Tuesday, October 11, 2011

How Lawyers Use Social Media to Start Conversations that Attract New Clients

By Leslie Garrett
Published on National Law Review

 

Now is the right time to get involved in social media to start conversations that attract new clients. However, stepping into the social arena without jeopardizing billable hours or risk of a grievance can be a tenuous endeavor.

 

Knowing which social venue is most advisable for lawyers can stump the most astute social strategist, due to the conflicting expert opinions being published across the industry.

 

There are plenty of interesting reads on the topic of social; some support getting involved in the initiative, while others are more cautious, or even against it. An article appearing in Law Practice Today cites Facebook’s self-published social network survey data, arguing this survey indicates there is increased acceptance for social initiatives for reasons such as early adopters maturing into a socially ripe target market, and the new generation being comfortable seeking answers and connections through various social sites. Conversely, ABA Journal suggests social media seduces lawyers into dangerous territory, cautioning you to consider the potential for ethics rules violations and danger of participating in social media conversations.

 

The general rule-of-thumb with any social media conversation is to keep conversations within your area of expertise, thought-provoking, interesting and ethical, and follow the rules that govern lawyers’ conduct.

 

Social networking is not “Ready, fire, aim!”

 

Rather than investing billable hours blindly pulling the trigger on this social media initiative, a quick survey of your existing client base will tell you exactly what you need to know. The social media venue you choose should be in an arena your ideal prospects would be comfortable and interested in venturing into. Going “all in” on multiple venues right away is not advisable or strategic.

 

Choose your platform for social conversation based on what your firm’s existing, most desirable clients tell you. Simply asking a few of your best clients, “Do you read any blogs, or have you ever participated in any online discussions?” should help you to prioritize social initiatives. If this informal polling results in a resounding “No,” the follow-up questions to ask are: “Would you be willing to join in on a brief online discussion (5 minutes, once a month) with us about xyz?”; “What topics most interest you?”; and “Why?” The answers to these questions tell you what makes a hot topic for this desirable audience, and areas they would be most willing to follow or converse about. With this information, create a plan and establish the framework from which your targeted social initiative can begin.

 

Lawyers: Pointers to prepare for launching your social initiative

 

For the social initiative to be successful, you must approach it with an understanding that social platforms, such as a blog, are intended to initiate discussion. Being strategic about your social initiative means you commit to a conversation that will further establish your legal expertise, while also encouraging discussion with subscribers. Making the commitment is the important first step.

 

Be structured in your approach to integrating and managing the social initiative. Determine when in your schedule you can afford 15-minutes to contribute to your blog or respond in a discussion thread. With this approach, you will continue the conversation with your subscribers, without significantly jeopardizing your billable hours.

 

Consider these additional pointers as you prepare for launch.

 

1. Establish core topics. Create a table of 4-6 core topics that interest you, ideally connecting your clients’ hot-topic interests to your practice area of expertise.

 

For example, if you are a labor law attorney, and feedback from your informal polling revealed “Employee Data Privacy” as an area of interest, you may identify a core social networking topic as “Employee Data Privacy Law vs. Employer Rights.” This topic would allow you to showcase your expertise while also appealing to your existing client base and organizations concerned with this topic, making this topic ideal.

 

2. Determine the structure and schedule of your social networking initiative. Every social platform is different; Twitter allows for only brief 140-character exchanges, while other sites allow you to post extensive content and generate more extensive conversation. For purposes of conversation-based social initiatives, some attorneys develop 250-word blog postings around hot topics, creating a discussion thread with their community of subscribers. To generate postings that encourage discussion, ask your readers for their comments and opinions, or ask them to answer a question.

 

3. Create and follow a schedule for your social initiative. Be timely and regular in your contribution to the social conversation. Those following you and engaging in the conversation will feel better about your commitment to the topic.

 

4. Create a social profile. Prepare your profile on your preferred (and client-identified) social platform. The purpose of your social networking will dictate whether you choose the most popular social networking websites or the ones mentioned most by your clients. Whether you create a blog using WordPress or Google’s eBlogger, or focus your efforts on sites such as Twitter LinkedIn, Facebook, or Google+, each site and interface is different. Select one to start with, and do it well.

 

There are various social media tools like TweetDeck and SocialOomph to help you with productivity when socially active on Twitter, Facebook, LinkedIn, eBlogger, and other sites. While these tools are not critical early on, to increase your efficiency in managing multiple social initiatives and to preserve your billable hours, they should be introduced if a variety of social initiatives become integrated into your weekly tasks.

