Upon completion of this intensive course, participants will be able to:

• Establish and manage pre-litigation legal holds and document preservation protocols for contract records.
• Conduct targeted legal research and prepare initial drafts of legal memoranda or advisory opinions for counsel.
• Manage the process of e-discovery, including document collection, review, and production in contract disputes.
• Assist with corporate governance tasks, including administering board resolutions and maintaining minute books as related to major contracts.
• Develop and maintain a robust system for tracking regulatory compliance deadlines and filing requirements.
• Structure and maintain a centralized repository for contracts and associated legal opinions (e.g., privileged communications).
• Draft and manage standardized corporate legal documents such as powers of attorney and board consents for contract execution.
• Streamline the internal workflow between contract management and the legal department for increased efficiency.

• Experienced Contract Managers and Administrators
• Senior Paralegals and Legal Assistants in a corporate setting
• Compliance and Governance Specialists
• Heads of Contract Administration and Operations
• Risk Management Professionals focusing on documentation
• Professionals aspiring to a Director of Legal Operations role
• Project Managers with high legal documentation requirements

• Workshop on setting up and managing a legal hold notice (LHN) for various data types.
• Case study simulating an e-discovery production process for a contract dispute.
• Group exercise developing a workflow to manage board approvals for a major contract execution.
• Individual assignment drafting a corporate resolution authorizing a major contract.
• Discussions on effective privilege management and communication protocols with in-house counsel.

Unit 1: Pre-Litigation Support and E-Discovery

• Understanding the duty to preserve and the initiation of a legal hold notice (LHN).
• Implementing LHN procedures for various types of contract records (physical and electronic).
• Managing the technical aspects of data collection from CLM systems, email, and shared drives.
• Ethical and legal sanctions for spoliation of evidence and failure to preserve.

• The phases of e-discovery: identification, preservation, collection, review, and production.
• Assisting counsel with privilege review, redaction, and logging of privileged contract documents.
• Understanding the technology used in e-discovery (e.g., review platforms, predictive coding).
• Preparing production sets and managing the logistics of document exchange with opposing counsel.

Unit 2: Advanced Legal Compliance and Governance

• Developing a robust tracking system for managing regulatory audit cycles and external reporting deadlines.
• Assisting in the preparation of regulatory filings related to major contracts (e.g., competition, public disclosure).
• Drafting and updating internal legal policies, guidelines, and procedures related to contracting.
• The role of the contract professional in managing conflicts of interest and ethics reporting.

• Administering corporate records related to contracts: resolutions, approvals, and meeting minutes.
• Drafting board resolutions and consents required for the execution of high-value contracts.
• Managing signature authorities, delegations of authority (DOA), and corporate seals.
• Overseeing the proper notarization, apostille, and legalization of international contract documents.

Unit 3: Legal Research and Advisory Communications

• Formulating sophisticated legal research queries to address specific contract enforceability issues.
• Synthesizing multiple legal sources (cases, statutes, regulations) into concise legal analysis.
• Drafting initial memorandum drafts and advising notes on contractual implications of new legislation.
• Maintaining and curating a central legal knowledge base of frequently researched contract topics.

• Understanding and maintaining attorney-client privilege and attorney work product protections.
• Properly labeling, storing, and communicating legally sensitive contract advice.
• Strategies for communicating risk and legal findings to business stakeholders without waiving privilege.
• The role of the contract professional in managing the external legal invoice review process.

Unit 4: Legal Department Efficiency and Workflow

• Implementing process maps and flowcharts to standardize legal review and contract approval.
• Utilizing technology (e.g., CLM, document automation) to streamline legal intake and triage requests.
• Developing and tracking key performance indicators (KPIs) for legal support efficiency.
• Managing the organization and taxonomy of the contract repository for easy legal retrieval.

• Creating and delivering internal training sessions for business teams on legal risks and policies.
• Developing a "Legal Review Checklist" to empower business users for routine contracts.
• Mentoring junior staff on high-quality legal documentation and research standards.
• The importance of continuous professional development in legal support and contract law.