CLOC Member Spotlight: Takashi Suzuki

07/16/2025 |

The CLOC Member Spotlight series profiles the incredible individuals within our community who are driving transformation in legal ops. Each spotlight provides inspiration, fosters connections, and gives readers a chance to learn more about their peers. By sharing these stories, we celebrate the diverse voices and talents that make CLOC a vibrant and connected community.

July 2025 Member Spotlight: Takashi Suzuki

Takashi Suzuki is the Deputy Head of the STC Office, Legal Department with Mitsubishi. He serves as a regional co-lead for CLOC Japan. Keep reading to learn more about Takashi.

About me:

I started my career at a Japanese law firm in 2005 and joined my current company in 2016. I stayed in Silicon Valley for 6 months in 2018  – and during that time, joined the CLOC Community. I am working as both an inhouse counsel and leading legal operations.

Why I love being a CLOC member:

Since I joined in 2018, CLOC has been always providing valuable guidance for my journey in legal operations. As I thought such valuable guidance needed to be shared with colleagues in Japan, I led the development of the Japan regional group, together with my co-lead Maki Kadonaga, in 2021, and we have been actively discussing and amplifying legal operations in Japan. Our discussions are compiled in our book “Legal Operations in Japan” published in March 2024.

My advice for other legal ops professionals:

In today’s fast-changing world, every company must pursue innovation. To drive innovation, the legal function needs to support it as well. In order to deliver legal services that enable innovation, the legal function itself must become innovative. Legal operations makes innovation within the legal function possible. That’s why legal operations can play a key role in supporting a company’s strategy and driving innovation.

A fun fact about me:

Sometimes at work, it takes time to get used to new ways of doing things or to start using tools like Generative AI — and some people even resist it. Staying ahead of change and being innovative all the time is tough. But when I watch my 7- and 5-year-old sons, they’re chatting with ChatGPT and having fun creating new images from their own photos. Maybe the secret to staying innovative is just enjoying new things and keeping that playful mindset.

CLOC Member Spotlights provide an opportunity to showcase members within our community who are making a difference in their organizations, in their CLOC groups, within the CLOC community and/or the industry as a whole. Do you know of a really cool thing a CLOC member is doing? We invite you to nominate a member of the CLOC Community for a future feature in the CLOC Member Spotlights Series.

Regional Recap | CLOC España

07/08/2025 |

The Transformation of Legal Consultancies: The Challenge of Efficiency and Operational Excellence

On June 5, CLOC España welcomed the legal community to a dynamic evening of conversation and connection at the A&O Shearman offices in Madrid. With over 50 attendees, the event brought together legal operations professionals and in-house counsel to explore how legal departments are evolving to meet rising demands for efficiency, strategic alignment, and measurable impact.

Moderated by CLOC España member Eugenia Navarro, the roundtable featured insightful perspectives from three General Counsel:

  • Jose Luis Barceló – ILUNION

  • Lidia Peyrona – IBM

  • Eduardo Álvarez-Naveiro – ABANCA

The panel shared real-world experiences on leading organizational change, integrating technology intelligently, and building legal teams that are both innovative and operationally excellent. The discussion emphasized not only the structural transformation of legal departments, but also the cultural and human impact of these changes.

Following the panel, guests continued the conversation during a networking cocktail reception hosted at A&O Shearman’s Madrid offices. The firm kindly provided their space as well as accreditation management. The CLOC España Events Committee led coordination and design, while a local video team captured the highlights.

La transformación de las asesorías jurídicas: El reto de la eficiencia y la excelencia operativa

El 5 de junio, CLOC España dio la bienvenida a la comunidad jurídica a una dinámica velada de diálogo y conexión en las oficinas de A&O Shearman en Madrid. Con más de 50 asistentes, el evento reunió a profesionales de operaciones legales y abogados internos para explorar cómo los departamentos legales están evolucionando para satisfacer las crecientes demandas de eficiencia, alineación estratégica e impacto medible.