 

5. Create an interesting message. Prepare to announce the social initiative to your existing client base. Consider a brief email with wording that promotes your social conversation, such as, “Your opinion matters. Please join me and a community of your peers to share your opinion and weigh in on these core topics.” Using your first hot topic in this initial message will help to draw in followers.

 

6. Grow first with who and what you know. Before you announce your social initiative to your client base, send a separate brief email to those who contributed to the development of your core topics. Personally thank them and express your interest in their participation in the conversation. Ask them to weigh in on a topic, provide insight and share experience.

 

7. Announce your social initiative to your entire client base. Whatever initiative you choose should be added to your signature line in all electronic communication with clients. You have seen messages such as “Follow Me” for Twitter. Consider creating your own personal tagline such as “Your opinion matters. Join your peers in the latest discussion at (blog address or blog icon here).” Post an announcement on your website, add it to your eNewsletter and share a link to the blog or social site in all email messages to clients.

 

The initial announcement might:

 

• Inform the reader about the content and conversation.
• Ask your clients to share the link with their professional colleagues and peers.
• Share your list of core topics.
• Ask for followership and participation in the discussion as it is released and unfolds.
• Include a hyperlink to the first social discussion posting.

Monday, October 3, 2011

Excelerate Discovery Brochure Page 2

Project Management

Integrated technology, strategic workflow designs and advanced analytics to bring efficiency and cost-effectiveness to review.

By Guest Blogger: Excelerate Discovery

Excelerate Discovery Brochure Page 1

Excelerate Discovery: Advantages and Benefits

Excelerate is a leading eDiscovery and document review management company. Our core focus is providing contract
attorneys and project managers to assist with document review projects in litigation, investigations, and merger-related inquiries.

By Guest Blogger: Excelerate Discovery

TrustPoint Company Brochure Page 2

eDiscovery Services and Technology

Servicing every element of the eDiscovery spectrum:

• Collections and Forensics
• Early Case Assessment
• Processing
• Predictive Coding
• Hosting
• Review

By Guest Blogger: TrustPoint International

TrustPoint Company Brochure Page 1

TrustPoint International is a full spectrum litigation support /eDiscovery company with offices throughout the US and overseas.

Our team is comprised of industry veterans with experience handling eDiscovery projects for matters including pharmaceutical, antitrust, white collar/FCPA, IP, and general litigation.

We work with law firms and corporations seeking solutions for electronically stored information and hard copy documents. Our services include forensic collection, processing, hosting, project management, predictive coding,
review, and consulting services.

We continuously evaluate and work with industry leading technologies and platforms to help significantly reduce costs and increase efficiencies for our clients.

 

By Guest Blogger: TrustPoint International

Sunday, October 2, 2011

WOMEN IN EDISCOVERY ANNOUNCES SPEAKERS AND AGENDA FOR NATIONAL MEETING IN WASHINGTON DC

WOMEN IN EDISCOVERY ANNOUNCES SPEAKERS AND AGENDA FOR  NATIONAL MEETING IN WASHINGTON DC

 

MINNEAPOLIS, MN – September 16, 2011 – Women in eDiscovery, a non-profit organization that brings together women interested in technology related to the legal profession, today releases the full agenda for its inaugural National Meeting on October 5. The meeting will occur from 1:00 PM – 5:30 PM, immediately following the Masters Conference at the Ronald Reagan Building in Washington, D.C. The theme, "Taking Flight," reflects the overall mission of Women in eDiscovery: helping women determine and achieve their goals, both personally and professionally.

 

“Participation in our national meeting will give women strength, motivation and the tools they need to succeed,” states Lana Schell, co-founder and executive director of Women in eDiscovery. “It will be inspiring to listen to the esteemed speakers throughout the afternoon. As with other Women in eDiscovery events, there will be a lot of new relationships made. Our goal is that after each participant leaves the meeting, they will have a thorough understanding of how this association can continue to play an important role in their career path.”

 

The Women in eDiscovery National Meeting will immediately follow the Masters Conference on Wednesday, October 5, 2011.

