Meet Wendy A., a Corporate Lawyer at CobbleStone Software that has been a member of the CobbleStone® family since January 2023. Recently, we interviewed Wendy about her experience at CobbleStone where she kindly shared some insights into her role as well as advice she has for those considering a career in SaaS/contract management software.
In your own words, tell us a little bit about your role as a Corporate Lawyer here at CobbleStone Software.
Wendy: Overall, I’m responsible for providing legal advice and overseeing commercial transactions for CobbleStone. That could include a variety of tasks, such as negotiating contracts, drafting corporate policies, or reviewing our open source software use. I make sure CobbleStone complies with applicable laws and regulations so we can continue to provide our products and services into the future.
What are the qualities you feel are important to be a successful Corporate Lawyer working for a company that is in the Contract Lifecycle Management (CLM) space?
Wendy: I think a successful CLM corporate lawyer possesses the standard lawyer qualities (attention to detail, organization, good writing/drafting skills, etc.), but being in the tech sector also requires a more thorough understanding of the industry and ability for creative thinking. We’re not just dealing with the software industry, but with multiple types of licenses and intellectual property rights. You also need to be able to effectively communicate with everyone from the sales team to software developers.
As a lawyer, how has your experience been using CobbleStone Contract Insight®?
Wendy: The Legal Team uses CobbleStone Contract Insight every single day to negotiate and track our own company contracts, and I can honestly say I’ve thoroughly enjoyed learning to use it. I got comfortable with it pretty quickly and features such as the clause library and auto-redlining have been so convenient. Plus, I actually represent a typical CobbleStone Contract Insight user, so I’ve had a painless time working with our IT department to really cater the software to a lawyer’s or contract manager’s needs - similar to mine.
How do you stay up to date with CLM industry trends and technological advancements in contract management?
Wendy: To stay up to date with industry trends, I attend relevant conferences and events as well as subscribe to newsletters from organizations such as The National Contract Management Association, World Commerce & Contracting, Contract Nerds, and others. I am also lucky to work for an innovative CLM leader in CobbleStone that provides numerous helpful pieces of thought leadership - such as blog posts, videos, whitepapers, eBooks, and much more.
What is your favorite part about being a Corporate Lawyer in the legal technology space?
Wendy: You can never be bored in the legal technology space. Rules and regulations around technology are always changing and evolving, particularly regarding contract artificial intelligence recently. Our award-winning software product is always advancing as well, keeping me on my feet.
How do you stay up to date with current laws and regulations regarding the CLM space?
Wendy: Staying current on legal updates and issues is particularly important in the CLM space because there’s always another advancement around the corner. I like to seek out CLEs (“Continuing Legal Education” courses for lawyers) specific to software or SaaS management. I also set up automatic alerts and follow online resources for legislation updates. In-house tech lawyers tend to be pretty nice people, so online communities to discuss general issues have been very helpful.
What advice would you give to someone just starting their career in law for a CLM/SaaS (?) provider?
Wendy: The first step is just to learn the basics; it takes time to become comfortable drafting and negotiating contracts, performing legal research, and generally assessing risks. Then, the most important next step is about really digging in and learning about the industry. Knowing the law isn’t enough. You need to understand the business mechanics, market trends, and unique considerations of SaaS providers to be effective counsel.
Now that you've learned more about the what it takes to be a Corporate Lawyer at CobbleStone, want to learn more about CobbleStone Contract Insight? Book a free demo of our award-winning contract management, eSourcing, & procurement platform today!
If you're a CobbleStone user, do you have any questions or would you like more information about new features and add on modules? Contact your account representative today!
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Legal Disclaimer: This article is not legal advice. The content of this article is for general information and educational purposes only. The information on this website may not present the most up-to-date legal information. Readers should contact their attorneys for legal advice regarding any particular legal matter.
