Contract Heroes

In this conversation, Jessica Vander Ploeg, Vice President of Legal Operations at Belron, shares her unconventional journey from interior design and market research to leading global legal teams. Now Vice President of Legal Operations at Belron, she explains how she oversees strategy, technology, and process enablement across multiple countries. The discussion dives into practical approaches to legal tech adoption, why Belron prioritizes point solutions over complete CLM systems, and how quick wins, integration planning, and change management drive impact. Looking ahead, Jessica reflects on the growing complexity of legal technology, the influence of AI, and why thoughtful, proactive planning is essential for the future of legal operations.

In this talk, Patty Corey shares her path into legal operations and what she's learned along the way. She explains how focusing on good processes, precise data, and teamwork between legal and procurement teams can make contract management smoother. Patty talks about how to clean up data, choose the right metadata fields, and build helpful playbooks that help teams work faster and more accurately. She also discusses how AI tools can help once a strong foundation is in place. Throughout the conversation, Patty highlights a key message: technology alone can't solve every problem; successful legal operations start with transparent processes, good communication, and keeping data organized and up to date.

Meet Kyle Myers, Chief Product Officer at IntelAgree, one of today's leading AI-powered CLM platforms! Starting the conversation, Kyle shares his path from working at KPMG on automation and process improvement to joining IntelAgree soon after its founding in 2018. He explains how the company was built with a clear goal to make contract management faster, smarter, and easier through native AI. Kyle also discusses how early experiences with tools such as Kira inspired IntelAgree's mission to create a more affordable, accessible end-to-end CLM solution. He further shares an inside look at Saige Assist, IntelAgree's generative AI suite that helps draft, review, and negotiate contracts with ease.

In this episode, Samir Bhatia, CEO of Brightleaf Solutions, talks about his journey and how his company uses AI to improve contract management. Brightleaf first worked with law firms, but under Samir's leadership, the focus shifted to helping corporates manage large volumes of contracts. Their first big client was British Telecom, and since then, Brightleaf has built powerful AI software to extract important information from contracts, which is then carefully reviewed by people to ensure accuracy. The conversation covers the main challenges of legacy document migration, including bringing contracts together in one place, organizing them by type (such as NDAs and MSAs), linking related documents, and cleaning up data. Samir stresses the need to balance AI automation with human oversight and shares best practices such as creating a clear playbook, processing data in batches, and preparing it for CLM systems.

In this episode, Sarah Brouwer, Senior Corporate Counsel at Trudell Medical International, joins Marc Doucette, CEO and Co-founder of Koho Consulting, to discuss the real-world challenges and strategies behind a successful contract lifecycle management transformation. Together, they share insights from Trudell’s multi-phase CLM rollout, including lessons in change management, phased implementation, and system adaptation. Marc draws on Koho’s hands-on experience to highlight what it really takes to move from static legacy tools to scalable enterprise CLM. They also explore how legal teams can rethink CLM as a long-term strategic investment rather than a one-time solution. The conversation wraps with a look at how AI is playing a growing role in document screening, data migration, and redlining, reshaping how legal ops teams work and deliver value across the business. Whether you're planning a CLM rollout or navigating one today, this episode offers a grounded perspective on what success looks like in complex organizations.

On this episode of the Contract Heroes podcast, we’re joined by Matt Patel, COO and Co-Founder of Malbek, to talk all things CLM replacement. Matt breaks down the common pitfalls of legacy systems—from high maintenance costs and outdated architecture to poor user adoption—and explains why many organizations are rethinking their approach. We dive into the challenges of navigating a crowded CLM market, what red flags to watch for (like low logins and workaround-heavy workflows), and how to tell whether your issues stem from technology or process. Matt also shares actionable tips for teams just starting their CLM evaluation journey and what to look for in a modern, scalable solution.

In today's episode, Aaron Fischer explores the evolving landscape of contract lifecycle management (CLM), highlighting the impact of AI, risk mitigation, and efficiency in legal operations. He addresses the challenges of implementing CLM, emphasizing stakeholder engagement and executive support. Drawing from his experiences in the music and tech industries, Aaron illustrates the practical benefits of early CLM adoption. He also shares his journey transitioning to a solo legal practice, underlining the importance of networking and client understanding. The discussion concludes with insights from his Empire State of Grind podcast, which focuses on tech startup founders and AI-driven innovation.

FEATURED TIMESTAMPS [00.35] Nandita’s background and career journey. [02.46] The importance of understanding the context behind every contract. [06.29] The importance of putting the best interests of the company first. [07.10] Communication and understanding between legal and sales teams. [08.57] The benefits of Contract Lifecycle Management (CLM). [11.06] The role of flexibility in contract negotiation. [13.38] Building rapport and trust with the internal team. [16.17] Effective playbook provisions for business negotiations. RESOURCES Connect with Nadita Murthy LinkedIn - linkedin.com/in/nandita-murthy/

In this episode, we’re joined by Otto Hanson, founder of TermScout and Screens, and now leading the Screens business at Agiloft. Otto shares his vision for the future of contracts and why he believes we’re just getting started when it comes to transforming how they’re created, reviewed, and managed. We dive into Agiloft’s recent acquisition of Screens and what it means for AI-powered contract review. Topics include striking the right balance between accuracy and flexibility, empowering users through prompt validation, the power of community-driven playbooks, and why AI should enhance—not replace—legal expertise.

In this episode of Contract Heroes, we’re joined by John Roland, a legal operations leader with over 20 years of experience across industries like energy and technology. John shares his perspective on what it takes to implement a contract lifecycle management (CLM) system that truly delivers value—from defining business needs early on to aligning teams around shared goals. John also walks us through his recent Agiloft implementation at Qcells, which Koho was proud to support. You’ll hear firsthand what made the project successful and what others can learn from the process. Whether you're just starting your CLM journey or looking to refine your current setup, this episode is full of practical insights you won’t want to miss.