 

Women in eDiscovery National Meeting agenda:

 

1:00 – 1:30 Registration

1:30 – 2:15 “Women’s Roadmap” Keynote Address by Selena Rezvani

2:15 – 3:15 Afternoon Tea and Networking

3:15 – 4:00 Global and Regional “State of the Union”

4:00 – 4:45 Session led by Wendy Butler Curtis, eDiscovery of Counsel at Orrick

4:45 – 5:30 Session led by Jennifer Pariser, Sr. VP of Litigation & Anti-Piracy at RIAA

5:30            Happy Hour Hosted by UHY Advisors and Merrill Corporation at Occidental

 

Cost and registration information can be found at http://www.womeninediscovery.org.

 

Women in eDiscovery members who would like to attend the Masters Conference and the National Meeting can obtain a discount code for either of these events by contacting Lana Schell, executive director and co-founder, at lana@womeninediscovery.org.

 

For more information on Women in eDiscovery’s membership and its events, visit www.womeninediscovery.org, or join the discussion on LinkedIn, Facebook and Twitter.

 

For more information on the Masters Conference, visit http://www.themastersconference.com

 

About Women in eDiscovery

 

Women in eDiscovery (www.womeninediscovery.org) is an organization bringing together women around the world interested in technology related to the legal industry. Its goal is to provide opportunities for businesswomen to grow personally and professionally through leadership, education, networking support and recognition. Currently there are more than 5,000 members and 28 chapters worldwide.

 

 

# # #

Contact:

 

Amy Juers

National Director of Public Relations

Women in eDiscovery

651.450.9090

pr@womeninediscovery.org

By Guest Blogger: Women in eDiscovery

Wave Software Named Presenting Sponsor of Masters Conference

Wave Software Named Presenting Sponsor of Masters Conference

Legal technology leader to showcase Trident Expert at e-discovery conference

 

ORLANDO, FL (September 15, 2011) - Orlando-based Wave Software, a leading provider of early data analytics, electronic data discovery, and litigation project management technology for global corporations, today announces that it will be a presenting sponsor for the Masters Conference 2011. The Masters Conference will be held October 3-5, at the Ronald Reagan Building in Washington, D.C. Wave Software is known for its family of products such as Trident Lite, Trident Preview and Trident Pro. It will offer Masters Conference attendees, consisting of corporate electronic discovery attorneys, law firm partners and other legal technology professionals, full product demonstrations of its newly released product, Trident Expert. Trident Expert is a cost- and time-saving early data analysis technology that discovery legal teams use prior to review.

 

“We have been a proud sponsor of the Masters Conference since 2006. It is the legal industry’s most respectable educational conference and we are proud to participate as a presenting sponsor again this year,” stated Robert Childress, III, co-founder and president of Wave Software. “The conference offers advanced e-discovery topics including social media, preservation, cross-border litigation, forensics, cloud computing and litigation project management—all key legal profession challenges for which Trident Expert and Framework can offer easy and cost-effective solutions.”

 

Trident Expert allows users to interactively search and export discovery data into many review formats such as iCONECT, LexisNexis Concordance, AD Summation and Relativity. Wave Software will be demonstrating its entire family of products, including Trident Expert, Trident Pro, Trident Lite, and its project management software, Framework.

Each year the Masters Conference provides practical CLE education for lawyers from law firms and corporate legal departments and litigation support professionals that is delivered by experts with front-line experience. Masters Conference content is developed by an advisory cabinet of industry thought leaders. Attendees will gain practical knowledge, presented by peers, on current issues that can be applied immediately to everyday practice.

 

To register online for Masters Conference 2011, visit www.themastersconference.com.

More information on Wave Software can be found at www.discoverthewave.com. Follow Wave Software on Twitter and Facebook.

About Wave Software
Wave Software, based in Orlando, Florida, is a leading provider of early data analytics, legal hold, litigation support, electronic data discovery, and litigation project management software technology for global corporations. Wave’s flagship product, Trident Pro, provides the fastest, most accurate de-duplication, near-duplicate detection, regeneration and export of native and foreign language electronic files. Trident Pro software provides litigators in-house capability to cut down data sets to manageable amounts and then upload onto repositories for review and production. The company also offers Trident Lite and Trident Preview software. Wave Software won the 2008 Socha-Gelbmann Top Provider award, 2009 ITFlorida award and two LTN awards in 2009. For more information, visit http://www.discoverthewave.com.

