When managing the legal discovery process in preparation for litigation, one must be aware of the growing use of alternative workplace communication tools. E-discovery and document review would be simpler if every document was in PDF format, or was from well-known word processing software such as Word, or used a standard email file type. Unfortunately, that is often not the case. The reality is that alternative workplace communication and networking tools are continuing to grow in popularity, which has led to a corresponding growth in the complexity of electronic discovery.
Cloud-based instant messaging, group chat, and collaboration tools like Slack, WeChat Work, Wrike, Spark, Skype for Business, and others help foster internal communication and expedite organizational workflow. Collaboration software makes it easy for people to share links, documents, and other file types, and to discuss what they are sharing. In organizations where these cloud-based solutions are routinely used, the software can produce large amounts of data.
People increasingly use social networking platforms for personal communication, and similar types of workplace communication are a natural extension of that communication trend. These alternative methods of communication can benefit organizations. However, these tools also pose challenges for legal teams, especially when legal or compliance departments need access to review documents and messages at a later date. During legal discovery, it’s not always as simple as pulling an individual file for document review. Because of the nature of collaboration software, one thread or entry may include numerous versions of files and records, with comments and annotations from multiple sources. And the data may be stored with the company providing the communication tool, instead of on the company’s own servers.
Ultimately, firms handling discovery should not overlook cloud-based collaboration tools as potential data sources. Experienced e-discovery service providers can assist organizations in identifying, collecting, preserving, and reviewing alternative document types and collaboration software data.
Baer Reed provides document review and other LPO services for law firms and corporate legal departments. To learn more, contact us today.
Mr. Reyes graduated with honors from the Ateneo de Manila University, where he received the Procter and Gamble Student Excellence Award. He obtained his Juris Doctor degree from the Ateneo de Manila School of Law. During law school, Mr. Reyes was part of the Philippine delegation to the Willem C. Vis International Commercial Arbitration Moot held in Vienna, Austria. He was also a member of the Ateneo Society of International Law and the St. Thomas More Debate Society. He completed his internship at the Public Attorney’s Office. He wrote a thesis entitled: “To Kill A White Elephant: An Analysis of the Fiduciary Exception to the Corporate Attorney-Client Privilege”. Mr. Reyes is admitted to practice law in the Philippines and the State of New York.
Ms. Lardizabal-Manzano is a graduate of San Sebastian College-Recoletos, where she earned her B.A. in Political Science. In 2003, she received her law degree from Lyceum of the Philippines and was admitted to practice law in 2004.
Matthew Hersh earned a B.A. in Political Science from Columbia University in 1990 and graduated cum laude from Georgetown University Law Center in 1999. He also holds a master’s degree in international relations from the Georgetown University School of Foreign Service.
Cap. Avi Levak (Res. IDF) graduated from from Israel’s prestigious Ben-Gurion University of the Negev with a Bachelor of Science in Computer Science and Mathematics. He is also a Leadership and Communication coach trained in TuT coaching by Alon gal in Israel. Avi specializes in high-level, in-depth analysis of business and client needs, within systems and software strategy and architecture.
Ms. Tyler graduated cum laude from Georgetown University and received her law degree, cum laude, from Georgetown University Law Center. During law school, she interned at the United Nations Economic Commission for Europe. She also worked on The Tax Lawyer journal and was a member of the award-winning Barristers’ Council Mock Trial Team. Ms. Tyler is admitted to practice law in the State of California and the District of Columbia.
Ms. Cruz-Anonuevo graduated cum laude and top nine in her batch from Miriam College with a degree of Bachelor of Arts in InternationalStudies. She obtained her Juris Doctor degree from Ateneo de Manila University School of Law in Rockwell. During law school, she interned in Rivera, Santos, Maranan & Associates. She was also part of Ateneo’s Labor Law Bar Operations. She wrote her thesis on, “Stealing Privacy: Limitations on Media’s Photographic Invasion.,” Ms. Cruz-Anonuevo is admitted to practice law in the Philippines.
Ms. Aquino-Batallones obtained a Bachelor of Arts degree in Development Studies (with Minors in Global Politics and Hispanic Studies) from the Ateneo de Manila University. In 2011, she received her Juris Doctor degree from Ateneo de Manila University School of Law. During law school, she interned at Romulo Mabanta Buenaventura Sayoc & de los Angeles then became an intern of Ateneo Legal Services Center’s Clinical Legal Education Program.
Mr. De Guzman graduated from San Beda College with a degree of Bachelor of Arts Major in Economics and received his law degree from San Beda College of Law. He is multilingual and is fluent in three languages: Chinese, Filipino, and English. He was admitted to the Philippine Bar in 2003.