Kaya S. Kies
Stamford
Summary
Senior in-house commercial attorney with deep experience leading enterprise-wide contracting teams for global, consumer-facing companies. Trusted advisor to executive and operational stakeholders on complex vendor, SaaS, AI/GenAI, licensing, and strategic partnership agreements. Known for pairing strong legal judgment with a business-first mindset, building scalable contracting processes, and developing high-performing legal teams.
Overview
14
14
years of professional experience
1
1
Certification
Work History
Senior Lead Counsel
Zillow Group, Inc.
02.2025 - Current
- Continue to lead the Contract Strategic Review Team (CSRT), managing three attorneys and two legal professionals responsible for reviewing and negotiating all enterprise-wide vendor contracts. This team reviews a high volume of contracts per year, approximately 1400-1500 in 2025, with a rolling 200-300 contracts every 60 days.
- Negotiate and structure complex commercial agreements with strategic vendors, suppliers, and service providers, including SaaS, professional services, licensing, and international contingent workforce arrangements.
- Continue to lead contracting strategy and negotiations with artificial intelligence (AI) and generative AI technology providers, ensuring appropriate data use, IP protection, and compliance with emerging regulatory frameworks. Corodinate with IP counsel, data legal, and AI leadership to ensure contracts with 3P AI tools mitigate risk to Zillow.
- Perform due diligence in M&A deals, lead integration for legal and compliance of acquired companies.
- Lead negotiation of strategic partnership contracts to support new features and products.
- Oversee and lead vendor contracting for operational setup of Zillow’s new international offices, ensuring alignment with legal and compliance stakeholders, as well as negotiating agreements with outsourcing providers.
- Coach and develop direct reports in career development and sharpen contract negotiation skills by putting on trainings, developing resources.
- Oversee the creation of playbooks, training materials, and templates for internal stakeholders to standardize processes and deliver consistent, best-in-class legal support across the enterprise.
- Calibrate and fine-tune the team's AI tool for contract redlining and negotiations.
Lead Counsel
Zillow Group, Inc.
10.2021 - 02.2025
- Led the Contract Strategic Review Team (CSRT), managing four attorneys, including two privacy legal attorneys, and two legal professionals who are responsible for reviewing and negotiating all enterprise-wide vendor contracts. This team reviewed approximately 1200-1300 contracts per year in 2024 and 2025.
- Negotiated and structured complex commercial agreements with strategic vendors, suppliers, and service providers, including SaaS, professional services, licensing, and international contingent workforce arrangements
- Led the privacy legal team in supporting the business lines and product development and organization-wide privacy projects.
- Led contracting strategy and negotiations with artificial intelligence (AI) and generative AI technology providers, ensuring appropriate data use, IP protection, and compliance with emerging regulatory frameworks.
- Led the contract review due diligence for acquisitions by Zillow for Follow Up Boss and VSAI.
- Responsible for all vendor contracting for operational setup of Zillow’s offshore office in Mexico, ensuring alignment with legal and compliance stakeholders.
- Mentored and developed junior attorneys and legal professionals to strengthen negotiation skills and commercial judgment.
- Created and maintained contract playbooks, training materials, and templates to standardize processes and deliver consistent, best-in-class legal support across the enterprise.
Associate Counsel
BlueTriton Brands, Inc. fka Nestlé Waters North America
Stamford, Connecticut, USA
01.2021 - 10.2021
- Responsible for supporting the technical, production and procurement teams on all commercial contracts and legal matters.
- Structured and negotiated commercial contracts with strategic vendors, suppliers, and service providers, which include supply agreements, NDAs, equipment purchase agreements, license agreements, logistics contracts, warehouse agreements, and construction contracts.
- Acted as a trusted legal partner with whom the business may consult on various legal issues, disputes, and negotiation points.
- Provided legal support and guidance as BlueTriton transitioned to a standalone business post-sale.
Lawyer
Axiom Global Inc.
New York, New York, USA
11.2019 - 01.2021
- Contract Lawyer at Zillow Group, Inc., November 2020 – January 2021. This role supported a large project regarding the development of a new business for Zillow. Led the review various agreements (data licensing and technology agreements) to determine relevance to the project, identifying key provisions on IP matters.
