McDermott Establishes New Electronic Data Management, Privacy & Discovery Practice Group
CHICAGO (May 6, 2008) — McDermott Will & Emery is pleased to announce the launch of the Firm's Electronic Data Management, Privacy & Discovery Practice Group. This new group, led by Chicago partner Geoffrey A. Vance, Los Angeles partner Jessica Cullen Smith and Washington, D.C. partner Stefan M. Meisner, serves clients' needs in creating practical, creative and cost-effective solutions to manage electronically stored information before, during and after litigation.
McDermott decided to launch the new practice group to better respond to its clients' needs. "The vast majority of our clients' business information is stored and transmitted electronically and never printed to paper. The sheer volume of electronic data generated and kept by our clients means that our clients will continue to face potential and sometimes serious risks that should be addressed by experienced lawyers," commented Jeffrey Stone, head of the Firm's Trial Department.
Mr. Vance commented, "McDermott recognized that our clients have been struggling to find solutions to the numerous problems associated with the massive amounts of data used in the course of their businesses. The attorneys in our group have both the technological and legal experience to help our clients meet the legal obligations relating to the complicated electronic maze of data they save, send and receive."
McDermott is one of the first law firms to devote an entire practice group to all aspects of electronically stored information. The group provides a full range of services, from developing and implementing common-sense records retention and electronic records management policies and compliance programs that meet the current legal requirements and each company's business needs, to assisting clients in responding to requests for electronic information made in the course of a legal dispute, to counseling clients to effectively address the challenges they face when trying to address data privacy issues. The group is staffed by attorneys from the Firm's e-Business group and numerous members of McDermott's Trial; Intellectual Property, Media & Technology and Regulation & Government Affairs Departments.
