Join Pepe Toriello and Marc Doucette as they engage in insightful conversations with seasoned contract management experts. Each episode offers a fresh perspective on how organizations of all kinds can reap the rewards of cultivating stronger commercial relationships with vendors and customers through the implementation of robust contracting software and processes.
Mar 26, 2024
On this unique LinkedIn Live episode of Contract Heroes listen in as we're joined by Jenn McCarron, President of CLOC and Head of Legal Ops at Netflix as we navigate through the complexities of technology adoption, the criticality of user engagement, and the 'Ready Fire Aim' approach that typifies project execution in this information-dense environment. With her wealth of experience, Jenn also reflects on the evolution of legal ops, drawing comparisons from the pioneering days at Cisco to the contemporary landscape dominated by SaaS solutions.
Mar 11, 2024
Monica Zent, founder of ZENT Law, pioneers the Alternative Legal Service Providers (ALSPs) landscape with a subscription-based model, reshaping legal services. Her journey unveils the early adoption by diverse sectors and the transformative strides in legal operations, offering insights into ALSPs' evolution. Delving into contract management complexities, Monica addresses challenges like stakeholder mismanagement and data underutilization, proposing methods to streamline contract cycles. Her expertise provides a roadmap to enhance contracting efficiency, highlighting the impact of legal ops and external expertise. Emphasizing communication and cultural understanding, Monica advocates for introducing automation while addressing staff concerns about job security. This episode equips organizations with strategies for impactful change management, offering practical advice to overhaul legal ops effectively.
Feb 23, 2024
Join Matthew Rinker of DocuSign as we uncover the power of Contract Lifecycle Management (CLM) for seamless collaboration and speedy deal closures. Discover how modern CLM tools eliminate the tedious back-and-forth of contract negotiations and bring transparency to the approval process. Matthew's expertise in legal technology and sales sheds light on the transformative efficiencies of CLM systems, revolutionizing sales outcomes. Explore how CLM integrates with platforms like Salesforce, offering a competitive edge in deal forecasting and closure. Learn about shared investment opportunities in CLM tools, reshaping resource allocation for sales and legal departments. Gain actionable strategies for CLM adoption and user efficiency, including management buy-in and CLM champion identification. Explore the importance of a robust support network for successful CLM implementation, with practical examples of streamlined NDA processes and proactive contract renewal notifications. Don't miss out on unlocking the full potential of CLM for your organization's growth and success.
Feb 05, 2024
In this episode of Contract Heroes, we are joined by James Peacock, Head of Key Enterprise Accounts at ThoughtRiver. James has a broad resume full of experience from a variety of roles, enabling him to understand contracting from both the commercial side and the legal side. Throughout our conversation, James emphasizes the importance of alignment between the business and the legal team. This alignment, along with communication and proper change management, is the gateway to innovation for in-house employees and the successful implementation of technology like CLM. He explains that, without buy-in from internal teams, technology can fail. So, we must meet employees where they are prior to implementation, taking stock of what everyone wants and making sure the business is in the right place to succeed. This podcast episode will help in-house legal and commercial teams learn how to better communicate with each other and work together to drive the success of the organization.
Nov 20, 2023
The world of contracts isn't limited to just legal professionals and corporate executives; it affects entrepreneurs, freelancers, and consumers in various ways. Whether you're a business owner seeking to protect your interests, a freelancer setting the terms of your next project, or a consumer deciphering the fine print of a service agreement, understanding the intricacies of contracts is crucial. In this episode of the Contract Heroes Podcast, still at the WorldCC Summit in Dallas, we are joined by Laurie Ehrlich, Chief Commercial Counsel at Datadog. Datadog is an observability service for cloud-scale applications, providing monitoring of servers, databases, tools, and services, through a SaaS-based data analytics platform. In our conversation, we discuss the challenges and misunderstandings in contract management and the importance of education for both parties involved. Erlich shares Datadog's approach to these issues, including a multilingual FAQ and a playbook for explaining operational realities. We also discuss the use of heat mapping to identify key terms and risks in contracts, the standardization of NDAs, and the implementation of a system to streamline non-critical contracts. The episode concludes with insights on task delegation based on individual preferences.
Nov 08, 2023
Ever wondered how big companies successfully navigate the complex world of legal challenges, rules, and keeping everything above board while still keeping pace with the fast-moving business world? In this episode of the Contract Heroes Podcast, we are delighted to feature Mark Ross, the Principal and Co-Leader at Deloitte Legal Business Services. Mark dives into his role, where he helps large enterprises revamp their legal operations by combining the wisdom of experts, efficient processes, and advanced technology. He emphasizes the importance of understanding what each organization needs and involving all the relevant people before making changes in how they manage contracts. He also explains the potential benefits of a contract transformation program. These benefits include getting work done more efficiently, making more money, and saving a lot of money by avoiding risks. This podcast episode is a treasure trove of practical insights into how big companies are mastering the legal side of their businesses.