- Contract Lawyer at Mastercard International Inc., November 2019-May 2020. This role on the Mastercard Product & Innovation global legal team focused on: Structuring and negotiating contracts to drive issuer or merchant acceptance and consumer adoption of commercial solutions, including license agreements, partnership/reseller agreements, and pilot agreements. Drafting product program guides and addenda for new services and products. Partnering with product managers and developers, sales, franchise, marketing, and other teams to develop and launch innovative products and solutions that differentiate Mastercard and meet Mastercard’s customers’ rapidly changing needs. Providing legal support to the commercial product and regional sales teams and advising the business on a wide range of commercial and contractual matters including legal and business risk assessment and proofs of concept.
- Axiom is a legal service provider, allowing businesses to find on-demand talent to fill their legal needs.
Associate Attorney
Santomassimo Davis LLP
New York, New York, USA
04.2018 - 11.2019
- Valuable experience in counseling small businesses to large, international corporations on various legal needs.
- Delivered thoughtful advice to clients in various industries including healthcare, manufacturing, food & drug, and technology.
- Drafted and negotiated a variety of commercial contracts including employment contracts, master services agreements, commercial leases, licensing agreements, sales and service agreements, subcontractor construction contracts, distribution agreements, and NDAs.
- Reviewed marketing materials including coupons, brochures, leaflets, and press releases.
- Advised clients on HR and employment issues by performing internal investigations and updating/creating employee handbooks.
- Researched state law issues that affect clients in hiring, compliance, and employment agreements.
Temporary Attorney
Satterlee Stephens LLP
New York, New York, USA
03.2018 - 04.2018
- Performed due diligence on commercial contracts including service agreements, supply agreements, leases, and NDAs to support a large project regarding the sale of a retail products division of a global corporation.
Senior Specialist, Legal Services
Mastercard International Inc.
Purchase, New York, USA
07.2015 - 07.2017
- Critically reviewed and negotiated commercial contracts including master services agreements, statements of work for marketing campaigns, SOWs for innovative consulting services, and NDAs on behalf of Mastercard Data and Services.
- Assisted and developed new contracts for new solutions and products in accordance with Mastercard’s internal policies.
- Valuable experience in collaborating with internal business units of Mastercard, including areas such as: sales, consulting, product development, privacy, data usage, operations, corporate security, tax, compliance, marketing, and finance.
- Managed a high-volume workload in a fast-paced environment.
- Adapted review of contracts to meet critical deadlines, recognizing the aggressive revenue targets of the business.
Associate Corporate Counsel
First National Assets
Chicago, Illinois, USA
02.2012 - 01.2015
- In-house counsel for the largest tax buyer in Cook County, Illinois which specializes in delinquent property taxes.
- Lead the legal team in efficiency and urgency, responding to the needs of the business.
- Valuable experience in bankruptcy court including cross examining witnesses and filing motions for relief for automatic stay, one of which was issued a written ruling by the Honorable Judge Baer.
Education
Master of Science -
Michigan State University College of Law
East Lansing, Michigan01.2011
Bachelor of Arts - Spanish, Philosophy
Central Michigan University
Mt. Pleasant, Michigan05-2008
Certification
- Connecticut State Bar (Authorized House Counsel)
- Illinois State Bar
- New York State Bar
Timeline
Senior Lead Counsel
Zillow Group, Inc.
02.2025 - Current
Lead Counsel
Zillow Group, Inc.
10.2021 - 02.2025
Associate Counsel
BlueTriton Brands, Inc. fka Nestlé Waters North America
01.2021 - 10.2021
Lawyer
Axiom Global Inc.
11.2019 - 01.2021
Associate Attorney
Santomassimo Davis LLP
04.2018 - 11.2019
Temporary Attorney
Satterlee Stephens LLP
03.2018 - 04.2018
Senior Specialist, Legal Services
Mastercard International Inc.
07.2015 - 07.2017
Associate Corporate Counsel
First National Assets
02.2012 - 01.2015
Master of Science -
Michigan State University College of Law
Bachelor of Arts - Spanish, Philosophy
Central Michigan University