Contractually Speaking

Malbek
  • 5.0 (3)
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  • UPDATED BIWEEKLY

Contractually Speaking is the podcast where contracts unlock real conversations — innovation, technology, transformation, and sometimes wine.

  1. Ep. 14: Steph & Sumi - AI Governance, ROI, & Use Cases in Legal Operations

    1D AGO

    Ep. 14: Steph & Sumi - AI Governance, ROI, & Use Cases in Legal Operations

    Watch on YouTube HERE. In this episode of Contractually Speaking, Matt sits down with Steph Corey and Sumi Trombley from UpLevelOps to discuss how legal operations teams can navigate the fast-moving world of AI, point solutions and enterprise legal technology. With new AI tools emerging constantly, legal teams are under pressure to evaluate sandboxes, run pilots, compare vendors and determine what actually solves the business problem. Steph and Sumi explain why the best starting point is still the basics: understanding requirements, defining use cases and identifying the real pain points before chasing the newest AI tool. The conversation explores when a point solution may be enough, when a broader legal technology platform is needed and why AI adoption requires more than enthusiasm. From governance and ethical use to cross-functional ownership and ROI measurement, this episode highlights the growing role of legal ops as the function that brings structure, accountability and clarity to legal AI evaluation. Whether your team is testing multiple AI tools, debating Copilot versus other LLMs or trying to decide between a point solution and a full CLM platform, this episode offers practical guidance for making smarter, more sustainable legal tech decisions. 🔑 Key Topics Covered AI point solutions versus enterprise legal tech platformsWhy legal teams need clear use cases before evaluating toolsThe role of legal ops in AI governance and adoptionHow to manage multiple AI pilots, sandboxes and POCsComparing vendors with scorecards, requirements and ROIWhy base LLMs and legal-specific tools serve different needsTotal cost of ownership, tuning and long-term maintenanceCross-functional ownership of AI across legal, IT, sales and marketing👉 Subscribe and listen to Contractually Speaking on the platform of your choice at podcast.malbek.io 🎙️ Interested in being a guest or sponsoring the show? We’d love to hear from you—email us at podcast@malbek.io 💡 Learn more about Malbek

    26 min
  2. Ep. 13: Matt Linder - The Anatomy of a Successful CLM Implementation

    MAY 5

    Ep. 13: Matt Linder - The Anatomy of a Successful CLM Implementation

    Watch on YouTube HERE. It’s a Matt-fest on this episode of Contractually Speaking, as Matt Patel is joined by Matt Linder from Harbor to break down what a CLM deployment really means — and why it’s about far more than just implementing technology. Drawing from real-world experience implementing CLM for large global organizations, Matt Linder shares how successful deployments focus first on solving contract chaos — from slow cycle times and lack of visibility to inconsistent language and missed business value. The episode tackles one of the biggest topics in legal tech today: AI. From pre-signature contract review to post-signature intelligence across large contract repositories, the discussion outlines what it really takes to make AI effective — including structured data, strong templates, clear processes, and well-crafted prompts. Whether you’re implementing CLM for the first time or modernizing an existing system, this episode offers practical, experience-driven insights to help you build a scalable, high-impact contract management strategy. 🔑 Key Topics Covered: Solving contract chaos: speed, visibility, and consistency Why workflow design should come before repository and AI Repository strategy: from storage to business intelligence Integrating CLM with CRM, finance, and other business systems AI across the lifecycle: pre-signature and post-signature use cases The importance of structured data, templates, and clause libraries 👉 Subscribe and listen to Contractually Speaking on the platform of your choice at podcast.malbek.io 🎙️ Interested in being a guest or sponsoring the show? We’d love to hear from you—email us at podcast@malbek.io 💡 Learn more about Malbek

