Little Common Ground Regarding Models for E-Discovery Practices

The past year has shown a spike in the number of law firms -- particularly large defense firms -- that are creating practice areas or task forces dedicated to e-discovery.

This new group joins some tried and true practices across Pennsylvania. If one thing is consistent, it is that every firm handles the practice differently. Whether firms are simply aware of e-discovery and use outside vendors to help on an as-needed basis or if they have teams of e-discovery lawyers on staff with technology tailored to their needs often depends on the size and type of caseload within a firm.

And as firms grow their focus on managing clients' e-discovery needs, vendors whose client rosters used to include only law firms say they are seeing more and more corporations circumvent the firm and hire the vendor directly.

The following is a sampling of how firms across Pennsylvania have structured their e-discovery efforts.

K&L GATES

Pittsburgh-based K&L Gates has perhaps one of the longest-standing practices focused on e-discovery. Known as e-DAT, or e-discovery analysis and technology, the group has been formalized for more than a decade. It is run by partners Thomas J. Smith in Pittsburgh and Martha J. Dawson in Seattle.

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Source: law.com
By: Gina Passarella