The Contract Playbook

In this episode of The Contract Playbook , host Casey Handy-Smith sits down with Brittany Bright, founder of The Influencer League , to discuss the current challenges around DEI rollbacks in brand partnerships. Brittany shares her personal experiences managing creators and how she navigates brand deals while ensuring they align with her creators' values. Timestamps: 00:00 - Introduction to The Con...

In this episode of The Contract Playbook , host Casey Handy-Smith sits down with Phe Morgan, influencer manager and founder of For Creator Good . Phe discusses how AI is integrated into every step of the brand deal process, from researching brands to curating content. She shares her process and how AI empowers creators by increasing efficiency without replacing their creativity. Timestamps: 00:00...

In this episode of The Contract Playbook , host Casey Handy-Smith talks to Mia Cunningham, co-founder and director of talent at Alora Society. Mia shares how they use custom AI playbooks to speed up contract negotiations and secure the best deals for their creators, offering a behind-the-scenes look at how AI is helping scale their agency. Timestamps: 00:00 - Introduction to The Contract Playbook...

In this episode of the Contract Playbook Podcast, Casey Handy-Smith discusses how AI is transforming the contract management process for talent managers and creators. Beyond just contract negotiation, AI simplifies every step from drafting to final execution, saving time and improving accuracy in managing brand deals. Timestamps: 00:00 - Introduction to the Podcast Casey introduces the broader con...

In this episode of the Contract Playbook Podcast, Casey Handy-Smith delves into how artificial intelligence (AI) is revolutionizing the contract review process for creators and talent managers. AI not only saves valuable time but also enhances contract accuracy, providing a powerful tool for streamlining negotiations and protecting rights. Timestamps: 00:00 - Introduction to Season 4 Casey welcome...

In this episode of the Contract Playbook Podcast, Casey Handy-Smith explores how combining human expertise with AI can revolutionize the contract review process. AI tools can significantly improve contract efficiency, but human judgment is still essential for nuanced contract negotiation. Timestamps: 00:00 - Introduction to the Contract Playbook Casey introduces the episode’s theme: combining huma...

In this episode of the Contract Playbook Podcast, Casey Handy-Smith dives into the difference between generic AI tools like ChatGPT and lawyer-backed AI for contract review. Through an experiment, Casey compares how each handles contract clauses and explains why this distinction matters for creators and talent managers. Timestamps: 00:00 - Introduction to AI in Contract Review Casey introduces the...

In this episode of the Contract Playbook Podcast, Casey Handy-Smith dives into the top red flags in influencer brand deals that AI can catch instantly. As AI continues to revolutionize contract review, Casey highlights the most common legal traps in brand deals and explains how AI can help you spot and fix them quickly. Timestamps: 00:00 - Introduction to the Contract Playbook Podcast Casey introd...

In this episode of The Contract Playbook , host Casey Handy-Smith dives into the essentials of contract playbooks and how AI can enhance their effectiveness. Casey explains why having a contract playbook is essential for running a successful agency, particularly when negotiating brand deals for creators. She also discusses how AI can streamline the review and negotiation process, saving time and m...

Welcome to Season Four!  In this episode of the Contract Playbook Podcast, Casey Handy-Smith explores how AI is transforming contract review, especially for creators and talent managers. Moving beyond simple redlining, AI is revolutionizing contract workflows by offering real-time redlines and comments based on industry standards, saving time and improving accuracy in negotiations. Timestamps...

In this episode of The Contract Playbook, we explore force majeure clauses—the provisions that protect creators when unforeseen events disrupt brand collaborations. Topics covered include: What force majeure clauses are and why they’re crucial. How they apply to situations like the potential U.S. TikTok ban. Key elements to include, like scope, notice requirements, and alternative deliverables. Ti...

In this season finale of The Contract Playbook, we’re breaking down closing clauses—those often-overlooked sections at the end of a contract that play a crucial role in keeping agreements enforceable. This episode covers: Severability: Ensures the contract remains valid if a clause is unenforceable. Notices: Defines how formal communications must be sent. Modification/Amendments: Governs how chang...

