Chris Apple
Manager, Member Services & Development
Arkansas
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.
Diderico van Eyl is the GM and Chief Counsel, Intellectual Property with SABIC. He serves as a co-lead for the CLOC Intellectual Property Affinity Group and is also a contributing member of the CLOC Law Department Maturity Assessment and Planning Committee. Keep reading to learn more about Diderico.
About me:
I am currently based in the vibrant and dynamic city of Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, where I’ve lived for the past two and a half years. My journey to the Middle East has taken me from the tech hubs of the United States—with stops in Boston, Pittsburgh, Indiana, and Houston—to global offices across the chemicals and polymers industry.
My career began by earning a B.S. in Engineering Chemistry with a focus on Quantum Chemistry, and a minor in English Literature. When I went to law school and transitioned into law , I brought that scientific “problem-solving” DNA and a love for structured narrative with me. Over the last two decades—spanning roles in private practice and then at Bayer, GE, and now SABIC—my role has evolved from traditional IP protection to architecting the systems that manage it.
I realized early on that while legal expertise is the “what,” operational excellence is the “how,” and it was critical to get both right. Today, I wear two hats: I lead a global team of legal professionals , and I act as a bridge-builder between business operations, legal, and technology functions. I am focused on making operations better, building “smarter systems” and using Data Science, Project Management, and AI to ensure Intellectual Property isn’t just a legal asset, but an intelligent driver for business success. Whether I’m in Houston or Riyadh, my mission remains the same: making legal insights accessible, practical, useful, actionable, and tangible.
Why I love being a CLOC member:
Innovation and business success is a team sport, and CLOC is an ecosystem with wonderful people that can provide a training ground for the “architects” of the legal world. Contributing as a co-author to the CLOC Core 12 Maturity Assessment Playbook was a professional highlight, as it allowed me to share real-world frameworks for building data-backed, high-efficiency legal departments. As an active member and leader in CLOC Intellectual Property communities, I value this community for its focus on Business Intelligence and Technology
My advice for other legal ops professionals:
Embrace knowledge and the “unfamiliar” as your growth engine. My transition from the lab to the corporate world taught me that the most successful leaders translate complex data into simple, clear, actionable business insights. Don’t be afraid to dive into the technical side—whether it’s AI, data visualization, or project management strategy. When you speak the language of the business, you move from being a “gatekeeper” to a strategic enabler.
A fun fact about me:
I’m a firm believer that “you are what you think and do” (not just eat) and that it is critical to be constantly ensuring you focus on high-quality thoughts and actions—a mission that keeps me energized every day in Riyadh. On a more personal note, my background in English Literature never truly left me; I find that a well-crafted narrative is just as vital to a successful legal strategy as a well-crafted patent.
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.