The art and science of document review have changed. The process has grown
more complicated and the implications of miscalculating that complexity outweigh
the challenges of ensuring compliance. As a result, litigants must marry longstanding
talent with cutting-edge technology to engage in a new era of discovery. Read more about it in this new ebook.
2. The art and science of document review
have changed.1
The process has grown
more complicated and the implications of
miscalculating that complexity outweigh
the challenges of ensuring compliance.2
As a result, litigants must marry longstanding
talent with cutting-edge technology to engage
in a new era of discovery.
/02
1
See Rowe Entm’t, Inc. v. William Morris Agency, 205 F.R.D. 421, 429 (S.D.N.Y. 2002) (explaining that traditional cost-saving incentives to
keep paper document retention low do not apply to electronic documents because retention costs are negligible); A. Clay Rankin, III,
What Every Litigator Needs to Know About Using Web-based Electronic Document Review Services, 75 Ala. Law. 36 (2014) (discussing
the transition from the norm of linear review of paper documents to an increasing volume of electronic documents in discovery).
2
Mia Mazza, et al., In Pursuit of FRCP 1, 13 Rich. J.L. & Tech. 11, *3 (2007) (“The explosive growth of ESI has changed the very nature of
discovery, with new electronic complexities making the preservation and production of evidence far more challenging.”); See also, e.g.,
Mt. Hawley Ins. Co. v. Felman Prod., Inc., 271 F.R.D. 125, 135-36 (S.D. W. Va. 2010) (holding that, despite very sophisticated safeguards
put in place, privilege for a mistakenly produced email was waived because reasonable steps were not taken to prevent its disclosure).
3. The rise of the
Analytical
Subject Matter
Expert
/03
4. THE RISE OF THE ANALYTICAL SUBJECT MATTER EXPERT /04
01 The shift in the
paradigm of legal
work is diverging
from exclusive
performance in a
law firm with little
visibility to matters
that have defined
points of entry
and exit.
To effectively navigate that engagement, every matter now
requires an expert, who can integrate the needs and
requirements of all stakeholders according to a preset
budget and core standards of quality.3
This authority needs to have legal knowledge, an understanding of project management
methodology, and the ability to implement the latest technology to produce
memorialized defensible deliverables.
4
In fact, the shift in the paradigm of legal work is diverging from exclusive performance
in a law firm with little visibility to matters that have defined points of entry and exit,
with fixed budgets, and client-driven outcome metrics.
5
3
See The Sedona Principles: Best Practices, Recommendations & Principles for Addressing Electronic Document Production, Second
Edition, 17 (The Sedona Conference Working Group Series, 2007), available at https://thesedonaconference.org/publication/The%20
Sedona%20Principles.
4
See Ashish Prasad, et al., Cutting to the “Document Review” Chase: Managing a Document Review in Litigation and Investigations, 18-
DEC Bus. L. Today 57, 60 (2008).
5
Peggy Kubicz Hall, I’ve Looked at Fees from Both Sides Now: A Perspective on Market-Valued Pricing for Legal Services, 39 Wm. Mitchell
L. Rev. 154, 195 (2012) (“Law firms need to ... become best-in-class project managers.”)
5. /05
Successful participants
in the next generation
of legal process
outsourcing will use
key tools to defensibly
and transparently
drive innovation.
Partner with Resource-Rich Support Teams
Given this evolution in the legal landscape, law firms will need to operate more efficiently
in an environment that values transparency and rewards adherence to corporate
demands while managing the pressures of cost containment. As a result, knowledge
and experience are the new currency of modern discovery.
In addition to project management, legal teams must understand how to leverage
technology to gain advantages in process and quality, rather than simply submitting to
technology.6
Successful participants in the next generation of legal process outsourcing
will use key tools to defensibly and transparently drive innovation.
6
See generally Toby Brown, The Law Firm of the Future, 50-APR Hous. Law. 34 (2013).
THE RISE OF THE ANALYTICAL SUBJECT
6. /06
Use technology to
create performance
metrics, identify
potential weaknesses
or coding errors, and
implement quality
control concerns.
