Braza a national leader in sports law

Listen to this article

Mary Braza knows that with sports, sometimes the best moves happen off the field.

The co-chairwoman of the sports-industry team at Foley & Lardner in Milwaukee, Braza has made a name for herself in national sports legal matters. In particular, she’s played a big role in some of the sports industry’s highest-profile sales, litigation and media deals.

Braza, who grew up playing sports along with her siblings, said when she was presented with the opportunity to work in sports law, she took it. Thirty years have passed since then, and she’s still at it.

“It was a natural fit,” Braza said. “It’s really a unique practice covering a wide range of issues, whether it’s anti-trust exemptions, rules governing owners or leagues or the relationships between colleges and athletes.”

For many years, Braza served as outside counsel to Major League Baseball and provided guidance on a number of matters including strategic planning, new-media initiatives, franchise relocation and Congressional hearings, as well as trademark and anti-trust litigation. She has also represented colleges and universities, including the University of Maryland, in anti-trust litigation that was filed the Atlantic Coast Conference following the college’s move to the Big Ten in 2014.

Braza acknowledged it’s rare to find women in sports-business law, especially at the highest levels.

“It can be a challenge, but I also see it as an opportunity to stand up and be something different,” she said.

Braza said various mentors helped her along the way to success. She said she now tries to return the favor by doing her part to help young attorneys.

That’s something her fellow attorneys have noticed, said Linda Benfield, Foley’s managing partner in the Milwaukee office.

“Mary K. is an effective advocate for advancing women in the law and has proven to be a trailblazer in her industry through her successful law practice,” she said. “She continues to serve as a mentor and advocate for women interested in pursuing a career in the law, and sports law in particular.”

Braza’s work with others does not stop at the law. She serves, for instance, as president of the Grand Avenue Club, a nonprofit dedicated to improving lives for Milwaukee County’s mentally ill.

“I went to an event and heard about them and I knew I just wanted to get involved,” she said. “It’s a great organization and I’ve been able to help them with developing a strategic plan and doubling their program capacity.”