Kelly Machiz
About Kelly Machiz
Kelly Machiz is the Vice President of Legal and Business Affairs at the National Basketball Association (NBA), where she focuses on negotiating agreements and monitoring intellectual property use.
Title: Vice President - Legal and Business Affairs
Kelly Machiz holds the position of Vice President of Legal and Business Affairs at the National Basketball Association (NBA). She has been in this role since 2020. As a Vice President, she focuses on negotiating and drafting agreements with corporate sponsors, agencies, and influencers for the NBA, WNBA, and NBA G-League. Additionally, she monitors the use of intellectual property by partners to ensure compliance with applicable agreements and general league guidelines. Her expertise in these areas supports the strategic and operational goals of the NBA.
Professional Experience at National Basketball Association (NBA)
Kelly Machiz has a long-standing career with the National Basketball Association (NBA), spanning various leadership roles. She advanced from Associate Counsel (2013-2017) to Associate Vice President - Legal and Business Affairs (2017-2020) before assuming her current role as Vice President in 2020. In her roles, she has been instrumental in managing legal affairs, negotiating significant contracts, and ensuring compliance with league guidelines in the Greater New York City Area.
Professional Experience at Paul, Weiss, Rifkind, Wharton & Garrison LLP
Before joining the NBA, Kelly Machiz worked as an Associate at Paul, Weiss, Rifkind, Wharton & Garrison LLP from 2010 to 2013. During her three years at the firm in the Greater New York City Area, she gained extensive experience in legal practice, which laid the foundation for her subsequent roles in the NBA. Her responsibilities included a wide range of legal services, contributing to her development as a comprehensive legal professional.
Education and Expertise in Business Law and Regulation
Kelly Machiz earned her Juris Doctor (JD) with a concentration in Business Law and Regulation from Cornell Law School, where she studied from 2007 to 2010. She also holds a Bachelor of Arts (B.A.) in Political Science from SUNY Geneseo, which she completed between 2002 and 2006. Her academic background provided her with a robust foundation in both business law and political science, critical elements in her current legal and business affairs role.
Early Career as Paralegal at Fragomen, Del Rey, Bernsen & Loewy
Kelly Machiz began her career as a Paralegal at Fragomen, Del Rey, Bernsen & Loewy from 2006 to 2007 in the Greater New York City Area. In this role for ten months, she gained early exposure to the legal field, assisting with various immigration law matters. This experience provided her with valuable skills and insights that benefited her subsequent legal studies and professional endeavors.