In this week's episode, we had the pleasure of speaking with Matt Lhoumeau, CEO and co-founder of Concord, a leading contract management software. Matt’s mission is to empower teams to manage contracts efficiently without requiring legal involvement at every step. Our conversation explores the growing role of AI in contract management, its impact on legal teams, and how CFOs are leveraging contract data for better decision-making. We also dive into change management, AI adoption in mid-sized companies, and the future of contract management.

In this conversation, procurement expert Samah Mahdi, with 15 years of experience in procurement, logistics, and supply chain management, joins to discuss the transformative impact of AI and robotics. She explores how AI enhances efficiency, optimizes supplier management, and automates procurement tasks while robotics revolutionizes warehousing and transportation. Samah highlights key challenges, including resistance to change and data quality, and shares her vision for a future driven by AI-powered, autonomous supply chains.

FEATURES TIMESTAMPS [02.12] The process of selecting a contract lifecycle management (CLM) system. [05.15] The importance of addressing pain points. [07.00] The requirements for the successful implementation of a system. [09.16] The deciding factor. [11.15] The importance of having thorough, real-life testing when implementing a new system. [13.28] The importance of cross-functional collaboration and early alignment. [17.24] User adoption dashboards. [19.55] The critical role of communication and training. [23.43] Managing change and addressing user fears. [29.16] Susan’s advice for implementing any system. RESOURCES Connect with Susan LinkedIn - linkedin.com/in/szagorski/

Today's episode features Hal Bretan, Contract Standards Executive in Residence at World Commerce & Contracting. In this conversation, Hal explores the importance of achieving "speed to contract" to enhance business efficiency, profitability, and collaboration. He highlights the challenges of traditional contracting practices and emphasizes the need for fair, balanced templates to streamline negotiations. Furthermore, Hal stresses the role of prioritizing risks, leveraging data to demonstrate economic benefits, and fostering teamwork across stakeholders. He advocates a top-down and bottom-up approach to drive organizational change. He offers insights into how WorldCC's contracting principles and workshops empower professionals to improve processes.

What You'll Learn in This Episode: What is Claims Management?The Role of Communication:Three Pillars of Claims Management:Technology and Data in Claims Management:Change Management:The Role of AI in Contract Management:Guest Bio: Jerry Pessah is a seasoned civil engineer and contract management expert with over 27 years of professional experience. As Senior Director of Contract Management at Fluor Corporation, he has worked on some of the world’s largest engineering, construction, and mining projects, bringing extensive expertise to the art and science of contract management. Key Quote from Jerry: "Preventing claims starts with a holistic understanding of contract documents, clear communication, and robust change management practices—it’s about being proactive every step of the way." Connect with Jerry: Don’t miss this deep dive into the art of claims management. Tune in now to gain practical strategies for managing risks, resolving disputes, and driving project success.

This week’s episode of the Contract Heroes podcast, recorded at the World Commerce and Contracting America Summit in Atlanta, features Jerry Silber, Hal Bretan, and Lita Bollimpalli discussing the benefits of relational contracting over traditional methods. Jerry highlights why traditional contracting often fails and emphasizes the importance of building strong relationships through principles like a no-blame culture, mutual objectives, and continuous improvement. Lita discusses the contracting paradox and shares examples of successful transitions by companies like Dell and FedEx. Hal introduces the World CC’s relational contracting guide, which offers practical steps and checklists for implementation, especially valuable in fast-changing technology landscapes.

This week’s episode of the “Contract Heros” podcast features Brendan Raybuck, Chief Revenue Officer at ClearLaw. He is an expert in enterprise software, assisting organizations in developing strong sales and partner networks that drive business growth by providing top solutions. He specializes in digital channel sales ecosystems and partner engagement. He has experience creating go-to-market strategies, leading marketing initiatives, and fostering growth for digital agencies as an executive. Starting today’s conversation, Brendan shares his career background along with the services they provide at ClearLaw. We talk about the complexity of contracts and the importance of structuring contracts in a way that software can analyze them effectively, ensuring that all obligations are clearly outlined to avoid potential liabilities during contract management. Brendan shares his views on the transformation of legal departments, particularly through the use of data in legal tech. He highlights how, similar to the transformation of marketing roles with analytics, chief legal officers can leverage data to improve collaboration across departments, enhance customer support, and ultimately drive revenue. In this phase of the conversation, we move on to discuss the importance of CLM. Beyond accelerating contract execution and lowering legal expenses, its true value is in leveraging contractual data to address larger business challenges such as compliance and marketing needs. Wrapping up the conversation, Brendan kindly shares the critical questions you need to ask when evaluating CLM vendors to ensure their solutions can effectively meet your needs. EPISODE HIGHLIGHTS [00.36] Brendan’s background and what ClearLaw offers the market. [03.33] How ClearLaw’s contracting intelligence AI works. [06.30] Complexity of contracts. [11.10] Advantages of structuring a contract data. [14.36] The transformation of legal departments. [18.49] The importance of Contract Lifecycle Management (CLM). [24.48] Data-driven transformation, elevating legal functions in the corporate landscape. [26.24] Complex compliance and regulatory environment. [30.40] Critical questions for evaluating CLM vendors. RESOURCES Connect with Brendan LinkedIn - linkedin.com/in/brendanraybuck/ Website - clearlaw.ai/

Key Points:

Key Points: Introduction to Tiffany Hamilton: Building the Legal Ops Team: Legacy CLM System Migration: Data Cleanup and Governance: Integrating AI in Contract Management: Lessons Learned and Key Takeaways: Final Thoughts and Contact Information: