Milva Finnegan
A Contracts Consultant – I’m a contracts manager by title, but my work centers on transforming how contracts are designed and used. I believe contracts should be user-friendly business enablers—clear, accessible tools that help people do their jobs effectively. As a Contract Consultant, I help organizations bridge legal and business thinking across the full contract lifecycle, ensuring every agreement is written for its audience and aligned to achieve business results.
A Teacher – I’m passionate about teaching and advancing the contracts profession. As a visiting lecturer and speaker, I teach courses and lead sessions on contract management, negotiation, and contract design, helping professionals connect business acumen with practical drafting skills. I regularly speak at conferences and roundtables, sharing ideas that make the field more accessible, relevant, and future-focused. I’m now seeking opportunities to bring this experience into a university setting—to help the next generation of professionals build confidence and capability in contract management.
Dr. Finnegan – I hold a Doctor of Science in Economics from the University of Vaasa, Finland, with a major in Business Law. My research focuses on contract law and contract design, exploring how user-centered design can make contracts clearer and more valuable. My dissertation, User-Centered Design: A Key to Contract Simplification, examined practical approaches and tools for simplifying and visualizing contracts to create well-designed agreements that truly enable business performance.
Work Experience
Karhu Consulting (2012 – Present)
Founder & Principal Consultant
As CEO of Karhu Consulting, I advise organizations on contract management transformation, legal design, and technology integration. Over the past decade, I’ve led consulting projects across industries, including work with Enterprise Mobility and Limelight Intelligence, helping clients simplify contracts, implement CLM systems, and bridge legal and business goals. My approach combines process design, data strategy, and user-centered contract development to turn contracts into strategic business enablers.
KPMG LLP (2022 – 2023)
Director, Commercial Contract Value Center
Led a team of analysts managing more than 300,000 commercial contracts. Directed the firm’s Contract Lifecycle Management (CLM) system strategy and implementation (Icertis), developed governance frameworks, and established the Contracting Center of Excellence. Partnered with leadership to optimize risk management, pricing, and post-execution analytics.
The Boeing Company (2000 – 2012)
Contracts, Pricing, and Finance Leadership Roles
Held multiple leadership positions spanning international contracts, financial analysis, and IT finance management. Negotiated and priced multi-billion-dollar international defense contracts, managed financial reporting and planning for $3B+ divisions, and led teams through budgeting, forecasting, and long-range business planning. Known for combining strategic negotiation expertise with deep understanding of federal and commercial contracting
Visiting Lecturer – Contract Management & Legal Design
I teach and guest lecture on topics including contract management, legal design, and supplier relationship managemenet. My courses and workshops emphasize connecting business acumen with practical drafting skills and integrating user-centered design into legal and contracting education.
Recent engagements include lectures and panels with WorldCC, National Contract Management Association (NCMA), and university programs in business law and legal design. I am currently pursuing professorship opportunities to expand this work in an academic setting, preparing the next generation of professionals to think critically about how contracts drive business success.
Finland to USA Story
To fully understand my philosophy, it helps to know my roots. I was born and raised in Finland and came to the United States for school—many years ago. The values and clarity I grew up with in Finland continue to guide me, even as I’ve built a career in the U.S. Today, I bring together the best of both cultures—the Finnish commitment to precision and integrity with the American drive for innovation and growth. Seeing from both perspectives has shaped me into a strategic thinker and lifelong learner. And while the origin of my passion for contract management may be a mystery, its purpose—to create clarity and connection—has never been clearer.
Associations
IACCM – International Association for Contract and Commercial Management
NCMA – National Contract Management Association
Certifications
World Commerce & Contracting (WorldCC) Certification
-SRM – Supplier Relationship Management Certification
National Contract Management Association (NCMA) Contract Management Certifications
–CPCM – Certified Professional Contracts Manager
–CFCM – Certified Federal Contracts Manager
–CCCM – Certified Commercial Contracts Manager
- Fellow Designation Awarded December 2014 by NCMA