Contract Management Blog Articles

The legal profession has historically seen itself as unique and exempt from the constraints and concerns that have dominated the business sphere. With the rise of technology and its role increasing in power and influence over how businesses run, the legal profession now is coming around to the idea of not being a cost center and the department of no to a value creator and the department of can do.

Malbek has reached a new milestone in our growth. After years of being remote, we have opened a new headquarters in Princeton, NJ.  And let me tell you, it's nice to finally be back in office with the flexibility to work from home. There are a few things that aren't the same over a Zoom call: the creative meetings, the coffee and snacks, throwing a dart over to a fellow Malbekian, and the actual socialization (which is much needed after two years of a pandemic 😅). 

Even though I will miss my ten-step commute to my home office in my PJs, I am excited to go to a fun and collaborative work space and be with my local-area team again. Here are a few fun facts about our new office:

The initial unplanned sprint to working remotely has since made way for meaningful collaboration through technology. And throughout this shift, we’ve supported several high-growth companies in identifying the people, processes, and tools they need to take a collaborative approach to contract management. Though each company came to us with its own set of unique challenges and requirements, each of them began their journey the same way—with the people. Not the shiny tech tools, not the AI features, but first, with an innate understanding of the people that are involved in managing contracts.

In a world of “do more with less”, it's no secret that almost all organizations are interested in using the contract data of yesterday to improve the business outcomes of tomorrow. The real secret lies in why there's still hesitancy around digital contract management and AI adoption in general. 

Could it be because too many solutions have been over-promised and under-delivered? Or is there simply a general lack of trust in technology that has perpetuated manual contract management processes?  

The reality is that the way organizations conduct contract management has changed, and modern contracting challenges require modern solutions. 

You’ve likely heard the term wet signature and may have wondered what the heck is a wet signature?

A wet signature is simply a signature using a pen, pencil, or seal on a physical document. For a long time, wet signatures were commonly used to represent a binding contract.

Malbek Announces Name Change to Merlot Amid a Shift in Global Taste

CLM solution seeks to rebottle the future of contract management in response to an evolving palate

Princeton, NJ, April 1, 2022– Malbek, an award-winning contract lifecycle management (CLM) solution, has announced its name change to Merlot in reaction to a shift in global wine preferences.

The signs of Spring are all around us! Trees blossoming, flowers blooming, pollen making me sneeze 24/7. Spring has really sprung!  Don't get me wrong. The daffodils look great, but G2's Spring badge recipient announcement is my favorite sign of Spring.

And this year, there's an extra reason to celebrate! In addition to our repeat badges, we are the recipients of three new badges to add to our belt. Let's hop in!

Contracts are the undercurrent that drives business forward. They define the contours of most business relationships, and are how most businesses make money. As a first-year law student, you are taught the law of contracts: offer, consideration, and acceptance. These concepts are useful for a lawyer, but no one (besides legal professionals) gives much thought to these things. What is far more useful for the business is understanding how contract cycles can be sped up. That's where contract playbooks and contract templates prove their worth.