Oct 15, 2023
Can you imagine a symphony without harmony, a ship without a compass, or a puzzle missing its final piece? In the world of business, the relationship between procurement and legal is equally indispensable. So, have you ever wondered what happens when these crucial departments don't quite harmonize in the realm of contract management? In this episode of the Contract Heroes Podcast, we are excited to welcome back Prashant Dubey, the chief strategy officer of Agiloft to the show. Agiloft is a technology company specializing in contract lifecycle management and business process management software in Redwood City, California. During our conversation, we discussed the importance of building a better relationship between procurement and legal, and the evolving nature of contract management. We highlight the benefits of creating a negotiation playbook, implementing a contract lifecycle management system, and standardizing templates and intake protocols. We also address the challenges of training team members on legal terminology and contract management, and the importance of collaboration and flexibility in implementing Agiloft practices.
Oct 03, 2023
Have you ever wondered how certain organizations consistently maintain a competitive edge in the fast-paced world of business? What if we told you that one of the keys to their success lies in their adoption of cutting-edge technology in the realm of contract management? The future of contract management is poised to revolutionize the way businesses handle their agreements and legal documents. In this episode of the Contract Heroes Podcast, we sit down with Nikki Shaver, CEO and co-founder of Legaltech Hub. Legaltech Hub is a global directory for 21st-century legal solutions that connects buyers, vendors, and investors in the legal tech space. During our conversation, Nikki shares her background as a lawyer and the challenges she observed in contract management. She explains the purpose of Legaltech Hub as an insights and analysis platform for the legal industry, focusing on legal tech. The discussion revolves around the importance of contract management software, advancements in AI-driven solutions, customization, and the future of AI in contract management. She also emphasizes the need for prioritizing user experience and identifying pain points before implementing AI.
Sep 20, 2023
The importance of moving contract management from a paper-based, manual process to a more efficient, automated one is clearer than ever in our digital age. Join us on this enlightening journey as we explore the intricate and often treacherous path of digitizing contract management, uncovering the key milestones, hurdles, and rewards that lie ahead. In this episode of the Contract Heroes Podcast, we are thrilled to be joined by Alistair Maiden. Alistair is the founder and CEO of SYKE, a legal engineering business. SYKE helps businesses and law firms to procure and use technology to solve legal problems. During our conversation, Alistair shares his experience with contract management and how he developed a user-friendly solution to streamline the process. He emphasizes the importance of investing in contract automation software and involving experienced professionals for successful implementation. Our conversation also touches on the pitfalls of focusing solely on the product and vendor, the complexity of implementation, and the need for transparency and realistic expectations. Alistair discusses the future of the industry, and the potential disruption of AI in legal advisory services, and invites listeners to learn more about SYKE.
Sep 11, 2023
Today, one element that should never be overlooked in any organization is contract management. Imagine a well-oiled machine, where every gear perfectly interlocks to form a seamless symphony of productivity. That's the magic of effective contract management. It harmonizes every operation, streamlining processes, and eliminating unnecessary bottlenecks. By getting it right, your organization can gain an unmistakable advantage in the market, outshining competitors and securing its position at the forefront of innovation and excellence.
Sep 04, 2023
In a world where time is money, contracts stand as the bedrock of every transaction, sealing deals that shape the destiny of organizations. Picture a scenario where every contract is expertly managed, every negotiation streamlined, and every legal hurdle deftly overcome. Envision a future where you never miss a renewal deadline, avoid costly disputes, and confidently navigate through complexities with ease. In this episode of the Contract Heroes Podcast, we are thrilled to be joined by Roma Khan. Roma is the CEO of CrushContracts, a trailblazer in contract management, dedicated to democratizing law. As the Contracts Queen, Inventor of Global NDA and Zoey, Attorney, Fashionista & Connector, she brings over a decade of in-house counsel and fractional GC experience, serving Fortune 500 companies and startups.
Aug 15, 2023
In the hustle and bustle of the business world, imagine possessing a secret weapon that can help you stay ahead of the competition, navigate stormy waters with ease, and unlock hidden treasures of success. Fortunately, with the rapid advancement of technology and the proliferation of data, that very weapon now lies within your grasp: data-driven insights in contract management. In this episode of the Contract Heroes Podcast, we feature the team from Intel who have successfully implemented a CLM tool, and they have been actively using it. Joining us today are Gerald Wright, Senior Manager of Contract Solutions at Intel, Donovan Bell, Director of Information and Contract Experience (Global Legal Operations) at Intel, and Kuan Yu Liu, IT Product Owner at Intel.
