Ed Lew ’98’s journey from aspiring politician to Disney executive proves that sometimes the best career moves are the ones you don’t see coming.

Now serving as assistant chief counsel at The Walt Disney Company, Lew didn’t always picture himself working in entertainment. In fact, he once had his sights set on a career in politics. As a first-year law student at UCLA School of Law, Lew threw himself into student life, serving as editor-in-chief of the Asian Pacific American Law Journal and co-chair of the Asian Pacific Islander Law Students Association (APILSA). He also participated in independent study and clinical programs. He saw law school as preparation for future government work or public interest practice, with a focus on civil rights and social justice. But in his third year, Lew enrolled in a business associations class, primarily for bar exam preparation. This decision would change everything.

“UCLA Law exposed me to new opportunities that I didn’t know were available, which was really important since I wasn't entirely certain about what I wanted to do and how I would get there,” Lew says.

For Lew, this class sparked a fascination for the relationship-building side of transactional law. He found this area rewarding and deeply personal. “The process of negotiating deals and creating relationships between parties felt more natural and inspiring to me,” he recounts. “I learned so much about an area of law that was previously unfamiliar to me, and I was grateful to have a professor and classmates who helped make the subject even more interesting.”

After graduation, Lew joined a firm that was expanding into technology and transactional work. Despite not having a tech or science background, he jumped at the opportunity, another unexpected pivot that taught him how to embrace uncertainty. He would continue on that path to his first in-house role and ultimately to the legal team supporting the Walt Disney Internet Group in 2007.

Over 18 years at Disney, Lew's practice has evolved significantly, adapting as technology advanced, with each innovation requiring him to embrace new opportunities and directions.

Today, he supports Disney Entertainment and ESPN Product and Technology, focusing on streaming and other direct-to-consumer digital products and platforms that bring entertainment and sports to millions of fans worldwide. Along the way, he’s leaned into opportunities he found innovative and meaningful, a philosophy of embracing the unexpected that has defined his entire career.

Throughout his career, Lew has stayed closely connected to the UCLA Law community. “My involvement with UCLA Law has been incredibly fulfilling because it allows me to give back to the school that taught me so much about myself and launched my career,” says Lew, who earned UCLA’s Volunteer of the Year award in 2016. “UCLA Law enabled me to be flexible and discover what I wanted to do, and not just what I thought I wanted to do when I started.”

As the UCLA Law alumni community continues to grow and evolve, Lew stays actively involved in events and programs where he enjoys connecting from newer graduates. “The UCLA Law community is dynamic. It grows with each new class,” he says. “I truly enjoy the continuous opportunity to expand my network when I meet new students and alums.”

Previously, Lew served as president of Asian Pacific Alumni of UCLA, where he launched the organization's first fundraising gala and developed new channels to strengthen alumni engagement. Today, he continues to give back through leadership roles with organizations including the Chinese American Museum of Los Angeles, the Asian Pacific American Bar Association of Los Angeles County, and Just The Beginning – A Pipeline Organization. On campus, he is completing his final year of service with the UCLA Alumni Association board of directors.

For Lew, it all comes back to mentorship, community, and embracing life’s most unexpected detours. “UCLA Law taught me about the importance of community and to learn from others to help you determine what makes you happy. As both a student and an alumnus, I’ve met so many incredible people who have helped guide and support me throughout my career.”