Steady Counsel and Blended Roots: The Story of Maiyisha Rashad

Basic Information

Early Life and Education

Raised in Northern California, Maiyisha Rashad grew up in a uniquely public-private orbit. Her father, former NFL Pro Bowl wide receiver turned sportscaster Ahmad Rashad, brought a high-profile lens to family milestones. Her mother, Matilda Johnson, provided the grounding force in the years following her parents’ 1976–1979 marriage.

She charted an unconventional academic path that began on the stage and moved to the courtroom. After earning a Bachelor of Arts in Theatre from San Francisco State University, she shifted course to law and enrolled at Howard University School of Law. There, she connected her creative fluency with legal training, interning at NBA Entertainment and translating storytelling instincts into contract literacy and regulatory insight. A post-graduate judicial clerkship with the New York Supreme Court solidified her foundation in litigation and procedure.

Career Timeline

Her government service reads like a steady ascent: courtroom advocate, municipal defender, then board counsel. By 2024, she stepped into private practice with a portfolio that marries public-sector fluency with development and regulatory work across metropolitan Atlanta.

Practice Focus and Achievements

• Government Affairs, Land Use, and Zoning: Guides clients through rezonings, special use permits, variances, and entitlements—often a maze of hearings, staff recommendations, and neighborhood consultations. Securing approvals in a fast-growing metro like Atlanta demands precision, patience, and a fluent grasp of municipal code.
• Ethics and Compliance: As General Counsel to the DeKalb and Henry County Ethics Boards, she handles investigations, training, and advisory opinions. The role requires sharpened judgment and a clear-eyed reading of conflicts, disclosures, and due process.
• Litigation and Advisory: Formerly defending the City of Atlanta in state and federal courts, she developed a keen sense for risk and strategy—skills she now applies to private and public clients in compliance, employment, and regulatory matters.
• Entertainment Law: Building on her theatre background and NBA Entertainment experience, she advises on contracts, artist management, and employment agreements, bridging creative industries with legal structure.
• Recognition: Awarded the 2014 Fulton County Prosecutor of the Year in the Juvenile Court Division—an acknowledgment of rigorous advocacy and service in a critical arena.

Her work is practical, steady, and often invisible to headlines—more akin to the architecture beneath a skyline than the skyline itself.

Family Ties and Public Appearances

The Rashad family tree is broad and blended, with chapters spanning sports, television, and theatre. While maiyisha keeps a low profile, occasional public appearances and family photographs sketch a portrait of closeness.

Milestone moments—like Ahmad Rashad’s Ring of Honor celebration with the Minnesota Vikings in 2017—have brought the family together across generations. In quieter flashes, social media posts from relatives capture snapshots: theatre openings, family dinners, and congratulatory tributes. The through line is evident: pride, support, and the ease of siblings who root for one another.

Public Presence and Privacy

Despite her family’s visibility, Maiyisha Rashad maintains a measured public profile. Professional announcements note her legal roles and board service; social media tied to her name is sparse and often captured through relatives. There are no credible public disclosures of her financial status, and few interviews or personal features. It’s an intentional quiet—proof that one can be both connected to the limelight and perfectly content to stand just outside its brightest circle.

Legal Style and Client Service

Colleagues describe a disciplined advocate with a steady hand. In zoning hearings, she calibrates strategy to the neighborhood context and decision-maker priorities. In ethics matters, she emphasizes clarity and fairness, often under time pressure and public scrutiny. In entertainment and employment agreements, she brings a translator’s ear—turning creative goals into enforceable, plain-language terms. The result is a practice defined less by showmanship than by dependable outcomes.

Community and Professional Engagement

• Ethics Board Counsel: DeKalb County and Henry County, providing guardrails for public trust.
• Bar and Affinity Groups: Active with the Georgia Association of Black Women Attorneys, Gate City Bar Association, and the State Bar of Georgia.
• Courts and Admissions: Licensed in Georgia and New York (Second Department), with appellate and federal practice credentials in Georgia, including the Northern District.

Milestones at a Glance

• 1976: Born in Northern California.
• Late 1990s: Completes B.A. in Theatre.
• 2000s: Earns J.D. at Howard University School of Law; interns with NBA Entertainment; clerks for the New York Supreme Court.
• 2010s: Serves as Senior Assistant DA in Fulton County; recognized in 2014 for Juvenile Court achievements.
• Late 2010s–2020s: Senior Assistant City Attorney, Atlanta.
• 2017: Family appears at a Ring of Honor event celebrating her father’s career.
• 2024–Present: Joins private practice focusing on government affairs, zoning, compliance, and entertainment; continues ethics board counsel roles.

FAQ

Who are Maiyisha Rashad’s parents?

Her parents are former NFL player and sportscaster Ahmad Rashad and Matilda Johnson.

What does she do professionally?

She is an attorney focusing on government affairs, land use and zoning, regulatory compliance, and entertainment law.

Where did she go to school?

She earned a B.A. in Theatre from San Francisco State University and a J.D. from Howard University School of Law.

Did she work in public service?

Yes; she served as a Senior Assistant District Attorney in Fulton County and as a Senior Assistant City Attorney for Atlanta.

What awards has she received?

In 2014, she was named Fulton County Prosecutor of the Year in the Juvenile Court Division.

Is she involved with any boards?

She serves as General Counsel to the DeKalb County and Henry County Ethics Boards.

Does she have siblings?

Yes; she has a full brother, Ahmad Jr., and half-siblings Keva, Sean, and Condola.

Is her net worth publicly known?

No, there are no credible public reports of her financial status.

Where is she based?

Her practice is centered in Atlanta, Georgia.

Is she active on social media?

Her own public footprint is limited; most online mentions come via family or professional updates.