Press Contact:

Rick Clark

Wave Software

Rick.clark@discoverthewave.com

321.231.1253

 

By Guest Blogger: Wave Software

Wave Software to Sponsor Lively Panel on eDiscovery Certifications at Masters Conference

Wave Software to Sponsor Lively Panel on eDiscovery Certifications at Masters Conference

Judge will moderate panel of top providers of certification courses


ORLANDO, FL (September 29, 2011) - Orlando-based Wave Software, a leading provider of early data analytics, electronic data discovery, and litigation project management technology for global corporations, today announces that it will sponsor a spirited discussion between some of the top legal industry certification course providers. As U.S. Magistrate Judge John M. Facciola moderates this discussion, panelists will illuminate the challenges and differences of e-discovery certification. The Masters Conference will be held October 3-5, at the Ronald Reagan Building in Washington, D.C. and this session will occur at 4:30 PM on Monday, October 3.

The topic of e-discovery certifications has recently sparked intense discussion and debate in the legal community. Legal professionals have read about it in printed articles, legal technology blogs, LinkedIn Groups and more. This panel discussion is sure to deliver a spirited discussion between some of the legal industry certification course providers. Providers include the Association of Certified E-Discovery Specialists (ACEDS), an international member organization that has developed the CEDS certification exam and the Organization for Legal Professionals (OLP), a non-profit entity that offers certification exams to establish core competencies.

 

U.S. Magistrate Judge John M. Facciola will moderate this panel. Judge Facciola is a member of the Sedona Conference Advisory Board and the Georgetown Advanced E-Discovery Institute Advisory Board. He is also a member of the Board of Directors of the Federal Judicial Center.

 

Panelists include:

  • Tom O'Connor, JD, a well-known discovery and litigation support expert, is representing the Organization for Legal Professionals (OLP). Mr. O'Connor is a nationally known consultant, speaker and writer in the area of computerized litigation support systems.
  • Charles A. Intriago is representing the Association of Certified E-Discovery Specialists (ACEDS). Mr. Intriago is President of ACEDS. Prior to starting ACEDS, Mr. Intriago launched the Association of Certified Anti-Money Laundering Specialists (ACAMS) and also served as Chief Counsel to the Legal and Monetary Affairs Subcommittee of the U.S. House Government Operations Committee, which oversaw the Department of Justice, Treasury Department, SEC, Federal Reserve, FBI and IRS.
  • Allison Skinner teaches e-discovery at the University of Alabama School of Law and Thomas Goode Jones School of Law.  She authored the "Teacher's Manual" for the only e-discovery casebook published by WEST.  Ms. Skinner is founder of the American College of e-Neutrals, www.acesin.com, providing the world’s only directory of discovery neutrals for a digital age.

Each year the Masters Conference provides practical CLE education for lawyers from law firms and corporate legal departments and litigation support professionals that is delivered by experts with front-line experience. Masters Conference content is developed by an advisory cabinet of industry thought leaders. Attendees will gain practical knowledge, presented by peers, on current issues that can be applied immediately to everyday practice.

To register online for Masters Conference 2011, visit www.themastersconference.com.

More information on Wave Software can be found at www.discoverthewave.com. Follow Wave Software on Twitter and Facebook.

About Wave Software
Wave Software, based in Orlando, Florida, is a leading provider of early data analytics, legal hold, litigation support, electronic data discovery, and litigation project management software technology for global corporations. Wave’s flagship product, Trident Pro, provides the fastest, most accurate de-duplication, near-duplicate detection, regeneration and export of native and foreign language electronic files. Trident Pro software provides litigators in-house capability to cut down data sets to manageable amounts and then upload onto repositories for review and production. The company also offers Trident Lite and Trident Preview software. Wave Software won the 2008 Socha-Gelbmann Top Provider award, 2009 ITFlorida award and two LTN awards in 2009. For more information, visit http://www.discoverthewave.com.

Press Contact:

Rick Clark

Wave Software

Rick.clark@discoverthewave.com

321.231.1253

By Guest Blogger: Wave Software

WOMEN IN EDISCOVERY ANNOUNCES SPEAKERS AND AGENDA FOR NATIONAL MEETING IN WASHINGTON DC

WOMEN IN EDISCOVERY ANNOUNCES SPEAKERS AND AGENDA FOR  NATIONAL MEETING IN WASHINGTON DC

 

MINNEAPOLIS, MN – September 16, 2011 – Women in eDiscovery, a non-profit organization that brings together women interested in technology related to the legal profession, today releases the full agenda for its inaugural National Meeting on October 5. The meeting will occur from 1:00 PM – 5:30 PM, immediately following the Masters Conference at the Ronald Reagan Building in Washington, D.C. The theme, "Taking Flight," reflects the overall mission of Women in eDiscovery: helping women determine and achieve their goals, both personally and professionally.

