Yoko Azumaya obtained her Law Degree from the University of Alberta in 2007 after achieving a Master’s Degree in Neuroscience and a second Master’s Degree in Psychiatry. A career path in law seemed to be the obvious choice as it is a profession that combines both analytical skills and a passion for customer service.

Yoko has focused her practice in Family Law, dealing with issues affecting both married and unmarried couples, including divorce, parenting, support, and division of property issues. Her goal is to help families transition through this difficult period. With this objective in mind, she is diligent in explaining not only the law but also the process to her clients to reduce the emotional and psychological stress of the breakup.

Yoko emphasizes the importance of negotiation and settlement to bring fitting results to clients. With the belief that the parties would reach the most satisfactory outcome through negotiation, she has been doing training through the ADR Institute of Alberta (ADRIA) to become a mediator.

However, if no other reasonable solution can be reached, Yoko is prepared to litigate in court to advance the clients’ needs. She stays current with changes in the law by regularly attending legal education courses and Canadian Bar Association seminars, which enables her to provide the very best possible service to her clients.

She joined Barr Picard Law (formerly Barr Picard Knisely) in 2013 and became a partner in 2015. Barr Picard Law is highly regarded for its quality service in Family Law. Yoko is proud to be a part of a Family Law group that has a wealth of knowledge and years of expertise from which to draw from.

Yoko’s mother tongue is Japanese, having moved to Edmonton from Hiroshima, Japan in 1998. Yoko has been actively involved in the Edmonton Japanese Community Association and is a past-president of the organization.

Much of Yoko’s free time is dedicated to volunteering. At the Canadian Bar Association (CBA) North section, she has been an executive of Family Law section since 2016. She also has been a member of the Law Day committee since 2008. She was responsible for organizing the Family Law Mock Trial in 2015 and 2016 and was a co-chair of the event in 2017 and 2018.

Admitted to the Bar:
Alberta, 2008

Education:
2019 Mediation Workshop through ADRIA
2007 LL.B. (University of Alberta)
2004 M.S.C. (Psychiatry) (University of Alberta)
1998 M.Sc. (Neuroscience) (University of Hiroshima)
1995 B.S.C. (Physiology) (University of Hiroshima)

Professional:
Member, Law Society of Alberta
Member, Canadian Bar Association (CBA)
Member, CBA Family Section Executive
Member, ADR Institute of Alberta
Member, Association of Family and Conciliation Courts (AFCC)

Practice Areas:
Family Law
Mediation