    26 min
  3. Ep. 12: Devon Misterman - Data Migration Done Right

    APR 21

    Ep. 12: Devon Misterman - Data Migration Done Right

    Watch on YouTube: HERE. In this episode of Contractually Speaking, Matt Patel sits down again with Devon Misterman from Epiq to tackle one of the most challenging — and often underestimated — parts of any CLM implementation: data migration. Whether transitioning from a legacy CLM or starting fresh with thousands of contracts stored across systems and PDFs, migration is more than just moving files. It’s about structuring, extracting, and validating critical contract data so it becomes searchable, reportable, and actionable. Matt and Devon break down why organizations should avoid trying to “boil the ocean” and instead take a phased approach — focusing first on high-value contract types and active agreements. The conversation also highlights the reality that, despite advances in AI, human oversight remains essential for ensuring accuracy, handling edge cases, and properly mapping contract relationships like amendments, SOWs, and master agreements. From understanding your current data landscape to setting realistic expectations around time, cost, and effort, this episode offers a practical guide to getting migration right — and setting your CLM implementation up for long-term success. 🔑 Key Topics Covered Why data migration is the hardest part of CLM implementation The role of human validation alongside AI extraction Challenges with contract structure, hierarchy, and relationships Extracting key metadata (renewals, terms, clauses) for reporting Setting realistic expectations for cost, effort, and timelines Using migration as a way to understand past contracting practices 👉 Subscribe and listen to Contractually Speaking on the platform of your choice at podcast.malbek.io 🎙️ Interested in being a guest or sponsoring the show? We’d love to hear from you—email us at podcast@malbek.io 💡 Learn more about Malbek

    9 min
  4. Ep. 11: Colin Levy - Designing Smarter Playbooks for CLM and AI

    APR 7

    Ep. 11: Colin Levy - Designing Smarter Playbooks for CLM and AI

    Watch on YouTube HERE. In this episode of Contractually Speaking, Matt sits down with Malbek’s General Counsel, Colin Levy, to break down a foundational — yet rapidly evolving — concept in legal operations: the contract playbook. While playbooks have existed for decades, the rise of AI is fundamentally changing how they are designed, structured, and used. Colin shares how legal teams must rethink traditional playbooks — moving away from long, narrative documents and toward structured, clause-based systems that AI can interpret and apply at scale. The conversation explores what it takes to build an AI-ready playbook, including consistent terminology, clause libraries, agreement-specific variations, and simplified, accessible language. Matt and Colin also discuss why teams should start small — focusing on a handful of high-risk clauses — before expanding into more complex playbook strategies. From embedding negotiation rationale into redlines to introducing risk scoring for faster contract triage, this episode provides a practical framework for legal teams looking to modernize their contract review process in the age of AI. 🔑 Key Topics Covered: What makes a playbook “AI-ready”Moving from documents to structured clause librariesThe importance of consistent terminology and categorizationWhy playbooks should vary by agreement type and contextStarting small: focusing on high-risk, high-value clausesEmbedding negotiation rationale into playbook-driven redlinesDesigning AI-friendly templates and formattingUsing risk scoring to prioritize contract review👉 Subscribe and listen to Contractually Speaking on the platform of your choice at podcast.malbek.io 🎙️ Interested in being a guest or sponsoring the show? We’d love to hear from you—email us at podcast@malbek.io 💡 Learn more about Malbek

    22 min
  5. Ep. 10: Ellen Kranz - Here Nor There: Unlocking the Secret Menu Inside Your Contracts

    MAR 24

    Ep. 10: Ellen Kranz - Here Nor There: Unlocking the Secret Menu Inside Your Contracts

    Watch on YouTube HERE. In this episode of Contractually Speaking, Matt sits down with Ellen Kranz from Lighthouse for a candid conversation recorded live at the true Austin speakeasy Here Nor There. The setting may be hidden — but the topic is all about uncovering what’s hidden inside your contracts. Ellen shares how Lighthouse has matured its vendor-side CLM program by integrating legal, procurement, compliance, and accounting into unified workflows. Instead of siloed contract reviews and reactive payments, the team is now taking a strategic approach to renewals, budgeting, and vendor oversight. The discussion dives into one of the biggest shifts happening in 2026: AI at scale. It’s no longer about reviewing a single contract — it’s about analyzing thousands at once to surface renewal terms, price caps, discounts, termination clauses, and cost-saving opportunities. From budget forecasting to identifying overlapping vendors and missed discounts, this episode explores how organizations can move beyond storing contracts and start unlocking real business intelligence from them. 🔑 Key Topics Covered Integrating procurement, legal, compliance, and accounting Moving from siloed contract reviews to strategic oversight Tracking renewal terms and budgeting proactively Identifying hidden discounts and pricing caps AI at scale: analyzing thousands of contracts at once Using contract data to inform 2026 planning and beyond 👉 Subscribe and listen to Contractually Speaking on the platform of your choice at podcast.malbek.io 🎙️ Interested in being a guest or sponsoring the show? We’d love to hear from you—email us at podcast@malbek.io 💡 Learn more about Malbek

    10 min
  6. Ep. 9: Deisha Vazquez - You Are Your Greatest Asset: Healthy Work Habits of a Legal Ops Leader

    MAR 10

    Ep. 9: Deisha Vazquez - You Are Your Greatest Asset: Healthy Work Habits of a Legal Ops Leader

