Since the days of Enron, modern litigation practice has expanded dramatically as a result of electronic discovery.  Currently, virtually any form of "electronically stored information" may be discoverable in a lawsuit.  This means electronic files from computers, voicemail, websites, PDAs, cell phones, video surveillance, and any other electronic device could be removed from it's native environment, and processed into litigation databases and other formats allowing for large scale legal review. 

For litigators, the days of reviewing boxes of paper using index cards are gone, which means that anyone working in the legal field, as well as corporate IT staff, need to become informed of at least the basics involved in processing electronically stored information, commonly called "e-discovery." 

Today's litigation can also involve retrieving computer information in a "forensically correct manner," developing and organizing multiple litigation databases, and trial presentation technologies.  In addition, audio and video surveillance, which are already very common in criminal matters, are becoming more popular in civil cases.  Managing voicemail recordings, as well as YouTube videos, and public and private video recordings is a more than likely encounter.   In most cases, transcripts need to be made of any spoken recordings, as well as action transcripts in video recordings.  

The processing and review of electronic data not only involves special procedures, but also specialized software.  As a result, Essen stays abreast of current trends to select the best tools and methods for each matter.  Our consultants are experienced with a variety of forensic tools including those from AccessData and Guidance Software; litigation support tools such as Concordance, Summation, and iConect; and trial presentation tools such as Visionary and TrialDirector.  

And last, but certainly not least, Essen Certified Fraud Examiners are experienced investigators.  We are able to assist corporate and government clients in the review and management of outside counsel litigation fees related to electronic discovery.