In a recent interview, Senne Mennes, co-founder of ClauseBase and former lawyer at DLA Piper Brussels, shared insights into his journey from practicing IP law to innovating document automation tools. His story offers a blueprint for in-house legal teams aiming to modernize and adapt to a new paradigm of legal practice.
Risk Minimization Is Not a Strategy
Mennes emphasizes the traditional legal approach of avoiding mistakes at any cost, which often results in slow progress. While this mindset is beneficial in litigation or regulatory responses, it hinders innovation, especially for teams tasked with enabling commercial velocity and supporting product launches. The transition from a protective and review-focused approach to one that builds and improves is crucial for modern legal systems.
Stop Aiming for Perfect Drafts: Start Building Feedback Loops
ClauseBase emerged from a need to escape inefficient drafting processes. Mennes and his co-founder built tools they wished existed, highlighting the importance of not settling for broken systems. Rather than working harder, legal teams should systematize the judgment behind their work, creating feedback loops that improve with each contract.
Lawyers Rarely Feel the High: That’s the Problem
Mennes notes that lawyers often fear risk because they are trained to minimize it without experiencing its potential benefits. This disconnection contributes to stalled innovation. Successful in-house teams understand that faster reviews can lead to more revenue and reduced negotiation cycles, tracking and owning the positive outcomes.
Perfectionism Is Not Professionalism
The pursuit of perfection can hinder progress. Mennes learned that usefulness and authenticity trump perfection. In legal practice, clarity and speed are often more valuable than precision when risks are low. Legal teams should focus on building systems that identify when precision is necessary.
To Build Trust, Codify Judgment
The shift from reactive to proactive, from craft to infrastructure, is mirrored in Mennes’ transition from lawyer to founder. Legal departments are beginning to adopt data-driven approaches, moving away from instinctual practices. This doesn’t happen overnight but requires a change in mindset where legal becomes an enabler of trust, clarifying what is acceptable and possible.
The Future of Legal Systems
The evolution of legal systems requires viewing contracts as systems rather than artifacts. Embracing speed, clarity, and a continuous learning approach, legal teams can transform from the department of no to an engine of trust, enabling businesses to make informed decisions confidently.
Note: This article is inspired by content from https://abovethelaw.com/2025/12/from-risk-aversion-to-risk-calibration-what-senne-mennes-taught-me-about-building-legal-systems-that-learn/. It has been rephrased for originality. Images are credited to the original source.