In business, we’re often taught that there’s a “right” way to structure deals. Standard terms. Familiar frameworks. Expected timelines. And while those conventions exist for a reason, some of the most durable, aligned outcomes we’ve seen didn’t come from following the script—they came from questioning it. Experience on both sides of the table has taught us that creativity in deal structure isn’t about being clever for its own sake. It’s about alignment. When parties take the