The legal departments at numerous companies are striving more and more to build efficiencies and leverage technology. The Association of Corporate Counsel recognized 12 companies on Wednesday for legal operations achievements as the group announced its 2017 ACC Value Champions.

The global legal association for in-house attorneys, which has been naming value champions annually since 2012, recognized 12 corporate legal departments for either their own independent process improvements and uses of technology or their collaborations with law firms to drive such changes in the department. The winners this year hail from across a range of industries and include Archer Daniels Midland Co., Avis Budget Group Inc. and Shell Oil Co.

“This year's ACC Value Champions focused on sustainable improvements to ensure the law department is a strong contributor to the business and its goals,” said Amar Sarwal, ACC vice president and chief legal strategist in a press release announcing the winners. “The companies we recognized reset the conversation about the role of the legal department, then demonstrated how they could turn it from a cost center to a value center.”