The Rise of the AI NDA

NDAs might not be the most glamorous part of private markets, but as deal timelines compress and AI becomes embedded in legal workflows, they are fast becoming one of the clearest signals of operational readiness.

In this episode of Compliance by Design, Laurence Baker is joined by Walt Nichols, Managing Director of Contracts for the Americas, and Chrys Marincich, Co-Head of Contracts EMEA/APCA, to unpack the rise of the “AI NDA” and what it reveals about how firms manage contracts at scale.

What used to take weeks now happens in days. Speed is no longer a competitive advantage. It is the cost of entry. Against that backdrop, firms are seeing a surge in AI-related clauses, increasingly complex NDA playbooks, and a growing tension between risk aversion and deal momentum.

The discussion explores how AI clauses are evolving, why early blanket restrictions often fail in practice, and how a more proportionate, outcome-focused approach can better protect sensitive information. Walt and Chrys also examine the weaponisation of NDAs, the rise of non-solicits and other restrictive terms, and why over-engineering contracts can slow deals and increase risk rather than reduce it.