 

“Participation in our national meeting will give women strength, motivation and the tools they need to succeed,” states Lana Schell, co-founder and executive director of Women in eDiscovery. “It will be inspiring to listen to the esteemed speakers throughout the afternoon. As with other Women in eDiscovery events, there will be a lot of new relationships made. Our goal is that after each participant leaves the meeting, they will have a thorough understanding of how this association can continue to play an important role in their career path.”

 

The Women in eDiscovery National Meeting will immediately follow the Masters Conference on Wednesday, October 5, 2011.

 

Women in eDiscovery National Meeting agenda:

 

1:00 – 1:30 Registration

1:30 – 2:15 “Women’s Roadmap” Keynote Address by Selena Rezvani

2:15 – 3:15 Afternoon Tea and Networking

3:15 – 4:00 Global and Regional “State of the Union”

4:00 – 4:45 Session led by Wendy Butler Curtis, eDiscovery of Counsel at Orrick

4:45 – 5:30 Session led by Jennifer Pariser, Sr. VP of Litigation & Anti-Piracy at RIAA

5:30            Happy Hour Hosted by UHY Advisors and Merrill Corporation at Occidental

 

Cost and registration information can be found at http://www.womeninediscovery.org.

 

Women in eDiscovery members who would like to attend the Masters Conference and the National Meeting can obtain a discount code for either of these events by contacting Lana Schell, executive director and co-founder, at lana@womeninediscovery.org.

 

For more information on Women in eDiscovery’s membership and its events, visit www.womeninediscovery.org, or join the discussion on LinkedIn, Facebook and Twitter.

 

For more information on the Masters Conference, visit http://www.themastersconference.com

 

About Women in eDiscovery

 

Women in eDiscovery (www.womeninediscovery.org) is an organization bringing together women around the world interested in technology related to the legal industry. Its goal is to provide opportunities for businesswomen to grow personally and professionally through leadership, education, networking support and recognition. Currently there are more than 5,000 members and 28 chapters worldwide.

 

 

# # #

Contact:

 

Amy Juers

National Director of Public Relations

Women in eDiscovery

651.450.9090

pr@womeninediscovery.org

By Guest Blogger: Women in eDiscovery

LEADERSHIP CONSULTANT AND BESTSELLING AUTHOR SELENA REZVANI TO KEYNOTE WOMEN IN EDISCOVERY EVENT

LEADERSHIP CONSULTANT AND BESTSELLING AUTHOR SELENA REZVANI TO KEYNOTE WOMEN IN EDISCOVERY NATIONAL MEETING

 

MINNEAPOLIS, MN – September 9, 2011 – Women in eDiscovery, a non-profit organization that brings together women interested in technology related to the legal industry, today announces that Selena Rezvani will serve the keynote address at its inaugural National Meeting on October 5. The meeting will occur from 1:00 PM – 5:30 PM, immediately following the Masters Conference at the Ronald Reagan Building in Washington, D.C. The theme, "Taking Flight," reflects the overall mission of Women in eDiscovery: helping women determine and achieve their goals, both personally and professionally.

 

Selena Rezvani is an author and consultant whose goal is to propel more women into the top echelons of leadership. She is co-president of Women’s Roadmap™, a consulting firm that helps companies position a gender-inclusive workplace as a competitive advantage. Rezvani established Women’s Roadmap while writing her bestselling debut book, “The Next Generation of Women Leaders: What You Need to Lead but Won’t Learn in Business School” (Praeger, 2009), and after identifying the need for women to be seen as a viable talent pool and leadership pipeline.

 

“Her experience and success in the women and leadership arena make her an excellent choice as a keynote speaker for our inaugural national meeting,” states Shawnna Childress, co-founder and executive director of Women in eDiscovery. “Selena has trained some of the brightest women in business in the art and science of leadership and we look forward to having her share these sought-after strategies with our members!”

 

Rezvani has been quoted, interviewed and profiled by CareerBuilder, The Wall Street Journal, Forbes, NBC television and ABC television. She is a regular commentator on NPR’s national syndicated radio show 51 Percent, blogs for ForbesWoman.com, and serves as an ongoing columnist for The Washington Post, covering women and leadership.