Employ Telling Technology Techniques
As the market shifts, each matter is becoming more unique and the ability to customize
your approach with different levels of analysis is essential.7
Teams should employ
predictive coding and clustering, but by weaving them into quality control protocols
based on dynamic project management principles instead of relying on them as
solitary solutions.8
It is the ability to effectuate the end-to-end eDiscovery processes by developing a
best practices project plan, engaging the best talent, and seamlessly executing the
project plan, that will distinguish the analytical subject matter expert and excellence in
project management for LPO 2.0. The core skill set requires fully leveraging technology
to construct efficient and effective workflows, create actionable performance metrics,
develop defensible and auditable matter-specific quality control regimes, and generate
timely and accurate deliverables. Each element is part of the project manager’s toolkit,
which enables enhanced decision making and proactive planning.9
7
Ralph C. Losey, Predictive Coding and the Proportionality Doctrine: A Marriage Made in Big Data, 26 Regent U. L. Rev. 7, 68 (2013)
(“In order to make a valid estimate for bottom-line-driven proportional review, you must closely study the case and review project goals.”)
8
See Id. at 57 (“[S]econd-pass review is required in most cases to preserve client secrets and confidential data ... .”); Prasad, et al., supra.
9
See Hall, supra.
THE RISE OF THE ANALYTICAL SUBJECT MATTER EXPERT
8. /8/08
02 It manages automated
review expectations
by aligning technology
and talent.
As technology and talent continue to converge, they are
accelerating the LPO 2.0 revolution. That transformation is
characterized by enterprise-focused relationships that recognize
the value of holistic assessments, anticipate cross-border
transactions, and address the need for greater scalability.
It also assigns a high value to partnerships with outside providers that can operate
beyond a single matter to support an organization’s entire operation. And, it manages
automated review expectations by aligning technology and talent to maximize the
potential of predictive coding.
THE LPO 2.0 REVOLUTION
9. Recognize the Value of Enterprise-Focused Relationships
In modern eDiscovery, it is critical for institutions to work with partners that have
enterprise-level experience. It is only those project management teams, who are familiar
with large-scale bet-the-company litigation that can truly navigate the complexity in the
current era. They are uniquely suited and positioned to assess and anticipate the most
critical elements of discovery, including cross-border litigation.
In the current flattening global landscape, the only certainty is that unfamiliarity is likely
to arise at some point in the litigation lifecycle. For that reason, legal teams must be
prepared for cross-border challenges.10
It is not sufficient to simply recognize the possibility of multinational, multilingual, or
multiparty matters. Sophisticated teams must anticipate and expect to address privacy
directives from overseas regulators, restrictions on data transfers, and a need to evaluate
data from a variety of sources.11
/09
The only certainty
is that unfamiliarity
is likely to arise at
some point in the
litigation lifecycle.
10
Juan M. Alcalá, Transnational Disputes in a Global Economy, 75 Tex. B.J. 512, 513 (2012) (“The number and breadth of cross-border
disputes has grown as the economy has increasingly become more global.”)
11
See Id. at 516 (discussing France’s prosecution and conviction of a lawyer for turning over documents in compliance with a U.S. court
order because the disclosure violated French privacy laws.)
THE LPO 2.0 REVOLUTION
10. Gauge the Depth, Capacity, and Scalability of External Partners
As a result, legal teams do not have as many external partnership options.12
Today, it is
essential to assess the depth of a prospective partner’s experience, the organization’s
capacity to manage an uncertain and dynamic process, and the ability to adjust when
a matter shifts unexpectedly. This evaluation process will help yield the best possible
relationship, yet also ensure that your team receives the highest level of support.13
For that reason, many organizations are shifting their practices from engaging wide
variety of outside providers, who each manage a distinct aspect of their discovery, in
favor of a more holistic approach.14
These companies recognize the inherent efficiency
associated with combining the resources available from a single partner and leveraging
them for maximum strength in the marketplace.
Savvy legal teams are focusing on key best practices, which include: comprehensive
strategic planning with their leading service providers; routine assessments of practice
support initiatives; recognizing the diverse abilities of their partners; and, continuously
evaluating the status of their matters to anticipate their future needs.
/10
Today, it is essential
to assess the depth
of a prospective
partner’s experience.
