Legal technology and global logistics

Blog Post
“Contract managers are safeguards of a contract’s complex evolution,” explains Lana, Radial Europe’s contract manager. With legal education from both Europe and the US, Lana brings a unique perspective to the logistics industry. She sees parallels between her original goal of becoming a diplomat and her current role in international business.
A portrait of Lana

Insights from a cosmopolitan contract manager

An interview with Sviatlana Snitsich

In this interview, Lana, Radial Europe’s contract manager, shares her unique perspective on legal technology and global logistics, contract management, the impact of AI and blockchain in logistics, and the value of diverse cultural experiences.

With a background spanning multiple countries and disciplines, Lana discusses how her legal education, interest in technology, and personal challenges have shaped her approach to work.

She emphasizes the importance of employee education, cross-cultural understanding, and the potential of emerging technologies in the logistics industry. Lana also touches on her personal interests, including yoga, meditation, and interior design, offering a glimpse into the multifaceted life of a truly global professional.

Contract management

Lana, first of all, can you tell us what contract management is, exactly?

It’s primarily a management process of contract lifecycles. Simply speaking, contract managers are safeguards of a contract’s complex evolution.
Contract managers are responsible for controlling the compliance and duration of contracts. They ensure that everything is organized regarding document flow and maintaining control of this order.

So it’s a very specific discipline of the legal business area, closer to legal technology and global logistics than to classical Legal Services.

Risk management

For example, if a company doesn’t maintain proper document flow or educate its employees about the importance of document order, a court can decide that the company waives its rights.

Take confidential information as an example. To qualify information as confidential, it’s not enough to just label it as such. It must be maintained and secured within the company. If it’s not secured properly, this information may lose its protection and not be qualified as confidential.

What’s the main risk?

The company could lose its competitive edge and reputation among business partners and customer. Reputation is an intangible asset which sometimes is even more valuable than tangible assets.

A global company

Why did you choose to work for Radial Europe?

I chose Radial Europe because it’s a global company with great potential. I have legal education from both Europe and the US, so I was looking for a company where I could utilize my skills and education from both. From very beginning I realized that Radial is a place where I can grow and where I want to be as team player.

A cosmopolitan person

You’ve lived in several countries – the US, Lithuania, Malta, Indonesia, Turkey, Poland. Do you consider yourself a global nomad or just a very cosmopolitan person?

A portrait of Lana in the USA

I consider myself a cosmopolitan person. I can’t even name my nationality because I feel I belong to all nationalities. I’m proud to be very open-minded and curious person, and happy that I’ve had the opportunity to study and work in different countries and continents. It’s a great opportunity to experience different cultures, work attitudes and idle approaches. By interacting with different cultures we do enrich ourselves.

The focus is on results

Logistics is an industry that’s dominated by men. What are your thoughts on gender equality?

Honestly, I’ve always worked in industries where men prevailed, but I’ve never experienced any discrimination as a woman. In industries like logistics and manufacturing, the focus is on skills and results. It doesn’t matter if you’re male or female; what’s important is your attitude and how quickly you can solve issues and find solution, and how the solution is effective.


My role model is Hildegard Wortman, a leader in automotive, another male-dominated industry. I think that Hildegard indirectly motivated me to study across the ocean. That’s the impact of real leadership.

International Law

Can you tell us about your educational background?

I started studying International Law with the goal of becoming a diplomat. I always wanted to work in an international area and combine my job with travel. Later, I realized that working in international companies applies many of the same principles as diplomacy. I studied public and european law and then legal technology in the US.

Studying legal project management under the auspices of Seyfarth Lean Consulting at the Chicago-Kent College of Law – Illinois Institute of Technology was a real game changer for me, levelling up all my previous background, since I am particularly interested in how artificial intelligence and blockchain are changing the legal field, and also logistics and e-commerce.

Lana in Chicago

AI and blockchain for logistics

Speaking of AI and blockchain, how do you see these technologies impacting logistics?

Blockchain is already being used by big carriers. In logistics, blockchain can reduce transportation costs, eliminate unnecessary intermediaries, and reduce document processing time.

A diagram showing how blockchain is being used in logistics already

Advantages of blockchain technology in logistics

It also helps in making supply chains more transparent and can almost eliminate counterfeit products.

