Interview: How Summize is redefining the future of CLM with our agentic approach

It’s an exciting time at Summize. We’re redefining the direction of Contract Lifecycle Management (CLM) and the role of AI within contract processes.

At Summize, we’re taking a multi-agent (agentic)  approach to CLM, named SIA – Summize Intelligent Agents.

SIA is powered by AI and created by our very own legal experts , existing to enhance how entire businesses manage their contract processes. Along with SIA we have launched two new functionalities to the market:

• Review Pro: The next-gen, advanced contract review functionality
• Ask SIA: Our AI powered chatbot that helps businesses find the contract and workflow information they need
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But why now? Why the introduction of SIA, and why the launch of Review Pro and Ask SIA?

We sat down with three key members of the Summize team to get the inside scoop - Founder and CEO Tom Dunlop, Chief Technology Officer Richard Somerfield and Head of Product Leanne Hayes.

With Summize entering an exciting phase of innovation and the launch of new features that are fundamentally changing the way businesses interact and use AI within their contract management processes, we know there are  questions. And we’ve got the answers.
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Summize’s commitment to staying ahead

So why now? Why are we introducing SIA to the market and what does SIA mean for our existing and new customers?

"At Summize, we’ve always been keen to innovate first, ahead of the market," says Tom, our Founder and CEO. Tom continues by saying that this isn’t the first time Summize has taken new functionality and features to market.

We were the first CLM to launch a Microsoft Word add-in for contract reviews, as well as the first solution to integrate into Outlook and Gmail to enable non-legal colleagues to access and create contracts using their email platforms.

“Our new functionality is very much the next step of where we see our CLM, not just in terms of AI and LLMs (large language models), but more specifically our agentic AI and how it can apply to our existing products.” says Richard, our CTO.

Unlike other CLM providers who are merely branding AI chatbots, Summize has taken a different approach. "We don’t just add AI features because the market dictates it; we innovate based on real problems our customers face," adds Richard.

This is why we are taking an agentic, multi-agent approach to the AI that underpins our entire CLM software. A multi-agent approach replicates how lawyers actually review more complex agreements, therefore making CLM tools useful not just for low-risk, high-volume contracts, but also for the more intricate, higher-stakes ones too.
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Introducing SIA, our multi-agent approach

What sets SIA apart is the multi-agent functionality. SIA stands for Summize Intelligent Agents - not just one AI agent, but many, all working together. Rather than relying on a singular AI to handle complex tasks, SIA functions as a team of AI agents, each performing specific roles, validating outputs, and ensuring accuracy at every stage.

"SIA mimics the way legal professionals work in teams," explains Richard. "One Summize Intelligent Agent generates content, another agent validates, and another agent redlines. This structured approach significantly reduces errors and enhances reliability - something other CLM providers are not doing."

Leanne, Summize’s Head of Product highlights how our agentic approach with SIA is just the beginning, “Our agentic approach with SIA will allow us to expand existing features and create new features. It’s our new way of thinking around these innovative features and it's going to allow us to expand even further!”
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But what does SIA mean for legal teams?

Not just among legal teams, or just the legal industry, there is a common fear that AI will replace their work. At Summize, we hear this concern when speaking to potential customers, legal professionals in our webinars and in the recent findings of our Legal Disruptors report.

But we know that our CLM software, and SIA, will not replace lawyers.

Richard knows this will never be the case. To help reassure lawyers, he believes our AI should be viewed as "augmented intelligence" rather than “artificial intelligence”. By viewing the technology in this way, legal professionals can understand how our AI (SIA) exists to not replace legal teams, but to help them be more proactive, than reactive.

“We help legal teams, and entire businesses, achieve more. SIA simply helps them do more things.”

Richard continues by applying the analogy to a medial situation, "Think of a doctor who checks in every few months instead of waiting for patients to call. That’s essentially what we’re enabling for legal teams. Rather than them reacting to all the different tasks, often ones which are manual and time-consuming, SIA is assisting them and also empowering them to offer a higher level of service and do the legal work that truly matters to their business."