Moderada por Eugenia Navarro, miembro de CLOC España, la mesa redonda contó con las perspectivas de tres consejeros generales:

José Luis Barceló – ILUNION

Lidia Peyrona – IBM

Eduardo Álvarez-Naveiro – ABANCA

El panel compartió experiencias reales sobre cómo liderar el cambio organizacional, integrar la tecnología de forma inteligente y crear equipos legales innovadores y con excelencia operativa. El debate se centró no solo en la transformación estructural de los departamentos legales, sino también en el impacto cultural y humano de estos cambios.

Tras el panel, los invitados continuaron la conversación durante un cóctel de networking celebrado en las oficinas de A&O Shearman en Madrid. La empresa amablemente cedió su espacio y se encargó de la gestión de acreditaciones. El Comité de Eventos de CLOC España lideró la coordinación y el diseño, mientras que un equipo de video local grabó los momentos más destacados.

Voices of CLOC | Dewanna Planter

06/26/2025 |

This video series spotlights the members and volunteer leaders who are shaping the future of legal operations by leaning in, sharing their experiences, and helping drive our community forward.

Throughout the year, we’ll be featuring stories from across the CLOC ecosystem, highlighting the many ways individuals are stepping up, getting involved, and finding purpose through connection and leadership.

Stay tuned as we amplify the voices that make CLOC more than a community.

CLOC Member Spotlight: Kunoor Chopra

06/17/2025 |

The CLOC Member Spotlight series profiles the incredible individuals within our community who are driving transformation in legal ops. Each spotlight provides inspiration, fosters connections, and gives readers a chance to learn more about their peers. By sharing these stories, we celebrate the diverse voices and talents that make CLOC a vibrant and connected community.

June 2025 Member Spotlight: Kunoor Chopra

Kunoor Chopra is a Co-Founder and Vice President at Elevate and the Chief Strategy Officer at Cloud Court. She serves as a member of CLOC’s Diversity, Equity, Inclusion and Belonging (DEIB) Council. Keep reading to learn more about Kunoor.

About me:

I live in sunny Laguna Beach, California, with my wife, our dog, and our cat—nature, the ocean, and mountain hikes are my happy places. I also have a deep appreciation for a good bottle of champagne paired with a great sunset. 

I grew up in California, went to UCLA for undergrad, and then headed to Loyola Law School in LA. I started my career as a litigator and quickly realized the opportunities to bring efficiency to legal. That sparked an idea: what if I started a company in India to bring more efficient support to law firms and law departments in areas like litigation, contracts, and IP? 

Fast forward 21 years—after selling that company, I co-founded Elevate in 2012 to bring the next evolution of legal services to law departments and firms around the world. More recently, I joined Cloud Court as Chief Strategy Officer, diving into the world of legal tech and helping shape what’s next. (Yes, I’m proudly juggling two jobs!) In both roles, what I love most is helping teams find smarter, better ways to work and drive meaningful results. 

On a personal note, as a South Asian lesbian, LGBTQ+ advocacy is close to my heart. I’m passionate about supporting the next generation—especially those navigating the intersection of culture, identity, and career.

Why I love being a CLOC member:

I like to connect with others and find new, creative and exciting ways in which we can collab, connect and innovate. The community constantly inspires me with fresh ideas and opportunities to work together in new and meaningful ways.

My advice for other legal ops professionals:

Remember that life is all about balance—and this is your one shot to do what truly fulfills you. Bring your playful, fun self to work, because that’s when we’re most creative, collaborative, and able to support one another in meaningful ways.

A fun fact about me:

I’m a big music lover—festivals like Coachella, Stagecoach, and CMA Fest are my happy place, and I never say no to a good karaoke night. Lately, I’ve been channeling that passion into something new (and very vulnerable): I’m working on a rap album! Stay tuned…

CLOC Member Spotlights provide an opportunity to showcase members within our community who are making a difference in their organizations, in their CLOC groups, within the CLOC community and/or the industry as a whole. Do you know of a really cool thing a CLOC member is doing? We invite you to nominate a member of the CLOC Community for a future feature in the CLOC Member Spotlights Series.

