The Corporate Legal Operations Consortium (CLOC) Board of Directors has elected CLOC board member Mary Shen O’Carroll to serve in the executive role of CLOC President and appointed Aine Lyons to the board. Ms Shen O’Carroll, who is director of legal operations, technology and strategy at Google and Ms Lyons, deputy general counsel of VMware, will assume their positions immediately as the organisation prepares for its annual London meeting. The organisation, which has seen its membership increase from 40 to 2000 members in three years, is expanding its board to ensure representation of its worldwide members and to drive its strategic priorities, a statement says. 

Reforming and reshaping

Ms Shen O’Carroll is responsible for overseeing key aspects of financial performance management, outside counsel management and internal operations at Google and is one of the original leaders of CLOC. She said she was 'honoured and humbled to take on the role of President for CLOC,' adding: 'The opportunities are immense for legal operations professionals and we are dedicated to the task of taking CLOC and the legal operations profession to the next level in reforming and shaping our industry.'

Driving role

Aine Lyons, Vice President & Deputy General Counsel, WW Legal Operations at VMware, had a driving role in establishing and leading CLOC’s EMEA regional group, as well as the London Institute. She brings not only her stellar expertise in the field, but also invaluable insight into the priorities of CLOC’s members in both the European and in other regions across CLOC’s global community. At VMware, her success spearheading legal operations has resulted in departmental industry recognition. Under her, the department was a winner of the 2018 Financial Times Intelligent Business - Contracting award as well as an award for the 2016 Financial Times Most Innovative In-House Legal Team and as the 2015 ACC Value Champion. At VMware, Ms Lyons serves on the global VMinclusion Council, setting diversity and inclusion strategy for VMware, and was a winner of the CEO’s EPIC2 Achievement Award.

Cultural shift

'I am honoured to serve on the CLOC Board of Directors and to partner with this hard-working, energetic and driven team,' Ms Lyons said.  'Now, more than ever, the legal operations role is a vital component of the modern legal department and is a critical partner to the general counsel. We all have an opportunity, and an obligation, to demonstrate the value that in-house legal teams bring to the bottom line and to transform and grow the businesses that we serve. I believe that CLOC has a strategic role to play in driving increased diversity and innovation across the legal industry, and that its members are integral to that cultural shift.'

Spirit of CLOC

'We are delighted to welcome Aine Lyons to the CLOC Board. Aine has been an active and engaged member of CLOC since our early days as a “book club”. She embodies the spirit of the CLOC community and we are excited that she is bringing her passion, talent and energy to the board,' said CLOC Board Member Lisa Konie. 'Aine brings many years of experience to the CLOC Board. She has been regularly recognised for her innovative take on legal operations through her experience at VMware, as well as for her thought leadership in the industry. She has set the standard in embracing innovation and the pursuit of excellence in all aspects of legal operations,' said CLOC Board Member Brian Hupp. 'We are very fortunate that she will be working by our side as we continue to grow and strengthen CLOC’s membership and Institutes. Aine’s wealth of knowledge and experience brings an invaluable global perspective to CLOC, its members and its partners.'