12
See Rosenthal Collins Group, LLC v. Trading Techs. Int’l, Inc., 2011 WL 722467 (N.D. Ill. Feb. 23, 2011) (sanctioning a party for its vendor’s
misconduct).
13
See Margaret M. Blair, et al., Outsourcing, Modularity, and the Theory of the Firm, 2011 B.Y.U. L. Rev. 263, 280 (2011).
14
See Cassandra Burke Robertson, A Collaborative Model of Offshore Legal Outsourcing, 43 Ariz. St. L.J. 125, 148 (Spring 2011) (“For large
corporate clients, the solution to the resource dependence problem may involve consolidating work so that a smaller number of outside
firms perform their work... .”)
THE LPO 2.0 REVOLUTION
11. Value Scope and Reach
As legal teams become more sophisticated, law department and law firm leaders
recognize that the scope of a provider’s resources, as well as its experience, are
critical factors in both predicting the outcome and gauging certain prospects for
success. Similarly, it is essential to evaluate the reach of an external legal team and to
understand how its ability to provide guidance beyond the instant matter can impact
an organization’s long-term strategy.
Overcome the Myth of Technology-Assisted Review
Despite the focus on the promise of technology-assisted review, universal acceptance
remains elusive.15
While courts have essentially validated it use,16
and corporate legal
teams recognize the value of analytics in reducing data volumes, it ultimately remains
a human-powered solution. Project managers and senior legal analysts must provide
guidance to create clarity in an often-complex maze of unstructured data. The impression
that technology alone can evaluate, categorize, and distribute information with precision
is a myth that every legal team must debunk before progressing. Doing so will help
them find value in the project management, early case assessment, and information
governance techniques that now define litigation.
/11
The only certainty
is that unfamiliarity
is likely to arise at
some point in the
litigation lifecycle.
15
See generally Yablon & Landsman-Roos, Predictive Coding: Emerging Questions and Concerns, 64 S.C. L. Rev. 633 (Spring 2013).
16
See, e.g., Moore v. Publicis Groupe & MSL Group, 287 F.R.D. 182 (S.D.N.Y.2012) (“This judicial opinion now recognizes that computer-
assisted review is an acceptable way to search for relevant ESI in appropriate cases.”)
THE LPO 2.0 REVOLUTION
13. /13/13
03 Like most professions,
the legal community
has become
customer-centric.
As the legal industry evolves, the nature of litigation spending,
maturation of analytic models, and dynamic skill set required to
address an increasingly complex set of challenges is accelerating
the pace of change.
For that reason, legal teams must recognize the solutions available and apply them to
new client expectations.
Like most professions, the legal community has become customer-centric. As a result,
the leading organizations that support law departments and law firms emphasize the
critical nature of consumer preferences, as well as the role that project management
protocols serve in that process.17
17
See Hall, supra, at 206-207.
LPO 2.0 PROJECT MANAGEMENT
14. Study Your History to Overcome Future Challenges
Given the renewed commitment to transparency in modern project management,18
it is
essential to understand the steps a team takes in any given matter to predict the utility
of its future plans. In fact, studying the history of a matter and an organization’s approach
can often guide an outside provider’s strategy. As such, it is essential for legal teams and
their outsourced providers to reflect competence on each aspect of a given matter while
also showcasing a defensible level of confidence. This combination allows internal and
external teams to seamlessly collaborate because they must approach each element of
project management in the most holistic manner possible.
Foster Long-Term Relationships for a Long-Term Future
Experience and longevity tend to distinguish symbiotic partnerships, particularly in
large-scale litigation. Legal teams that are familiar with their external providers and
the philosophy that guides their approach are often linked for extended periods of
time, rather than for a single case.19
As a result, those organizations that want to build
consistency and accountability into their operations are generally well served to foster
long-term connections to their most trusted advisers.
/14
The only certainty
is that unfamiliarity
is likely to arise at
some point in the
litigation lifecycle.
18
See Robertson, supra, at 169 (“[P]arties to successful outsourcing were likely to report that their dealings with each other were
“honest and transparent.”)
19
See Id. at 151.
LPO 2.0 PROJECT MANAGEMENT
16. /16/16
04 The distinction
between the internal
legal team and the
external partner
is fading.