Voices of CLOC | Courtney Weidner

05/30/2025 |

This video series spotlights the members and volunteer leaders who are shaping the future of legal operations by leaning in, sharing their experiences, and helping drive our community forward.

Throughout the year, we’ll be featuring stories from across the CLOC ecosystem, highlighting the many ways individuals are stepping up, getting involved, and finding purpose through connection and leadership.

Stay tuned as we amplify the voices that make CLOC more than a community.

A Decade of Legal Ops

A Decade of Legal Ops: Reflecting on Growth, Navigating Challenges, and Embracing the Future

05/05/2025 |

This year marks CLOC’s 10th anniversary. It’s a good time to reflect on how far legal operations has come and where it’s headed next. 

What started as a support function has become a strategic force in modern legal departments. That evolution is front and center at the 2025 CLOC Global Institute in Las Vegas.

The Rise of Legal Operations

Over the last decade, legal ops has moved to the center of legal department strategy. CLOC’s 2025 State of the Industry Report found that 83% of departments expect demand for legal services to continue growing, with the top five most common legal operations services growing or remaining key to legal department functioning. Additionally, 77% of respondents said increasing legal operations headcount was medium or high priority for their organization.

According to a 2024 survey by Axiom, 94% of legal operations professionals anticipate department growth within the next two years, with 59% holding decision-making roles within their organizations. This growth reflects the increasing recognition of legal operations as a strategic partner in managing legal spend, implementing technology solutions, and fostering cross-functional collaboration.

Legal ops now owns budgeting, vendor strategy, process improvement, and data analytics. This work is essential as legal departments face pressure to deliver more with fewer resources. Our expertise in streamlining processes and optimizing performance is indispensable.

Economic Headwinds are Real

Even with this progress, economic conditions remain tough. Legal department budgets are under review and staffing is tight. Some organizations continue to invest in legal ops, others are adopting a more cautious approach, focusing on cost containment and efficiency.

In prior economic downturns, legal ops roles were often reduced, especially when viewed as  administrative rather than strategic. That’s why this moment calls for clarity. Legal ops professionals must show their strategic value, not just support. They are no doubt up to the challenge.

Adapting and Finding Bright Spots

There are opportunities abound. Smart teams are embracing change and doubling down in a few areas:  

  1. Showcasing Value with Tech: By using tools that save time and surface insight, and integrating them into legal workflows, legal ops can drive efficiency and reduce costs.
  2. Cross-Team Alignment: Legal ops can work more closely with other departments, such as finance, procurement, and IT, to align legal strategies with broader business objectives. 
  3. Strategic Planning: By developing and implementing strategic plans that align with organizational goals, legal ops professionals can position themselves as key contributors to business success. This includes identifying areas for improvement, setting priorities, and tracking results.
  4. Professional Development: Keep learning! Skill development is essential for legal ops professionals to stay ahead. CLOC’s Academy was founded for this very goal. And industry conferences like CGI also play an important role in enhancing expertise and career growth.

Looking Ahead

Ten years in legal ops has earned its seat at the table. The job now is to grow the influence that comes with it. Economic challenges persist for sure. But legal operations professionals are well-positioned to navigate these headwinds by demonstrating strategic value.

Embracing Legal Ops 3.0 at CGI 2025

Creativity Opens Doors: Embracing Legal Ops 3.0 at CGI 2025

05/02/2025 |

“Creativity opens doors.” That’s my spin on the theme of the 2025 CLOC Global Institute. And it’s a mindset shift for legal operations professionals ready to lead what’s next. In Las Vegas this year, we move into a new phase of innovation, strategic thinking, and collaboration.

