Agentic AI Contracting: Legal Frameworks and Emerging Risks

Artificial intelligence has moved from a drafting aid to an autonomous actor capable of executing workflows and triggering real-world actions without continuous human oversight, raising pressing questions for the attorneys tasked with managing legal risk. This program examines what in-house counsel need to understand about agentic AI, from the access controls that govern how these systems operate to the vulnerabilities that arise when an agent can send communications, modify records, or move funds on its own. John Pavolotsky, Stoel Rives, guides participants through the contractual mechanisms that address these risks, including audit clauses, kill switch provisions, and the ongoing monitoring obligations that separate meaningful protection from a false sense of security. Attorneys will leave with a practical framework for evaluating, negotiating, and enforcing agreements involving autonomous AI systems. Audio versions of Beverly Hills Bar Association programs are eligible for Self-Study CLE credit in California. Visit www.bhba.org/podcasts for more information.