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What’s New in Practical Guidance – May 2025 Update

June 24, 2025 (2 min read)

The May 2025 release of Practical Guidance by LexisNexis introduces a rich suite of enhancements across multiple practice areas, strengthening the platform’s position as an indispensable resource for legal professionals. From comprehensive new playbooks and resource kits to specialized tools in niche areas like AI governance and privacy law, this update empowers users with tools that boost efficiency, reduce legal risk, and improve outcomes.

Expanded Playbooks

One of the most significant additions this month is the expansion of Practical Guidance Playbooks. These playbooks are strategic tools designed to help legal teams draft, review, and negotiate contracts using predefined preferred language, fallback positions, and rationales. As of May, 20 playbooks have been published with approximately 20 more scheduled for release in 2025. Practice areas currently covered include Commercial Transactions, Labor & Employment, IP & Technology, Real Estate, M&A, Finance, and Capital Markets.

A US Playbooks Resource Kit now brings all playbooks into one searchable hub—providing market-standard drafting guidance and negotiation strategies. Users can also download the Word-based templates to tailor playbooks for their organization’s specific needs.

Commercial Transactions

The Commercial Transactions section sees the addition of three specialized playbooks—Services Agreement (Pro-Services Provider), Sale of Goods Agreement (Pro-Seller), and Distribution Agreement (Pro-Manufacturer). On the litigation side, new checklists and templates cover topics like defending fraud claims and tortious interference allegations across multiple jurisdictions, including California and Massachusetts.

Data Security & Privacy

Reflecting the growing complexity of data law, this update delivers timely resources like the Children’s Online Privacy Legislation Tracker (2025), templates for cyber vulnerability management, and FERPA-compliant authorization forms. There’s also a Data Broker Registration Laws Comparison Chart, aiding compliance teams navigating fragmented state laws.

Industry-Specific Enhancements

Legal professionals in the Energy & Utilities sector now have access to trackers like the FERC Civil Penalties Case Tracker and updates on environmental executive actions. In Finance, mezzanine financing receives expanded coverage with new and enhanced templates, from convertible promissory notes to investor rights agreements.

In Labor & Employment, a notable addition is the AI Workplace Tools Implementation Checklist, helping employers deploy artificial intelligence responsibly and ethically. New templates address workplace violence laws and meal/rest break certifications in California.

Real Estate and Trusts & Estates

Real estate practitioners benefit from content tailored to local needs, including a Letter of Intent (Office Lease) Playbook, eviction complaint templates for Minnesota, and new practice notes on New York office leases. In Trusts & Estates, there are updated wills, trusts, and probate templates, including jurisdiction-specific tools for Illinois, Massachusetts, and North Carolina.

Keeping Current

The May 2025 update also includes substantial additions across Corporate & M&A, Healthcare, Construction, Tax, and Business Entities, with a focus on state-specific compliance and market trends like AI clauses in M&A agreements. To view the full update, click here.

With these additions, Practical Guidance continues to evolve as a dynamic platform that supports legal professionals with actionable insights and ready-to-use resources—streamlining workflows and bolstering compliance in a fast-changing legal environment.

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