The Shift in Legal Operations

Legal ops is changing fast. According to CLOC’s latest State of the Industry report with Harbor, 93% of legal ops professionals say their roles are growing. The focus is shifting to AI, data analytics, and vendor management. This marks a clear turn from Legal Ops 2.0, which focused on efficiency. Legal Ops 3.0 to emphasize strategic value and smart execution.

AI adoption in legal departments has doubled in the past year. The trend is accelerating. Legal ops teams need to lead with creativity to unlock new ways of delivering results.

Soft Skills Matter

Technical skills are important. But leading real change also takes:

  • Change Leadership: Guiding teams through technological rollouts and process overhauls with empathy and clear direction.

  • Storytelling with Data: Turning complex data into compelling narratives that drive executive buy-in and team alignment.

  • Emotional Intelligence: Building trust through self-awareness and empathy.

  • Enterprise Collaboration: Connecting legal, finance, procurement, and IT to break down silos.

  • Critical Thinking: Responding quickly to shifting market demands and taking a creative approach to problem-solving.

These skills align with key parts of the CLOC Core 12, including Strategic Planning, Technology, and Optimization & Health.

What’s Ahead

This week features speakers like futurist Nancy Rademaker, legal leader Irene Liu and CLOC’s Executive Director, Oyango Snell. Their insights will help shape how we move forward.

As you explore new tools and approaches, choose creativity. It opens paths to impact, growth, and leadership.

The doors are open. Walk through them. Take the lead.

Declutter Your Data: Excel Graph Pointers for Pros

04/23/2025 |

Like a picture, a good graph is worth a thousand words (and a bad graph can take a thousand words to clarify). Whether you’re presenting contract volume trends, outside counsel spend, or cycle times, clear and effective visuals are crucial for driving informed decision-making.  

While Microsoft Excel is the most common tool for business analytics, its default settings leave a lot to be desired. Applying a few simple design principles can elevate your graphs to a professional level. Here are my top tips for making clean, impactful graphs in Excel. 

Eliminate Clutter 

Clutter is the enemy of effective communication. Every unnecessary element in a chart increases cognitive load and distracts from the key message.  

To streamline your graphs: 

  • Remove chart borders – Borders add visual noise. Unless you have a specific reason to keep them, remove them from your graph.  
  • Reduce or eliminate gridlines – If your chart is well-designed, gridlines shouldn’t be needed: the story should be clear at a glance. If gridlines must be used, make them light gray so they don’t compete with the data. 
  • Avoid excessive tick marks – Simplify axes by using fewer labels and removing trailing zeros (e.g., use 1K instead of 1,000). 
  • Delete unnecessary legends – If a single data series is displayed, a title and direct labeling often suffice. 

Be Intentional with Color 

Color is a powerful tool but should be used sparingly and strategically. If you ever find yourself using a default color scheme, stop, and consider these design suggestions: 

  • Highlight key data points – Use a single accent color to draw attention to important trends or comparisons. 
  • Use grayscale for secondary elements – De-emphasize less critical components by making them gray. 
  • Be mindful of colorblind accessibility – Avoid red/green combinations and opt for colorblind-friendly palettes. 
  • Maintain consistency – Use the same colors for similar categories across multiple graphs to reinforce understanding. 

Use Proper Alignment and Spacing 

If you have ever looked at a graph and couldn’t put your finger on why it looked off, it was likely an issue with element alignment. A well-aligned chart improves readability and professionalism.  

Consider the following carefully when designing your graph: 

  • Left-align text – Center-aligned text can look unstructured and is harder to read. 
  • Create clean lines – Use Excel’s alignment tools to ensure chart titles, labels, and data points are evenly spaced. 
  • Leverage white space – Avoid stretching graphs unnecessarily; maintain margins to prevent visual overload. 

