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Let's play catch-up! The last few weeks of Tech Circuit have been consumed with LegalTech-related news, analysis, and gossip. So let's cover some slightly-belated news:
>> BP Tech: The litigation over the 2010 explosion of BP's Deepwater Horizon, including suits filed by more than 116,000 individuals and businesses, has also generated some interesting uses of technology. In December, LTN wrote about how the trial team turned to iPads and apps to process a tsunami of documents, in Robyn Weisman's " iPads in Deepwater."
Meanwhile, IConect Development's Chief Business Officer Ian Campbell (pictured left) checked in to tell us that one of its hosting providers, Avansic, was chosen by the Plaintiffs' Steering Committee's e-discovery and litigation support consultants "to assist in defining the optimal litigation support and business processes." After evaluating "several legal review software platforms across multiple criteria," the company selected iConect and its iConect nXT platform to handle the complex workload, said Campbell. More than 300 reviewers, from 90 law firms, required access, he noted.
"The platform was used to publish the multi-district documents to the over 1,500 reviewers, attorneys, and regulators who were involved in the matter," explainedGail Marshall, iConect's Los Angeles-based manager, media relations and events. "These teams were able to quickly and securely access the documents," she said. "Case teams were able to customize their review and production processes, where applicable." The iConect platform helped users to share relevant documents and work products across case teams and law firms in a timely fashion, while protecting the defined privilege and confidentiality protocols, Marshall explained.
"We figure that we’re saving the printing of about half a trillion pieces of paper (according to Wikipedia, that would be about 250,000 tons)," Campbell told LTN. The selection process included meeting the committee's requirements for scalability, fast performance, a streamlined workflow management, and security protocols, as well as controlling review costs and providing strong support, he noted.
>>Politicos Alert: Thomson Reuters and CQ Roll Call have joined forces and are offering Washington Briefings to WestlawNext customers. It covers three legal practice areas — securities, banking, and energy. The deal leverages CQ Roll Call’s expertise in legislative and regulatory policy reporting, says TR.
>> Talent Task Matrix: The Electronic Discovery Reference Model ( http://www.edrm.net) has debuted its EDRM Talent Task Matrix diagram and spreadsheet. Developed by EDRM’s Jobs Project Team, the tool helps hiring managers better understand the responsibilities associated with common e-discovery roles. The Matrix maps responsibilities to the EDRM framework, so e-discovery duties associated can be assigned to the appropriate parties. The development team was spearheaded by co-leaders Maria Montoya (pictured left), career services manager at Bryan University and W. Keith Tom, president of Wallace, White and Associates. 
Wade Peterson (pictured right) director of practice support at Bowman & Brooke led the development of the Matrix diagram.
>> Chris Gierymski, president of the National Docketing Association, checks in to announce that his group will hold its first annual conference at the Hotel Sax Chicago, on Sept. 13. It will feature educational sessions, networking, and a chance to check out the latest docketing and legal management products, services, and technology. The group was established in 2011, and provides support, training, and resources to professionals involved with docketing, including specialists, technical staff, secretaries, paralegals, administrators, support managers and attorneys in the public and private sectors, he notes.
>> New Job: Brian Von Hatten (pictured left) has joined Scott & Scott, as an associate. The firm focuses on intellectual property and technology law, and is based in Southlake, Texas. Von Hatten's practice focuses on complex IT issues for corporate clients, including network security, data privacy, IT procurement and outsourcing, and policy development. He previously worked as IT manager at Virbac Corp., and as a litigation attorney at Houston-based Hoover Kernell.
>> Green Network: It's SXSW (South by Southwest) time in Austin, the Santa Monica of Texas, and that always means cool press releases from the intersection of music, youth, and technology. The annual event runs from March 8 through 17th.
Here's an example. Geostellar chose the festival as the venue to announce its new Sustainable Energy Network. According to the website, Geostellar first helps you estimate the value of the sunlight hitting your rooftop. You type in your address and Geostellar shows you how much money you’ll save, how much energy you’ll generate, and how much carbon pollution you’ll prevent by installing a solar energy system. "If you’re ready to go solar, we’ll connect you directly with the most qualified solar installers in your area. We’ll also serve as your advocates throughout the process, helping you evaluate proposals, make the right decisions and select the financing option that’s right for you." Sounds intriguing.
>> Paul Dooley, CEO of Matching Donors (a nonprofit organization that supports a website that helps those in need of a kidney to connect with potential donors), wants you to know that March is "National Kidney Month." Visit the website to see how his group is raising awareness about the need for more live donors to help the millions of people in the U.S. who need a transplant.
Got an item for Tech Circuit? Email: mbay@alm.com.
Monica Bay is editor-in-chief of Law Technology News and a member of the California Bar. Email: mbay@alm.com. Twitter: @lawtechnews @LTNMonicaBay.
