eDiscovery Preparedness – Data Mapping

Manager, Review Services and Senior Counsel

June 17, 2021

Once a dispute has arisen your enterprise will be required to preserve and produce records relevant to the issues in the dispute. This is referred to as the “Identification” phase of an eDiscovery project. As part of this phase, you need to identify the location of potentially relevant data. The identification phase involves understanding the location and nature of the data, and the people involved. This article will address the location and nature of the data, also referred to as a “Data Map”.

A Data Map is required to maintain appropriate records of the project and will assist in creating a defensible and most efficient preservation and collection plan.… Read More

eDiscovery Preparedness – Document Management Systems

Candice Chan-Glasgow, Director, Review Services and Counsel

June 8, 2021

An initial step for any business entity looking to proactively manage costs through the eDiscovery process is to re-examine its document management system (DMS).

A DMS is a system used to store, manage, and track electronic documents. The general benefits of an effective DMS have been touted for years – a DMS offers enhanced security and employees spend less time searching for information while losing less time to versioning issues. While these are all important considerations, a crucial perspective that is often overlooked is the eDiscovery aspect.… Read More

Federal Government Redaction Blunder Makes Headlines

Candice Chan-Glasgow, Director, Review Services and Counsel

March 15, 2021

A recent CBC news article highlights the Federal Government’s failure to properly redact sensitive information. This follows some high profile redaction failures south of the border, most notably when Paul Manafort’s lawyers failed to properly redact sensitive and damaging information in documents filed with the Federal Court.

Proper redaction tools and workflows should be used to ensure privileged or sensitive information is appropriately redacted. As a gentle reminder, The Federation of Law Societies of Canada amended its Model Code of Professional Conduct in October 2019 to include commentary on technological competence:

[4A] To maintain the required level of competence, a lawyer should develop an understanding of, and ability to use, technology relevant to the nature and area of the lawyer’s practice and responsibilities. … Read More

O’Donnell and Felsky Contribute to eLitigation Course

The firm is excited to contribute to the University of Calgary Law School‘s innovative new eLitigation course.

Crystal O’Donnell, the firm’s founder and CEO, is co-instructing the course and Martin Felsky, Senior Counsel, will contribute as a guest lecturer.

The course, taught by Assistant Professor Gideon Christian, is a specialized civil litigation course that seeks to introduce students to the practice of litigation in the era of social distancing. The intent is to develop the knowledge and practical skills necessary to initiate and conduct litigation using electronic technology, and to foster specialized competence in the commencement and conduct of civil proceedings virtually. … Read More

Starting the New Year in Good Company

We are honoured to be included in the Top 100+ eDiscovery Providers compiled by Complex Discovery.

The list is a compilation of research from analyst firms and industry expert reports in the electronic discovery area. The list is useful in the consideration of eDiscovery providers and is determined primarily from eDiscovery provider mentions in selected key formal industry reports and surveys published between August 2011 and today.

Although the list is not all-inclusive it does provide an aggregate overview of notable vendors that several industry researchers and experts consider leading technology providers in the field of eDiscovery.

Brian Pel, the firm’s COO and Senior Counsel, says “to be recognized by analysts and industry experts and included on this list reflects the success we’ve achieved with our unique, innovative combination of eDiscovery technology and legal analysis”.… Read More