Aug 07, 2023
In this episode of the Contract Heroes Podcast, we are thrilled to sit down with Sol Brody. Sol is the Executive Director, Legal Operations at Boeing. The Boeing Company, along with its affiliated companies, engages in the global design, development, manufacturing, sales, servicing, and support of commercial jetliners, military aircraft, satellites, missile defense systems, human space flight initiatives, as well as launch systems and services.
Jul 31, 2023
In this episode of the Contract Heroes Podcast, we sit down with the incredibly experienced Trayce Marcelle who is a seasoned professional with over 20 years of experience in legal operations management consulting and the Head of US - Legal Operations and Technology Consulting LOD + SYKE.LOD & SYKE are the leading and rapidly expanding experts in legal technology, have collaborated to provide clients with exceptional alternative legal services. They are globally recognized as the biggest and most swiftly advancing specialists in this field.
Jul 24, 2023
Have you ever wondered how large organizations navigate the complex web of legal obligations, contract management, and compliance requirements in today's ever-changing business landscape? The answer lies in embracing cutting-edge solutions that revolutionize legal operations and optimize efficiency. One such solution gaining significant momentum is Contract Lifecycle Management (CLM) technology. In this episode of the Contract Heroes Podcast, we are delighted to sit down with James Donald. James is the VP & Deputy General Counsel at Accor in Dubai and has 10+ years' hospitality experience. He has advised on all manner of hotel-related agreements throughout Europe, Africa, the Middle East and Asia. Previously, before joining Accor, he led legal and risk in India, the Middle East, and Africa. James is a solicitor of England and Wales, with an economics and finance degree, and a father of twin boys.
Jul 10, 2023
Have you ever found yourself drowning in a sea of boring contract templates, or struggling to make sense of confusing legal jargon? If you have, you're definitely not alone. It can be incredibly frustrating and overwhelming to deal with all the complicated language and vague terms in legal documents. It's like being lost in a maze without a map.
Jun 28, 2023
Gone are the days of traditional pen-and-paper contracts, as businesses embrace the digital revolution. In this era of unprecedented connectivity and fast-paced transactions, Contract Lifecycle Management (CLM) emerges as a vital component for organizations striving to streamline their operations and maximize efficiency. With the relentless expansion of e-commerce and remote collaborations, the need for effective contract management has never been more crucial.
Jun 13, 2023
In this episode of the Contract Heroes Podcast, we have the pleasure of speaking with David Cho, a C-Level Managing Director & Chief Procurement Officer at the University of Massachusetts System. Previously, he held key positions at BlackRock, KPMG, and Deloitte, showcasing his expertise in finance, procurement, and strategic planning. During our conversation, David shares valuable insights on building procurement processes from scratch. We delve into the challenges of implementing new processes, the role of technology in procurement, and the importance of measuring ROI. David explains how he and his team centralized the procurement function, simplified the message, modernized policy documents, and used technology to operationalize all processes. We also discuss the significance of change management, communication, and training. Discover the remarkable story of David's team, who not only surpassed expectations but also accomplished a level of work that typically takes organizations three decades to attain.
Jun 05, 2023
This episode of the Contract Heroes Podcast features a discussion between the co-hosts and Justin Silverman and Andy Wishart. Justin is the Senior Vice President, Product Management & Product Strategy at Mitratech while Andy is the Chief Product Officer at Agiloft. In our conversation with Justin and Andy, we dive into the recent partnership between Mitratech and Agiloft, which has generated considerable excitement within the industry. We explore the implications of this collaboration for their esteemed customers and envision the future of contracting. Our discussion primarily centers around the alignment of technology, integration capabilities, and the shared commitment to customer success, which makes this partnership a natural fit. Moreover, we delve into their strategic plans for implementing the solution among their existing customer base and introducing it to legal operations teams actively seeking effective resolutions. This partnership is seen as a game changer in the legal tech industry, offering customers a comprehensive and efficient solution for their legal operations needs.
May 22, 2023
In this episode of the Contract Heroes Podcast, we are delighted to feature Angelina Bellanton as our special guest. Angelina is currently the Senior Manager of Contracts and IP at Ikena Oncology and has a strong background in the pharmaceutical industry. During our conversation, Angelina provides us with a deeper understanding of the day-to-day work of a contract management team. We discuss the significant advantages of implementing a CLM system, including improved communication between legal and finance, streamlined approvals and signature processes, and the importance of a well-designed contract intake form. Our conversation also covers the importance of selecting the right CLM vendor for the organization and providing proper training to ensure that staff can leverage the system's functionalities effectively.