Tom echoes this sentiment, drawing on his past experience as a previous sole General Counsel before he founded Summize:

"Lawyers are trained to be advisors. However, much of their time is spent on manual contract reviews rather than high-value legal analysis. Our technology removes that burden, allowing lawyers to focus on what they do best - providing expert guidance."

How do we ensure trust in SIA?

AI accuracy and security is paramount at Summize. We not only want the best results and processes for our customers, but we want our customers to trust in our technology. AI cannot decrease manual, time-consuming tasks if more time is spent checking the work it produces.

Richard states how our multi-agent approach with SIA combats the reservations around accuracy, which many other CLM providers cannot deliver on, “Hallucinations happen when AI is asked to do too much at once," Richard notes. "Our multi-agent approach with SIA solves this problem by breaking down tasks into smaller, manageable pieces. Each agent validates the work of the agents, ensuring accuracy and reliability."

Plus, SIA prioritizes transparency:

"We always show our workings," Leanne points out. "SIA doesn’t just give an answer, SIA explains the answer, the data used and the reasonings behind the analysis and actions.”

‍Therefore, at every step of a contract review or analysis, SIA provides a quick explanation, showing how the agents worked together to create the result. This provides lawyers with confidence in our technology and allows them to demonstrate AI’s value and accuracy to the wider business.
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Ensuring SIA meets legal team’s needs

While innovation is a priority at Summize, we ensure it’s balanced with real customer needs. "If you're only building what you think is the next big thing without talking to your customers, you’re missing the mark," says Leanne. "Our Product and Development Teams work very closely with our Go-To-Market and Customer Success Teams to ensure that what we build is not only innovative, but actually valuable."

Tom says this is achieved via three key inputs and processes that drive Summize’s innovation:

"First, we analyze data usage to understand how customers interact with our CLM. Second, we stay true to our vision and ethos, ensuring we carve our own path rather than just reacting to market trends. Third, we listen to customer and prospect feedback to balance quantitative insights with qualitative needs."

Richard elaborates on Summize’s internal approach to innovation by discussing how our three key inputs and processes are expanded upon within our ‘Product Leaders Group’ – a very unique approach to product and CLM development.

Summize’s Product Leader’s Group brings together diverse perspectives from a variety of Summize teams. From legal, to development, to customer success, to marketing. The Product Leader’s Group ensures the Summize product roadmap reflects real-world needs across entire organizations. We don’t have a single person or team leading our product development, it’s a collective, collaborative effort.

This mirrors the Summize ethos that a CLM solution is not just for legal teams, it’s a solution for the entire business. By involving our entire business within our CLM development and roadmap, we are living by our own ethos.
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The future of CLM and Summize

The legal tech market is changing rapidly, and expectations for CLM solutions are higher than ever.

"Six years ago, automation in CLM was more of an aspiration than a reality," Tom recalls. "Now, customers expect a high level of automation and AI-driven capabilities. Businesses can no longer rely on point tools; they need a full end-to-end solution that delivers on its promise."

Richard adds, "Legal teams are small, sometimes just two or three people supporting an entire company. They need tools that multiply their capacity and help them be proactive rather than just reacting to endless contract reviews. That’s exactly what Summize is providing."

Summize’s unique ability to innovate, adapt, and scale is why we continue to lead in the CLM space.

‍"We don’t fix our roadmap for 12 months and ignore changes," Tom asserts. "We review it weekly, adapting to customer needs, technological advancements, and market shifts. This fluid and dynamic approach is one of our biggest strengths."

The next steps for businesses looking to join our innovation

As the expectations for legal technology continue to evolve, we at Summize remain committed to pushing the boundaries of what’s possible.

Our introduction of SIA has created endless possibilities of how our CLM software can take contract processes to the next level. We’re not just building AI-driven features to stay ahead of the competition, we are creating contract ecosystems that assist entire businesses and empower legal professionals to get the most out of their contract data and workflows.

We’re shaping the future of CLM and empowering businesses to achieve more, and we encourage you to join the next generation of CLM.

Talk to our contract experts today to find out more about SIA, our agentic approach, and the launch of our new contract review and Ask SIA functionality.

Not only will you benefit from the innovation, but you will also be part of shaping the development of CLM software, ensuring it always remains relevant, practical and empowering for legal teams and their wider business.