Electronic discovery has become an integral part of modern litigation and legal processes. However, the costs associated with eDiscovery can quickly escalate if not managed effectively. In this blog post, we will explore some practical strategies that can help organizations minimize eDiscovery costs while still ensuring compliance and efficiency.

Implement a Proactive Information Governance Policy

An effective information governance policy is crucial for minimizing eDiscovery costs. By establishing clear guidelines on data retention, storage and disposal, organizations can reduce the volume of data subject to eDiscovery. Regularly reviewing and updating the policy ensures that irrelevant and obsolete data is eliminated, resulting in reduced search and review efforts during discovery.

Conduct Early Case Assessment

Early case assessment involves analyzing data at the outset of litigation to gain a better understanding of its scope and potential value. By identifying key custodians, relevant data sources and potential risks early on, organizations can make informed decisions about which data to collect, process and review. This targeted approach reduces the overall volume of data to be reviewed, leading to significant cost savings.

Utilize Technology-Assisted Review

Technology-assisted review, also known as predictive coding or machine learning, can significantly reduce eDiscovery costs. TAR leverages advanced algorithms to prioritize and categorize documents, allowing legal teams to focus their review efforts on the most relevant materials. By training the system on a subset of reviewed documents, TAR can accurately predict the responsiveness of the remaining documents, resulting in substantial time and cost savings.

Collaborate with Opposing Parties

In some cases, cooperation and collaboration with opposing parties can lead to cost reductions. By engaging in discussions about data collection, processing and sharing protocols, parties can eliminate duplicate efforts and streamline the overall eDiscovery process. Cooperation can also involve mutually approving data sampling methods or using agreed-upon third-party vendors, reducing costs for both parties involved.

Leverage Cloud-Based eDiscovery Solutions

Cloud-based eDiscovery solutions offer several advantages over traditional on-premises software. They eliminate the need for expensive infrastructure investments and provide scalable storage and processing capabilities. Cloud-based solutions also offer enhanced collaboration features, allowing geographically dispersed legal teams to work seamlessly on document review and analysis. By leveraging these platforms, organizations can significantly reduce eDiscovery costs while improving efficiency.

Invest in Training and Expertise

Investing in the training of legal and IT personnel can yield long-term cost savings. Properly trained professionals can make sure you are navigating the eDiscovery processes more efficiently, reducing the risk of errors and rework. When partnering with an eDiscovery expert, consider its areas of expertise. At Everest Discovery, we provide consultation to our clients through each phase of the EDRM and help in assessing, developing and implementing defensible solutions to simplify even the most complex matters. You need a company on your side with in-depth knowledge of best practices, industry trends and cost-saving strategies. When you work with Everest, our experts act as an extension of your team so you can expect unmatched responsiveness, attention to detail and a proactive approach. We implement quality control measures to help you through the entire process so you can ensure the best outcome for your eDiscovery project.

Managing eDiscovery costs is a critical concern for organizations involved in litigation or regulatory investigations. By implementing proactive information governance policies, leveraging early case assessment, adopting technology-assisted review, collaborating with opposing parties, utilizing cloud-based solutions and investing in training and finding the right experts, organizations can effectively manage their eDiscovery costs while ensuring compliance and achieving favorable outcomes. Utilization of modern technology and an organization’s ability to communicate efficiencies related to significant cost reduction can positively impact new business development and enhance current client relations. By taking a strategic and proactive approach, organizations can navigate the complexities of eDiscovery more efficiently, ultimately saving time, money and valuable resources.

Cybersecurity is one of the most critical issues for businesses today, and Everest Discovery is excited to share that the company has achieved ISO 27001:2013 recertification after passing its Security Surveillance II Audit for the seventh consecutive year. The company first earned ISO 27001:2013 certification in 2017 and continues to strengthen its security processes every year.

Achieving ISO 27001:2013 recertification is a significant accomplishment for any organization. It demonstrates a commitment to the highest standards of information security management and that the team has taken the necessary steps to maintain and improve the company’s information security management system.

ISO 27001:2013 is an internationally recognized standard for information security management that provides a systematic approach to managing sensitive information so that it remains secure. It outlines the requirements for establishing, implementing, maintaining and continuously improving an ISMS.

The recertification process involves a thorough audit of a company’s ISMS by an external auditor. The auditor will review all documentation, conduct interviews with staff and assess security controls to determine whether the ISMS meets the requirements of the standard.

To achieve ISO 27001:2013 recertification, an organization must demonstrate that it has:

1. Maintained its ISMS: The organization must demonstrate that it has maintained the ISMS since the last certification audit. This includes ensuring that all policies and procedures are up to date and staff are trained in the latest security practices.
2. Implemented corrective actions: If any nonconformances were identified during the last certification audit, corrective actions needed to have been taken to address them.
3. Continued to improve the ISMS: The organization must demonstrate that it has continued to improve the ISMS by implementing new security controls or refining existing ones.
4. Conducted internal audits: Internal audits of the ISMS need to be run to ensure that it is operating effectively and meets the requirements of the standard.
5. Conducted management reviews: The senior management team must assess the policies and procedures and ensure the company is compliant.

When I first acquired Everest Discovery, I decided that getting our ISO certification was important to how we do business. We wanted to show our clients that we have an undeniable commitment to security and the best possible practices in place for handling the sensitive data we deal with each day. This includes not only the right technology but also the right training for our team. And while the certification procedure is a process that takes considerable time, it was something we knew was important and were excited to undertake.

Each year, our executive team commits the time it takes to go through the auditing process to maintain our certification and further our security commitment to our clients. We go through the proper testing to make sure all processes that are in place are still working and are being followed by our entire team. This also gives us the opportunity to refresh our team on what is expected of them and to give them any training needed to ensure we are following all the policies and procedures we have established to ensure we get recertified each and every year.

Getting an ISO certification is a commitment – both of time and technology – but it is well worth the peace of mind the results give to us and our clients.

View the press release on this topic.

Tracey has been with Everest for five years as a production manager. In this role, she is dedicated to work with her clients to ensure their projects are completed efficiently and on time.

When it comes to working on eDiscovery projects, there are some key terms you should be aware of to understand the process, workflow and functionality available to gain insight into your matter and minimize the review scope.

As CEO, Tom is involved in almost every aspect of the business. He enjoys managing the development of the current and new products and features Everest offers.

When it comes to discovery in litigation, we hear a lot about electronic discovery, but paper is something that can’t be ignored when it comes to litigation. In fact, paper is still a very important aspect of discovery and needs to be taken into consideration along with its electronic counterpart.

Bill Bowers has been a part of the Everest team ever since the Philadelphia office first opened in 2017 and serves as an account manager for the company.