What critical skills does it take to add value to a high-performing electronic data discovery team? That’s the question moderator Robert Singleton, director of e-discovery and data management at Squire Patton Boggs asked panelists at last week’s NorCal 2014 E-Discovery and Information Governance retreat in Sausalito, Calif. Their answers paint a picture of an ideal candidate who is proactive, works well on a team, and can stand up to challenges from the outside as well as from within.
“Being curious is important,” said Claire Hass, discovery counsel at Google Inc.. It is critical to understand how your data works, such as “how metadata fits with your ESI,” she said.
Pallab Chakraborty, Oracle Corp.’s director of e-discovery, stressed the dynamics of a harmonious team. “If there’s one leg missing, they won’t be successful,” he said. Daniel Mandon, who leads discovery for Pfizer Inc.’s intellectual property portfolio, said great e-discovery team members have “the ability to spot red flags and bring them to the proper person’s attention.”
But when the going gets tough, it’s the team members who can “manage up” that make or break a team, said Yvonne Kirila, litigation operations and e-discovery manager at United Parcel Service Inc. When suggesting new approaches, individuals will often encounter the attitude that “this is the way we’ve always done it.” That’s when gumption and creativity are needed, she said. “One of my best managers came from IT,” Kirila said. “When he wasn’t getting buy in from our attorneys, we simply changed his title to include the word ‘legal.’” That sleight of hand made all the difference, she said.