Supply chains are constantly improving and becoming more complex. At the same time, the relationship between carriers, manufacturers and customers becomes less transparent. Detecting a violation or attempted deception in a long chain is difficult and time consuming. The utilization of blockchain in logistics will make all processes fast, transparent and secure.
I believe that in the future blockchain technology will become a gold standard in industry, so I just wonder which player will pioneer and customize such technologies for logistics.

Graph showing the applications of blockchain in logistics

Application of smart contracts in logistics.

As for AI, it’s revolutionizing many aspects of logistics, from route optimization to predictive maintenance. A larger topic for another discussion on legal technology and global logistics.

Vipassana meditation

On a personal note, you mentioned that you practice yoga. How would you recommend it for business people?

I practice Vipassana meditation once per year, which involves 10 days of silence.

For business people, I’d recommend it because we live in a world full of distractions. Business management involves dealing with uncertainties, handling people, controlling our reactions in the face of provocations and most importantly, to maintain our balance of mind in every situation.

Yoga and meditation provides a skill to deal with all types of situations with serenity, tranquillity and equanimity. Even starting your workday with just 5-10 minutes of meditation can help you focus and make a huge impact on your productivity and сreativity

Dislexia

You’re affected by dyslexia. How has this impacted your life?

It mostly affects my communication skills, which is why I prefer to avoid public speaking. I need to be in a secure area to communicate and speak freely. Being both dyslexic and an introvert, it’s challenging in areas where public speaking is required. However, it also means I have plenty of ideas in my head – almost every day, I have a new startup idea.

I could have become an architect

Impressive how you’ve managed to achieve so much despite these challenges. What other personal interests do you have?

I’m very interested in architecture and interior design. If I hadn’t become a lawyer, I would have become an architect for sure. I love traveling to see museums and architecture.

I actually have additional education as an interior designer, and in my spare time, I like to work on design projects and some art.

My approach to interior design is very minimalistic with elements of Japanese aesthetics.

I heard you’re also studying Japanese?

Yes, though not extensively. It’s more out of my interest in Japanese aesthetics and philosophy. It’s something additional that I’d like to learn. And of course calligraphy.
The art of calligraphy especially attracts me.

Technology and education

Back to technology, is there any area where we are actually implementing AI and blockchain within Radial technology and global logistics operations, either in the US or Europe? Or are we planning to do so?

I’m not able to answer this question specifically for Radial due to confidentiality. However, I can say that blockchain technology is being widely adopted in areas like electronic banking and cryptocurrency due to its high level of security for transactions.

Development

What’s the area where you would like to develop within Radial?

For me, it’s very important to educate all employees through communication and constant exchange of experience. I believe that the best investment for a company is to have educated and motivated employees.

Would you like to have an active role?

I’d like to take part in trainings and help with education. When you educate someone, it’s interactive – you educate them, and they provide feedback that educates you in return. This helps improve processes because they can highlight problems that I might not see. With such attitude we build a strong team where everyone is important and everyone’s input is impactful.

Education

For example, when I give a presentation to my colleagues and hear their feedback, I often realize they have brilliant ideas that could simplify and make processes more transparent. It’s always a dialogue, and it’s very important to me to have contact with all my colleagues and hear their feedback. I think we can learn from each other.

Wrap up

Thank you for sharing all these insights, Sviatlana. Your diverse background and interests bring a very unique perspective to your work at Radial.

Thank you, Matteo. I’m always eager to apply my various experiences and knowledge to contribute to Radial’s success.

Contract Management Specialist, Radial Europe. Lana is a professional with a strong background in law, diplomacy, business, legal technology and global logistics

With multiple master’s degrees, including a recent LLM in Legal Innovation and Technology from Chicago-Kent College of Law, she brings a unique blend of legal expertise and technological insight to her work.

Her professional journey spans roles such as International Sales Manager and Legal Agent across various countries.
A polyglot fluent in five languages, Sviatlana describes herself as a cosmopolitan individual with a proactive attitude towards challenges. She is particularly interested in the intersection of ethics and AI, believing that their integration is crucial for technological advancement and societal betterment.