In this episode of The Contract Playbook, we’re diving into termination provisions—critical clauses that protect influencers when brands cancel campaigns. Learn: What termination provisions are and why they matter. Key elements to include, like notice requirements and compensation for work completed. How to handle cancellations, including negotiating fair payment for completed work. We also explor...

In this episode of The Contract Playbook, we’re breaking down work-for-hire clauses—what they are, why brands include them, and why they can be a red flag for creators. Topics covered include: The impact of work-for-hire clauses on content ownership. Common errors in brand contracts, like combining work-for-hire with usage terms. How to negotiate alternative terms that protect your intellectual pr...

In this episode of The Contract Playbook, we dive into the essential boilerplate provision of dispute resolution clauses in influencer brand deals. Host Casey Handy-Smith, Esq. unpacks what these clauses are, why they’re important, and how they can save you from costly legal conflicts. Through a real-life story from The Contract Collective™, Casey shares how one influencer agency dealt with a miss...

In this episode of The Contract Playbook, we continue our journey through boilerplate provisions by tackling a topic that’s becoming increasingly relevant for influencers: insurance provisions. Casey breaks down why brands often include insurance requirements in influencer contracts, how these provisions complement indemnification clauses, and whether influencers need insurance at all. We discuss...

Summary: In this episode, we take a deep dive into limitation of liability provisions —another key boilerplate clause that works closely with indemnification to manage financial risk in influencer contracts. We start by recapping the previous episode on indemnification and then explore what limitation of liability means, why it’s crucial for influencer talent managers, and how it can protect creat...

Summary: In this episode, host Casey Handy-Smith dives into the world of indemnification provisions. Clauses that may seem standard but hold significant weight in influencer contracts. We recap the first episode, which set the stage for understanding why boilerplate terms should never be overlooked, and then focus on what indemnification clauses are, why they matter, and how you can negotiate them...

Summary: Welcome back to The Contract Playbook! This season, we’re diving deep into the so-called “boilerplate” provisions found in nearly every contract. These aren’t just filler terms—they’re crucial clauses that shape the deal and impact your clients. Join host Casey Handy-Smith, an experienced Entertainment and IP attorney, as she debunks the myth of the boilerplate and explains why these term...

In this Season 2 closer, we sit down with Johanna Voss, an award-winning Influencer Talent Manager and Influencer Talent Manager coach, to delve into her 13-year journey in the influencer marketing industry. Johanna shares her experiences, insights on industry evolution, negotiation strategies, and tips for aspiring talent managers. Whether you’re an influencer, a brand, or someone looking to brea...

In this episode, we explore the crucial role of morals clauses in influencer brand deals. Discover what morals clauses are, how they impact influencers, and how to negotiate mutual morals clauses that promote fairness for both parties. Key Points: Definition and purpose of morals clauses Challenges with subjective interpretation and power dynamics Tips for negotiating fair and transparent morals c...

In this episode of The Contract Playbook, we explore the essential contracts every podcaster needs: Guest Release Forms: Learn why these forms are crucial for securing permission to use guest content and avoiding legal issues. Work-for-Hire Agreements: Understand how these agreements protect your ownership rights over created content like music and scripts. Podcast Sponsorship Agreements: Discover...

In today’s episode, we explore the impact of work-for-hire clauses in influencer brand deals and their importance for online business owners. Key Points: Definition of Work-for-Hire: Contracts that transfer ownership of created work to the hiring party. Impact on Influencers: Loss of creative control, potential income, and brand image concerns. Importance for Online Business Owners: Clear ownershi...

In this episode of "The Contract Playbook," we dive into the essential terms to include in an influencer talent management contract. Learn how to protect reputations, define the manager's authority, and handle post-term compensation. Whether you're a manager or an influencer, this episode will help you build a solid, clear, and fair contract to ensure a successful partnership. Key Points:  Pr...

Join us as we dive into the world of influencer talent management with Kahlea Nicole, co-founder of Alora Society. Discover how they negotiate brand deals, tackle UGC contracts, and manage their talent effectively. Episode Highlights: Alora Society's Origin: Kahlea shares the founding story and inspiration behind the agency. Brand Deal Negotiations: Strategies, key factors, and challenges in secur...