Laura Maechtlen Named MCCA 2026 Attorney of the Year

Laura Maechtlen, chair of Seyfarth's national Labor & Employment department, has been selected as the Minority Corporate Counsel Association's 2026 Attorney of the Year—one of the organization’s most prestigious honors recognizing exceptional professional excellence, leadership, and service to the legal community.

Maechtlen is widely regarded as a leading voice in labor and employment law with more than two decades of experience. Clients have called her “the maestro of all the work that we request,” while peers note that “what makes this recognition particularly meaningful is not just Laura’s individual excellence, but the way she shows up for others in the profession: with consistency, thoughtfulness, and a clear commitment to advancing the next generation of talent.”

Maechtlen leads the firm’s largest practice through some of the most complex and high-stakes workplace matters facing global employers today. Her work includes the defense of class, collective, and multi-plaintiff actions, as well as strategic counseling on workforce compliance, pay transparency, and enterprise risk. She also serves as a member of Seyfarth's Executive Committee.

Her influence extends well beyond the firm. Maechtlen has served as President of the National LGBT Bar Association, Chair of the California Minority Counsel Program, and a Commissioner for the Hispanic National Bar Association, among other leadership roles. She is also a respected thought leader whose work has been published in Harvard Business Review and Bloomberg Law, and she has contributed to leading legal reference texts including The Fair Labor Standards Act (ABA) and The Developing Labor Law (BNA).

MCCA previously recognized Maechtlen as a 2020 Rainmaker, and she has continued to play an active role in supporting the organization’s mission through convenings, mentorship, and community engagement.