Chris DeGroff Published in Law Technology News

The January 2006 issue of Law Technology News published an article (“EDD Showcase:  Ask Me a Question”) written by Christopher DeGroff, which examines the factors law firms and their clients should weigh when choosing a provider of electronic data discovery.  “First,  the obvious:  do your homework.  Create a vetting team, conduct proper due diligence, compare providers, check references.”  The questions to ask when interviewing vendor candidates, Chris advises, should cover the vendor’s references, data gathering procedures, ability to provide back up and security, procedure for ensuring quality control, methods of presentation and handling of metadata, and issues of cost.

“These questions are a starting point – but with a caveat:  Unless you understand what you are asking, the answers will be meaningless.  Force the vendors to explain these concepts to you, in plain English.  Learn the lingo – become at least conversational in their language.  Judges are becoming increasingly sophisticated with respect to technology, and increasingly less tolerant of lawyers who hide behind a claim that they are not `techies.’  Knowing less about your own EDD vendor than your opponent can be a fatal error.”