing, talent, music, and distribution deals.
- Managed litigation strategy, internal audits, and corporate governance with external counsel and insurance carriers.
- Advised on game show compliance, fair use, IP, employment, and privacy matters.
Motion Picture Business Affairs Manager
Universal Pictures
06.2011 - 06.2012
- Managed, researched, and analyzed underlying rights and ancillary material for Universal Pictures and Illumination feature projects.
- Drafted turnaround agreements and option amendments.
- Analyzed and reported on complex agreements including chain-of-title, international financing, acquisitions, and distribution agreements.
- Supervised paralegals and legal interns.
Staff Attorney
Morris Yorn Barnes Levine Krintzman Rubenstein & Kohner
07.2009 - 06.2011
- Drafted and negotiated a wide range of agreements for television programs (scripted and unscripted), motion pictures and celebrity endorsements
- Liaised with overseas agents, managers, production companies for the engagement of foreign citizen clients
- Worked with business managers and accountants in advising talent clients on matters related to personal corporations, loan-outs, insurance, real estate transactions, and other personal matters
- Reviewed and analyzed chain of title, copyright, trademark and title reports for feature motion picture projects
- Handled guild signatory procedure for client companies and advised on all guild matters
- Negotiated employment agreements for executives and other outside talent at studios, law firms and agencies
Education
Juris Doctor -
DePaul University Law School
Chicago, Illinois01.2007
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Universidad Nacional de Costa Rica
Heredia, Costa Rica01.2006
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Southwestern University Law School
Los Angeles, California01.2006
B.S. - Int'l Business and Marketing
University of Southern California
Los Angeles, California01.2004
Skills
- Conversational Spanish
- Conversational Portuguese
- Relationship building
- Strategic planning
- Verbal and written communication
- Decision-making
- Team management
Affiliations
Member of the State Bars of California SBN 270950 (active) and Illinois (inactive)
Certification
Member of the State Bars of California (SBN 270950, active) and Illinois (inactive)
Timeline
Director, Business and Legal Affairs
Netflix
03.2024 - 11.2024
Director, Business and Legal Affairs
Netflix
01.2020 - 03.2024
Director, Business and Legal Affairs
Netflix
01.2017 - 12.2019
V.P., Business and Legal Affairs and Corporate Cou
Authentic Entertainment, LLC
06.2012 - 12.2016
Motion Picture Business Affairs Manager
Universal Pictures
06.2011 - 06.2012
Staff Attorney
Morris Yorn Barnes Levine Krintzman Rubenstein & Kohner
07.2009 - 06.2011
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Universidad Nacional de Costa Rica
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Southwestern University Law School
B.S. - Int'l Business and Marketing
University of Southern California
Juris Doctor -
DePaul University Law School
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