From Kate Clark, CEO
eDiscovery Collab’s consultants are involved in every stage of the lifecycle of a legal team’s documents, from identifying document sources within the premises and computers of the legal team’s client right through to preparing for trial.
We have adopted this approach because we believe that our consultants are more valuable to your legal team when they manage and are experts in every technical process. This includes:
- identification,
- collection,
- processing,
- identifying and removing irrelevant material,
- conducting privilege analysis,
- developing and implementing a legal review strategy,
- disclosure,
- evidence preparation, and
- trial preparation.
This is in contrast to other eDiscovery providers where consultants specialise in only one process with the effect that they work in silos and only handle the documents during that specific process before documents move on to the next specialist for the next step in the process.
As somebody who has worked in both environments, the advantages and disadvantages are very clear to me and can have a significant impact on the eDiscovery journey for legal teams.
Advantages of a Team Approach
The distinction at eDiscovery Collab where consultants are involved in every stage of your legal team’s documents and daily meetings provide updates across all matters means your eDiscovery Collab consultants:
- Have as much knowledge about your documents as you do, so when you need something urgently, we know exactly where and what to look for;
- Know how your documents are structured in their original location and how to build and use structure in the litigation database to save you time; and
- Know how your document naming conventions are structured and who doesn’t follow the document management rules setup by your clients or their IT team.
Disadvantages of a Silo Environment
When eDiscovery consultants work on only one stage of the process, they lack comprehensive knowledge of the overall matter and documents under their control. This makes it challenging for them to be an integral part of your team because:
- You may be dealing with a different person each time you call who may not be across prior conversations with other members of the eDiscovery team;
- The eDiscovery consultant may not have time to learn your preferred workstyle, which can be frustrating if you feel like you are training and retraining consultants each time the documents move from one stage of the process to the next; and
- The eDiscovery consultant may not have time to learn the strengths and weaknesses of your case and assist you in finding the documents relevant to your matter.
Investment by eDiscovery Collab
eDiscovery Collab makes a significant training investment in our team of consultants so we can meet the high standard we set in-both deep technical knowledge of all processes and client service.
This training takes a considerable amount of time and is done in a very structured way to ensure the learning is ingrained and becomes instinctive across all consultants.
The outcome has even been recognised by our product providers who tell us that in some respects the knowledge of eDiscovery Collab’s consultants even surpasses their knowledge.
When we train new consultants on individual processes, this is undertaken in a team environment where we discuss every aspect of the technical process and how it can best help our clients. This could be by furthering their knowledge of the documents, speeding up legal review and accuracy, or reducing document management time.
We are passionate about having NO silos because of the value this approach delivers to our clients.
Moreover, the eDiscovery Collab approach ensures that our consultants are not just technically proficient but also understand the broader context of each case. This broad understanding allows us to anticipate potential issues and provide proactive solutions, making the entire eDiscovery process more efficient and effective.
By being involved in every step, our consultants can offer insights and recommendations that are tailored to the specific needs of each client, ensuring that no detail is overlooked.
In addition, our commitment to continuous learning and improvement means that our team is always up-to-date with the latest developments in eDiscovery technology and best practices. This dedication to staying ahead of the curve enables us to provide our clients with the most advanced and effective solutions available. We believe that this collaborative approach not only benefits our clients but also fosters the culture of excellence and innovation that exists within our team.
In those times when an unexpected or unprecedented issue occurs during the eDiscovery process, our consultants work together, often with product providers, to find a solution or work-around.
By breaking down silos at eDiscovery Collab, this approach ensures our consultants are equipped with the knowledge and skills needed to handle every aspect of the eDiscovery process.
This commitment to holistic expertise and continuous improvement distinguishes us from other providers and allows us to deliver exceptional results for our clients.
About Kate
Kate Clark, CEO of eDiscovery Collab, is a leader in the eDiscovery field with over 30 years of experience. A problem-solver at heart, Kate combines strategic leadership with deep technical expertise to help clients navigate eDiscovery efficiently, control costs and improve litigation outcomes. With a relentless focus on quality and innovation, she ensures the right technology and approach are in place to maximise value at every stage of the process—a mindset she is passing on to future eDiscovery leaders.