Directly Label Data for Clarity 

One of the simplest ways to improve a graph is to reduce the need for extra mental exertion to understand the data’s story. To do this: 

  • Label data directly – Instead of a separate legend, place labels next to the corresponding data points. 
  • Use callouts sparingly – When emphasizing key takeaways, add brief annotations directly within the chart. 
  • Choose readable fonts – Stick to sans-serif fonts like Arial or Calibri, and ensure labels are neither too small nor too large. 

Focus on Your Message 

Graphs should tell a story, not just display numbers. As you write your data story, remember to:  

  • Sequence data logically – Order categories in a meaningful way (e.g., chronological order for trends, largest to smallest for comparisons). 
  • Use data sparingly – Too many data points can obscure the message; highlight what matters most. 

Before & After 

Let’s look at these principles in action.  Below is a default chart Excel created for the number of contracts negotiated by type across the four most-recent fiscal quarters: 

At first glance, this graph looks simple and pretty, but pay attention as you look at it: where do your eyes go? Do they bounce around? Can you easily identify trends or tell what the story is? 

Now look at the chart below, which applies many of the principles discussed in this post: 

This chart has removed clutter such as the outline and gridlines; instead of a legend, it labels its data directly; and it uses a single accent color to emphasize the most recent quarter’s numbers as the focal point of the graph.  

You may notice that this graph doesn’t apply every single design suggestion—and most graphs shouldn’t! Just know the tools in your arsenal so you can make informed, intentional decisions in your design choices.  

Now It’s Your Turn 

What story is your data telling? Is it clear, concise, and compelling? Or is it more messy, muddled, and unmanageable?  

A well-designed graph in Excel can transform raw data into compelling insights. By applying a few design principles, legal operations professionals can create visuals that drive better decision-making. Thoughtful data visualization is not just about aesthetics—it’s about respect for your audience and your data. 

CLOC Member Spotlight: Remy Bassan

04/09/2025 |

The CLOC Member Spotlight series profiles the incredible individuals within our community who are driving transformation in legal ops. Each spotlight provides inspiration, fosters connections, and gives readers a chance to learn more about their peers. By sharing these stories, we celebrate the diverse voices and talents that make CLOC a vibrant and connected community.

April 2025 Member Spotlight: Remy Bassan

Remy Bassan is the Head of Legal Operations at Purolator and also serves as a CLOC community leader for CLOC Canada. Keep reading to learn more about Remy.

About me:

I am the Head of Legal Operations at Purolator, a Canadian freight company, and also serve as co-chair of CLOC Canada. I’ve spent over a decade optimizing legal departments, building high-performing teams, and implementing tech-forward strategies that help legal functions run like well-oiled machines. Prior to my current role, I gained deep experience in the franchise industry, where I learned firsthand how to balance structure, scalability, and brand integrity across multiple business units. That foundation shaped how I approach legal ops today—with a strong focus on process, alignment, and delivering measurable value.

Why I love being a CLOC member:

CLOC has been a game-changer in my professional growth. It’s not just a community—it’s a powerhouse of shared knowledge, collaboration, and support. I love being part of an organization where I can learn from global peers, share best practices, and help shape the future of legal operations. Stepping into a leadership role with CLOC Canada has been an exciting next chapter, and I’m looking forward to deepening connections and contributing to the vibrant legal ops community here at home.

My advice for other legal ops professionals:

Build your network before you need it. Relationships are the cornerstone of success in legal operations—whether you’re driving change, evaluating tools, or influencing leadership, having a strong peer group to lean on, learn from, and share with is invaluable.

A fun fact about me:

I was born just after midnight on New Year’s Day—so I’ve literally been ringing in the new year since the day I was born, and to top it off, I was the first baby of the year in the city!

CLOC Member Spotlights provide an opportunity to showcase members within our community who are making a difference in their organizations, in their CLOC groups, within the CLOC community and/or the industry as a whole. Do you know of a really cool thing a CLOC member is doing? We invite you to nominate a member of the CLOC Community for a future feature in the CLOC Member Spotlights Series.