Jenner & Block partner Carissa Coze represented Fox Sports in a groundbreaking deal with The Stars Group to launch Fox Bet, the first national media and sports wagering partnership in the U.S. The Fox Bet platform, which includes iOS and Android apps, rolled out in September in New Jersey and Pennsylvania before the kickoff of the National Football League season. Coze, who is being recognized as one of 21 Women Leaders in Tech Law as part of The Recorder's California Leaders in Tech Law and Innovation Awards, recently reflected on the year's accomplishments.

The Recorder: What's your proudest professional achievement of the past year and why?

Carissa Coze: I am pleased to have had the opportunity to advise on some complex and exciting deals this year, but I am most proud to have done so for clients undergoing significant changes who, whether despite or because of such change, continued to return to us for representation and advice on their most important transactions. Having their trust and confidence is immensely rewarding.

What's your proudest personal achievement of the past year and why?

It certainly is not my achievement alone, but I was proud to have chaired the committee that raised a record $1 million for the Legal Aid Foundation of Los Angeles at last month's Access to Justice dinner. The event celebrated LAFLA's 90th anniversary of providing legal assistance to people living in poverty in the greater Los Angeles area. LAFLA now serves more than 100,000 people each year. Playing a role in raising these funds to continue LAFLA's ability to provide access to justice for some of the most vulnerable members of our community was deeply gratifying.

What's one piece of advice you'd give to a woman starting out in tech law?

Particularly if you plan to do tech M&A, be prepared to be the only woman, or one of few, on deal teams, in negotiation sessions and in other meetings. Don't let that—or anyone—intimidate you. And don't only look to other women lawyers for mentorship and support. Let all of your colleagues, regardless of gender, see how competent you are and how valuable you can be to the transaction/client/firm/etc., so that they will be invested in your success.

What concrete steps could be made to increase the number of women in tech law?

Significant progress has been made in increasing the number of young women interested in STEM (science, technology, engineering and math). It would be great to see colleges and law schools implement programs to make these women more aware of how they can—and encourage them to—apply that interest and aptitude in STEM to a career in the law.