May 11, 2023
Are legal departments really hindering business growth? It seems that many CFOs believe so, but is this perception accurate? In fact, the truth may be quite the opposite. Legal departments are not just gatekeepers of legal compliance, but can actually be key enablers of business success. In this episode of the Contract Heroes Podcast, we are joined by Mike Haven. Mike is the current President of the Corporate Legal Operations Consortium (CLOC), a renowned organization dedicated to the advancement of the business of law. In addition to his role at CLOC, he serves as the Head of Legal Operations and Associate General Counsel at Intel Corporation, the world's largest semiconductor chip manufacturer. Mike has also previously held in-house positions at NetApp and Gap Inc. During our conversation with Mike, we gain valuable insights into the potential benefits of legal operations in enhancing the efficiency of other departments. We dive deep into the crucial role of legal operations in streamlining corporate processes, reducing legal touchpoints for lower risk and complexity agreements, and promoting a culture where legal is viewed as a strategic business partner. We also explore strategies for driving user adoption of CLM tools, leveraging AI functionality in CLM tools, and outsourcing legal operations. We conclude our conversation by sharing key considerations for organizations looking to establish a successful legal operations role. Tune in for these and much more!
Apr 17, 2023
In this episode of Contract Heroes we are joined by the CEO of TermScout Otto Hanson. During our discussion we talk about the future of contract management, what TermScout is, and how it can help organizations regardless of how they are currently managing their contracts.
Apr 04, 2023
During this episode of Contract Heroes we sat down with Dawn Richards. Dawn has an impressive history of leading contracting teams at orgs like Accenture and KPMG and is currently a Sr Contract Manager at VMWare. During our conversation we discussed: How a CLM tool and contract management team can help on a deal-by-deal basis and how to get other departments and stake holders involved in the CLM buying process.
Mar 27, 2023
On this episode of Contract Heroes we met with Zach Abramowitz, the founder at Killer Whale Strategies, a legal industry consultancy firm. He is a thought leader in legal innovation, regularly speaking at conferences, and has a newsletter covering all things legal-tech. During this episode, we explore the impact that ChatGPT will have on the CLM space and legal teams, the potential benefits and challenges of incorporating AI into organizations, and how it can revolutionize the way in-house teams work.
Mar 16, 2023
On this episode of Contract Heroes Jerry Silber the Vice President & Deputy General Counsel at Verizon Business Group joins us to discuss 6 contracting principles to help your team simplify over-complicated agreements, understand what data is important to monitor post-signature and so much more!
Mar 06, 2023
In this episode of Contract Heroes, we met with Jerry Pessah the Director II, Contract Manager at Flour Corporation. During his career, he has managed over 7 billion in procurement contracts and helped his clients save over $700 million in claims and negotiations. During our conversation, we discussed what claims management is, why post-execution contracting tasks are so important, and how a real-time procurement process can help businesses avoid potential claims by identifying issues early on in the process.
Feb 28, 2023
On this episode of Contract Heroes recorded live at the WorldCC Conference in Phoenix last year, we sat down with Steve Brown the Senior Manager of Legal Managed Services & Contract Lifecycle Management at EY Law. During our conversation, we discussed how technology can help both legal and procurement teams focus on high-value work, how to continue to maintain your CLM tool beyond go-live, and how to make sure all of your stakeholder's needs are met when evaluating vendors.
Feb 21, 2023
On this episode of Contract Heroes, we sat down with Leandro Doca, the VP and head of CCM for Americas at Capgemini. Drawing on his years of expertise, Leandro shared many tips around aligning third-party and client contracts in order to prevent revenue leakage, tips on evaluating tools to help you your team advance in their contract management journey, and so much more.
Feb 13, 2023
In our most recent episode of Contract Heroes Phil Dungey of Deloitte Legal and Anna Fink-Carratt of SirionLabs helped us break down the key points of codifying your contracts, especially in organizations with complex compliance standards. During our conversation we discussed: What outcome-based contracting is, what industries are using these types of contracts, steps an organization can take to evaluate their contract processes, and so much more!
Feb 03, 2023
On this episode of the Contract Heroes we were joined by Lewis Bretts, the Group Managing Director for LOD + SYKE in the US. During our conversation, we touched on a number of things including the main problems most customers face during CLM implementations and how to solve them, the importance of incorporating non-legal stakeholders in your CLM implementation process, advice on where to start the CLM journey, and what to avoid, and so much more.
