Clinical research contracting teams spend enormous time managing risk, but are we always fighting the right battles? This session challenges attendees to reconsider whether certain contract positions, risk-management practices, and negotiation habits are grounded in real-world exposure or simply driven by hypotheticals, institutional muscle memory, or “we’ve always done it this way” thinking. Speakers will explore examples of issues that consume significant negotiation time despite being unlikely to occur or unlikely to cause meaningful damage, as well as “hail Mary” contract language that no reasonable sponsor or site is likely to accept but still shows up in drafts and slows everyone down. Attendees will leave with a practical framework for distinguishing between risks that deserve serious attention and positions that create friction without materially improving protection.