L2L Contracts and contract design and optimization with Chris Simkins

L2L contracts are “lawyer to lawyer” contracts. Lawyers negotiate, draft, and settle the terms in the absence of clients. Lawyers settle contracts for clients every day, and it’s easy to ask how this is different to B2B or B2C. The difference is in L2L contract, the users are the lawyers rather than clients because the clients aren’t involved in the process. Examples of L2L contracting includes inhouse departments in mergers and acquisitions business, banks, insurers and large consumer corporations.

This week on Legal Design IRL, Chris Simkins and I discussed his innovative work in contract design and optimization for lawyer-to-lawyer contracts. We chat about how to simplify the process, understand the needs lawyers have as the users of contracts, and how lawyers can design better contracts for each other. 

Chris is a commercial lawyer based in the UK who specializes in helping clients simplify and improve their contracts. He is now Head of Contract Optimization at the global law firm Simmons & Simmons, where he works with businesses of all shapes and sizes to optimize their standard contract templates and business terms. Having trained at an international law firm, Chris then worked in-house for several businesses, including big household names and smaller growth companies. Chris has spent most of his career writing and negotiating contracts, from large outsourcing deals to consumer terms and conditions. Throughout all of this, he’s always been passionate about finding ways to cut through the noise and simplify how contracts are created, agreed and managed. Chris is the author of a blog called Improving Contracts. 

Tune in and learn about contract design for lawyer-to-lawyer contracts.

The things we discuss are listed below.

1. What makes L2L contracts different from B2B or B2C contracts.
2. The case for lawyer-to-lawyer contracts and legal design.
3. Examples of contract design and lawyer-to-lawyer contracts.
4. How to get involved in contract optimization.
5. Connect with Chris through his blog Improving Contracts and on LinkedIn

Legal design thinking: IRL. Episode 56

I am Hannele Korhonen, the founder of Lawyers Design School and the host of Legal Design IRL (In Real Life). Each week, I offer lawyers an opportunity to slow down and reflect on the way they do law. In the live discussions with various inspiring guests, we delve into new approaches and emerging themes in lawl practice. We cover Legal and Contract Design, mindset, innovation and managing change in a traditional environment. This is a chance to let your brain rest and wander into new areas of thinking so you can consider the type of lawyer you want to be.

If you enjoyed the talk, join me live every Wednesday at 8 am ET on LinkedIn. The chat is open for your questions. 

Lawyers Design School is an educational hub for change-ready legal professionals and practitioners who are looking to transition from traditional practice and explore new opportunities within the legal field. Our focus is guiding individuals through the shift from traditional methods and mindsets in order to design the legal life they want. With comprehensive courses, interactive workshops, and complimentary weekly sessions of Legal Design IRL interviews, I aim to provide tangible demonstrations of design thinking and innovative strategies in real-world contexts. If you’re a forward-thinking legal professional or someone who recognizes the need for change but seeks guidance on where to begin, you’ve found the ideal platform.

Learn more about  Legal Design and Contract Design and how they can transform your work and career in the law. Courses are open now.

You can catch a replay of episode 55, Legal Design Thinking: IRL, or join me live next week and ask questions. 

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Watch all the Legal Design IRL Episodes episodes.