    Watch on YouTube HERE. In this episode of Contractually Speaking, Matt sits down with legal operations leader Deisha Vazquez for a conversation that goes beyond CLM and technology — and straight to the core of performance, mindset, and self-care. With over 25 years in the legal industry, Deisha has rebuilt legal teams through chaos, bankruptcy, private equity transitions, and pandemic disruption. But today’s discussion focuses on something even more fundamental: you are your most valuable asset. From speaking affirmations over yourself to reframing “I’m sorry” into “thank you for your patience,” Deisha shares practical ways to shift workplace culture through language, energy, and boundaries. This episode is a powerful reminder that productivity, culture, and performance start with how we treat ourselves first. If you lead a team — or aspire to — this conversation offers actionable mindset shifts that can immediately improve both your professional impact and personal well-being. 🔑 Key Topics Covered Affirmations and self-leadership Language shiftsEmail and response-time boundaries Lunch breaks and calendar protection Modeling work habits as a leader Mental health in high-meeting environments Physical wellness: movement, posture, screen habits Reducing burnout through energy regulation 👉 Subscribe and listen to Contractually Speaking on the platform of your choice at podcast.malbek.io 🎙️ Interested in being a guest or sponsoring the show? We’d love to hear from you—email us at podcast@malbek.io 💡 Learn more about Malbek

    22 min
  7. Ep. 8: Patrick Reymann - How Procurement Teams Use AI to Make Faster Decisions

    FEB 24

    Ep. 8: Patrick Reymann - How Procurement Teams Use AI to Make Faster Decisions

    Watch on YouTube HERE. Today on Contractually Speaking, Matt sits down with Patrick Reymann, Research Director at IDC, to explore how procurement is evolving from a back-office function into a strategic driver of enterprise decision-making —and yes, they get into that recent announcement from Anthropic/Claude that left the legal world buzzing.. Patrick shares insights on the rapid transformation of procurement technology including the rise of agentic platforms, the growing role of AI and LLMs at scale, and why ROI and time-to-value remain the most important metrics for buyers today. CLM is expanding beyond traditional contract management into a broader commercial intelligence platform, enabling executives to extract actionable insights from thousands of agreements to inform sourcing, pricing, and risk decisions. This episode examines how procurement leaders are rethinking technology investments and preparing for a future where contracts become a core source of business intelligence. 🔑 Key Topics Covered: The expanding role of legal operations leadership Why process and governance matter more than tools alone Driving adoption across legal, sales, and procurement teams Change management strategies for legal tech implementation Aligning stakeholders and measuring long-term success Building scalable legal systems that evolve with the business 👉 Subscribe and listen to Contractually Speaking on the platform of your choice at podcast.malbek.io 🎙️ Interested in being a guest or sponsoring the show? We’d love to hear from you—email us at podcast@malbek.io 💡 Learn more about Malbek

    28 min
  8. Ep. 7: Devon Misterman - Legal Ops in Motion: Driving Adoption, Alignment & Value

    FEB 17

    Ep. 7: Devon Misterman - Legal Ops in Motion: Driving Adoption, Alignment & Value

    Watch on YouTube HERE. This episode of Contractually Speaking features a deep dive discussion between Matt and Devon Misterman from Epiq, an alliance partner that handles CLM implementations. Together, they unpack how legal teams can move beyond simply implementing tools and instead focus on building scalable systems, improving adoption, and aligning stakeholders across the business. Devon shares insights on governance, change management, and why successful legal ops leaders prioritize process and strategy just as much as technology. They touch on the typical systems that organizations integrate with CLMs, including e-signature tools, Salesforce, Coupa, SAP, and various intake tools like ServiceNow. This conversation offers practical lessons on how to create sustainable impact — not just launch another platform. 🔑 Key Topics Covered The expanding role of legal operations leadership Why process and governance matter more than tools alone Driving adoption across legal, sales, and procurement teams Change management strategies for legal tech implementation Aligning stakeholders and measuring long-term success Building scalable legal systems that evolve with the business 👉 Subscribe and listen to Contractually Speaking on the platform of your choice at podcast.malbek.io 🎙️ Interested in being a guest or sponsoring the show? We’d love to hear from you—email us at podcast@malbek.io 💡 Learn more about Malbek

    10 min
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Ratings & Reviews

5
out of 5
3 Ratings

About

Contractually Speaking is the podcast where contracts unlock real conversations — innovation, technology, transformation, and sometimes wine.

Information

  • Creator
    Malbek
  • Years Active
    2025 - 2026
  • Episodes
    14
  • Rating
    Clean
  • Copyright
    © 2026 | All Rights Reserved
  • Show Website
    Contractually Speaking