The proliferation of electronically stored information (ESI) has made it infinitely more difficult for businesses to manage, index, access, and preserve their own data. Employees routinely work on personal devices and essential business data is no longer centrally controlled. While the portability of data enhances operating flexibility and communication, it can also lead to enormous problems when a business becomes involved in litigation. Case outcomes increasingly turn on electronic evidence, and courts have recently issued large penalties against companies that were not able to properly respond to requests for electronically stored data. Given the importance of e-discovery in today’s digital marketplace, companies must have experienced and sophisticated e-discovery counsel.
The firm represents a wide variety of public and private companies on the full range of e-discovery issues. Cozen O’Connor attorneys provide comprehensive litigation readiness counseling, which means that we help clients get their electronic houses in order before being confronted with an actual claim. We map the location of critical data; establish policies for collection, retention, destruction, and extraction of data; perform e-discovery fire drills; and train employees in best practices. We also advise clients on the preservation, collection, review, protection, and production of electronic data in the context of active litigation or government investigations. We not only help clients respond efficiently to e-discovery requests, we also craft e-discovery strategies that affirmatively place clients in the best possible position.
Cozen O’Connor is one of the few large firms in the country that combines cutting-edge technological savvy with an immense amount of hands-on trial experience. Being able to accurately anticipate how evidence will be used and perceived at trial is essential when making critical early decisions about e-discovery strategy. Whether interviewing custodians of relevant data, drafting litigation holds, presenting the court with a preservation and protection plan, or advocating for a particular set of e-discovery parameters, Cozen O’Connor’s lawyers bring their well-known trials skills to bear.
Our attorneys stand at the lead of the emerging e-discovery field. They have served on the electronic discovery advisory panel for ARMA (the international trade association representing records and information managers), served on the board of the Defense Research Institute’s E-Discovery Committee, and been active participants in The Sedona Conference, a research and educational institute dedicated to the advanced study of law and policy. Cozen O’Connor lawyers frequently speak at national conferences on e-discovery and digital forensics, and have published numerous articles concerning our E-discovery practice and advisory support (ePAS) services.
SERVICE AREAS
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Advise on all aspects of e-discovery in the context of active litigation and government investigations, including methods for preservation, collection, review, protection, and production of electronic data
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Negotiate with adversaries over the scope and format of electronic productions
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Draft and manage “litigation holds” to avoid allegations of spoliation and potential sanctions
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Investigate alleged improper access of electronically stored information (ESI)
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Supervise review of electronic records by e-discovery vendors and contract attorneys
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Work closely with computer forensics experts in electronic information investigations
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Develop best practices governing the retention, storage, collection, destruction, and extraction of ESI
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Share proprietary preferred-vendor list of e-discovery businesses and providers
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Advise on software to improve tracking, retention, organization, and archiving of data
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Lead interdisciplinary teams of IT and records management specialists, vendors, consultants, and in-house counsel to ensure the use of proper document-retention policies
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Train clients on e-mail use, document retention, and other records retention issues
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Develop pilot programs to audit internal e-discovery processes and identify problem areas