PROBLEM

Where Spreadsheet Redactions Fall Short

Before this project, Everlaw’s redaction capabilities for spreadsheets were limited to individual cells. Reviewers could hide specific pieces of data, but true redaction in spreadsheets involves much more.

Incomplete Redactions

Sensitive data could still appear in formulas, hidden rows, or alternate sheets even after visible cells were redacted.

Cumbersome Workarounds

Teams often downloaded files to manually edit them in Excel, then re-uploaded redacted versions—creating audit gaps and versioning issues.

Scalability Concerns

Large-scale review projects involving hundreds of spreadsheets became slow, inconsistent, and error-prone.

Without comprehensive spreadsheet redaction, Everlaw risked losing ground with enterprise and government clients, for whom data precision and defensible redaction are non-negotiable.

How might we enable legal teams to perform complete, trustworthy spreadsheet redactions—covering cells, formulas, metadata, and structure—without leaving Everlaw?

RESEARCH & DISCOVERY

Key Insights from Research

Through competitive and desk research, I analyzed how existing eDiscovery platforms handled spreadsheet redaction and identified key gaps in Everlaw’s functionality. While cell-level redaction was supported, the ability to redact partial cell data, sheet names, comments, and embedded images was missing. These findings highlighted the need to address every layer where sensitive information might reside, guiding our goal to enable complete, defensible spreadsheet redaction within Everlaw.

FINAL DESIGNS

New and Improved Spreadsheet Redactions

Partial Cell Redactions

Reviewers can now redact specific portions of text or numbers within a single cell using focus mode—offering precision without disrupting surrounding data.

Sheet Name Redactions

Sheet names can be redacted directly from the interface, ensuring sensitive identifiers are fully protected across all tabs.

Comment Redactions

The comments panel allows reviewers to view, manage, and redact notes or discussions that may contain confidential information.

Produced Spreadsheet

The final produced spreadsheet clearly displays redacted areas while preserving structure and readability, ensuring a defensible and professional review output.

KEY RESULTS

Measurable Outcomes

120% Increase in Spreadsheet Redaction Capabilities

With this release, the number of spreadsheet-specific redaction tools more than doubled — from basic cell redaction to a comprehensive suite including partial-cell redactions, sheet-name redaction, comment redaction, image redaction, and full production previews. This expansion transformed spreadsheets from one of the weakest document types in Everlaw’s redaction ecosystem into one of the most robust.

3× More Redactable Elements Across Spreadsheet Files

Reviewers could previously redact only visible cell content. After launch, the feature supported three times as many redaction surfaces, covering hidden metadata, formulas, comments, and structural elements. This significantly improved review confidence and reduced the risk of sensitive information slipping through.

NEXT STEPS

The Road Ahead

This project is still in active development...

... with new insights and opportunities emerging as more teams adopt the updated spreadsheet redaction workflow. We continue to refine the experience through user feedback, quantitative metrics, and evolving legal requirements, ensuring the solution grows stronger and more comprehensive over time.

Please reach out to me personally to learn more, some of the ongoing projects are protected under NDA.

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or reach out to me if you'd like to learn more about this project.