LPO 2.0 redefines how organizations work with their external
providers. It represents a new era in how outside partners deliver
support. The distinction between the internal legal team and the
external partner is fading.
Today, it is a much more unified group that represents a convergence of technology
and talent, rather than a disconnected network haphazardly approaching key
aspects of a larger matter.
As litigation management evolves, the application of complete case solutions that
simplify the complexity becomes the objective. It is, therefore, essential for legal
teams to operate in a coordinated manner that permits them to effortlessly adjust
their strategy when necessary.20
20
See Milton C. Regan, Jr. & Palmer T. Heenan, Supply Chains and Porous Boundaries: The Disaggregation of Legal Services, 78 Fordham
L.Rev. 2137, 2170 (2010).
LPO 2.0 REDEFINES PARTNERSHIPS AND SEAMLESS RESOURCE COMBINATIONS
17. Create Longstanding Partnerships
Given the focus on cost containment and efficiency in legal services, the most successful
litigation teams create long-standing relationships with a select group of outside
providers who understand their specific business units, as well as the industry at large.21
Those who acquire institutional knowledge of any given field and recognize the unique
character of an organization are often better suited to supporting that institution over
the long term.
And, despite all of the enthusiasm for technology-assisted solutions, the only way to
realistically reach the potential of any tool offers is to combine it with a talent pool that
is equally innovative and dynamic.22
Those who choose one over the other tend to find
themselves out of balance for the entire duration of the case.
They are either too reliant on technology, or lacking in resources to support the
personnel available to them. Those organizations that find an appropriate equilibrium
realize the promise of both.
/17
The only way to
realistically reach the
potential of any tool
offers is to combine it
with a talent pool that
is equally innovative
and dynamic.
21
See Robertson, supra, at 151.
22
Yablon & Landsman-Roos, supra, at 645-46.
LPO 2.0 REDEFINES PARTNERSHIPS AND SEAMLESS RESOURCE COMBINATIONS
18. Re-examine the Role of Human Capital in a Technology-Driven Environment
In contemporary litigation, the ability to manage multiple stakeholders is a critical skill
that only the most experienced legal teams apply. As a result, it is essential to re-examine
the role of human capital in a tech-focused world. Those teams that capably navigate this
task often pair particular personalities with the objectives to which they are assigned.23
In addition to simply enhancing productivity, efficiency, and cost-effectiveness, leveraging
the skills and talent of an experienced team can build client confidence, as well as ensure
security. That integration is increasingly defining the level of trust sophisticated project
managers to have an intuitive understanding of the tools that provide the framework for
the entire process. It is a true marriage of technology and talent in the LPO 2.0 era.
/18
The ability to
manage multiple
stakeholders is a
critical skill that
only the most
experienced legal
teams apply.
23
See Robertson, supra at 156-57.
LPO 2.0 REDEFINES PARTNERSHIPS AND SEAMLESS RESOURCE COMBINATIONS
19. EXIT
ABOUT KELLYOCG
KellyOCG®
is the Outsourcing and Consulting Group of workforce solutions provider Kelly Services, Inc. KellyOCG is a
global leader in innovative talent management solutions in the areas of Recruitment Process Outsourcing (RPO), Business
Process Outsourcing (BPO), Contingent Workforce Outsourcing (CWO), including Independent Contractor Solutions,
Human Resources Consulting, Career Transition and Executive Coaching, and Executive Search.
KellyOCG was named in the International Association of Outsourcing Professionals®
2014 Global
Outsourcing 100®
list, an annual ranking of the world’s best outsourcing service providers and advisors.
Further information about KellyOCG may be found at kellyocg.com.
ABOUT THE AUTHOR
JEFFREY SCHULTZ, National Legal Project Management, is responsible for the operations
and management of attorney document review projects undertaken by Kelly Legal Managed
Services (KLMS). He supervises the execution of cost-effective and efficient projects, which
deliver defensible, documented and memorialized work-product. Throughout his career, he has
lead many large-scale document review projects and trained project managers, team leaders
and reviewers on the essential eDiscovery procedures for generating timely and effective
deliverables to law firms and corporate clients.
For more thought leadership go to talentproject.com