Contracts & Coffee: Episode 4 – Contracts across continents

In this transatlantic edition of Contracts & Coffee, we dive into the age-old rivalry: UK vs US. But this time, it’s all about contract lifecycle management (CLM) and legal tech.

Join Jamie Travis (UK) and Mike Vailas (US), Summize’s contract specialists, as they compare notes on how legal teams across EMEA and the US are adopting CLM, embracing AI and tackling contract challenges in their own unique ways.

From cultural differences to industry trends, this episode explores how legal innovation is evolving on both sides of the pond.

What’s brewing in Episode 4?

• How CLM awareness and adoption differ between EMEA and the US.
• The biggest contracting challenges facing legal teams in both regions.
• The rise of legal operations and cross-department collaboration.
• Why AI is both exciting and uncertain for legal professionals.

Q&A highlights

Q: How familiar are legal teams with CLM in the UK vs the US?

A: In the US, a lot of in-house legal teams are familiar with CLM and often have existing tools in place. But in contrast, EMEA teams are still exploring CLM, with many encountering it for the first time. The term itself is gaining traction, but interpretations vary widely across the region.

Q: Which industries are leading CLM and AI adoption?

A: Software companies are the clear frontrunners, thanks to their tech-forward mindset. But legacy industries like manufacturing, financial services and even sports are catching up fast.  

Q: What kind of contracts benefit most from AI?

A: While NDAs are often the go-to example, AI is proving valuable across a wide range of contract types – from master service agreements and sponsorship deals to influencer contracts. AI helps with drafting, reviewing and extracting insights, especially in high-volume scenarios.

Q: Who’s driving CLM adoption within companies?

A: Legal operations roles are increasingly leading the charge, especially in tech businesses. In smaller companies, legal teams are often the ones initiating the process, then looping in sales, finance and procurement to align on broader business needs. In other words, CLM adoption is becoming a cross-functional effort.

Q: Is AI in legal tech widely accepted or still uncertain?

A: There’s growing excitement around generative AI and its role in the legal world, but there’s still some caution. Legal teams want to make sure AI tools are secure, reliable and genuinely useful, and some use cases are clear while others still challenge current AI capabilities.