Skip Smith

About Skip Smith

Helping FinTech & SaaS Companies Navigate Complex Legal Challenges with ConfidenceI’m a legal strategist with over 20 years of experience guiding organizations through regulatory changes, contract transformations, and the evolving demands of modern legal operations.My focus is at the intersection of law, automation, and AI. I help legal and business teams integrate emerging technologies with clarity, compliance, and confidence, building scalable systems that reduce risk without slowing innovation.Whether it’s developing AI-informed contract workflows, training automated risk models, or navigating the legal implications of autonomous agents, my goal is to make the complex practical and the future workable.Available for speaking, guest lectures, and panel engagements on legal AI, risk governance, and the transformation of legal systems in emerging tech environments.

Experience

1. Sr Product Commercial Counsel

   NerdWallet

   Mar 2023 — Present

   Leading AI-Powered Contract Transformation: Spearheading the integration of AI-driven CLM processes to enhance contract review efficiency, automate workflows, and reduce legal bottlenecks.•Enterprise-Wide CLM & Risk Strategy: Managing contract negotiations and vendor agreements focusing on AI-driven automation, risk mitigation, and compliance alignment.•Strategic Legal Operations Partner: Collaborating with Procurement, Finance, Business Stakeholders, Privacy, Security, and Compliance to ensure seamless contract execution and risk-adjusted decision-making. •Escalation Attorney for the Chief Compliance Officer – Legal guidance on high-risk compliance matters and policy development.•Corporate Brand Legal Advisor – Partnering with the Brand team to ensure compliance across marketing, advertising, and regulatory initiatives.Recognition- 2024 NerdWallet \"What Good Looks Like\" Award Nominee: Honored to be nominated for this award, recognizing excellence in performance and contribution to the company\'s success.

Education

• The Ohio State University Moritz College of Law

  J.D., Banking, Corporate, Finance, and Securities Law

  1998 — 2001

• Stanford University

  AI Driven Leadership Executive Education , Organizational Leadership

• University of California, Berkeley - School of Law

  General Counsel University Certification

  2025 — 2025

• Fisk University

  Bachelor's degree

Skills

• Employment Law
• Civil Litigation
• Corporate Law
• Human Resources
• Corporate Governance
• Contract Negotiation
• Legal Compliance
• Employee Relations
• Civil Rights Law
• HR Consulting
• Management Consulting
• Eeo/Aa Compliance
• Employment Law Compliance
• Legal Writing
• Leadership
• Intellectual Property
• Aml
• Technology Law