 

Rezvani’s professional speaking endeavors include Harvard University, Comcast, Apple, Northrup Grumman, Princeton University, London Business School, the Clinton Foundation, Johnson & Johnson, Constellation Energy and SAP, among others.

 

Since its inception in 2007, Women in eDiscovery has grown to 28 chapters and more than 5,000 members worldwide. The non-profit association is comprised of women from all walks of life, including general counsel, secretaries, partners, associates, chief operating officers, paralegals, litigation support and e-discovery professionals.

 

The Women in eDiscovery National Meeting will immediately follow the Masters Conference on Wednesday, October 5, 2011. Information on the schedule of events, topics and networking opportunities are forthcoming.

 

Members that would like to attend the National Meeting and/or the Masters Conference should register as soon as possible because space is limited. Cost and registration information can be found at http://www.womeninediscovery.org.

 

Women in eDiscovery members who would like to attend the Masters Conference and the National Meeting can obtain a discount code for either of these events by contacting Lana Schell, executive director and co-founder, at lana@womeninediscovery.org.

 

For more information on Women in eDiscovery’s membership and its events, visit www.womeninediscovery.org, or join the discussion on LinkedIn, Facebook and Twitter.

 

For more information on the Masters Conference, visit http://www.themastersconference.com

 

About Women in eDiscovery

 

Women in eDiscovery (www.womeninediscovery.org) is an organization bringing together women around the world interested in technology related to the legal industry. Its goal is to provide opportunities for businesswomen to grow personally and professionally through leadership, education, networking support and recognition. Currently there are more than 5,000 members and 28 chapters worldwide.

 

 

# # #

Contact:

 

Amy Juers

National Director of Public Relations

Women in eDiscovery

651.450.9090

pr@womeninediscovery.org

By Guest Blogger: Women in eDiscovery

Merrill - The Merrill Advantage - Complete Litigation + Financial Document Support for Corporations

The Merrill Advantage: Complete litigation and financial document support for corporations

Merrill Corporation has decades of experience in reducing costs and solving the information-management needs of leading Fortune 1000 companies and financial institutions. We are uniquely positioned to deliver expert litigation and document management solutions that address a broad range of corporate requirements. We have expert staff around the world to help you keep business practices on track at a reasonable, predictable expense. Find out why so many leading corporations trust Merrill for a broad range of efficient, integrated information-management solutions.

About Merrill Corporation

Founded in 1968 and headquartered in St. Paul, Minn., Merrill Corporation (www.merrillcorp.com) is a leading provider of outsourced solutions for complex business communication and information management. Merrill’s services include document and data management, litigation support, language translation services, branded communication programs, fulfillment, imaging and printing. Merrill’s target markets include the legal, financial services, insurance and real estate industries. With more than 5,000 people in over 70 domestic and 15 international locations, Merrill empowers the communications of the world’s leading companies.

About Merrill’s Litigation Solutions

Clients worldwide rely on Merrill Corporation to provide integrated, cost-effective and reliable litigation support solutions. Merrill combines expert project management, experienced service professionals and sophisticated tools to help you successfully manage litigation challenges. Merrill’s litigation solutions will seamlessly support you from pre-litigation to discovery to post-trial, with efficiency-oriented consulting, early case assessment services, forensic data collection, data processing, Merrill Lextranet® online document hosting and discovery review, as well as deposition services.

By Guest Blogger: Merrill Corporation

Merrill – FCPA - Pre M&A Due Diligence - Translations and DataSite (VDR)

Streamline FCPA Due Diligence

A smart and simple approach to streamline FCPA due diligence in cross-border M&A Efficient, effective FCPA due diligence with Merrill’s convenient document management and language translation services

Merrill Corporation offers two critical components to accelerate the FCPA due diligence process – Merrill DataSite, our premier virtual data room solution, and Merrill Brink translation services.

As business grows more global in scope every day, companies are being pressed to prove that they comply with the Foreign Corrupt Practices Act (FCPA) in all their international business endeavors. Government investigation is more extensive than ever, and increasingly focused on companies involved in cross-border M&A transactions. As many companies are now discovering, under the FCPA, an acquiring company may be held liable for any unlawful payments made by the acquired company, regardless if the payments were made before or after the acquisition. In fact, a recent Deloitte LLP survey of 500 business professionals at companies in the U.S., Canada and Mexico found that 63 percent of the respondents aborted or renegotiated a deal over corruption issues.

The best protection lies in establishing a flexible FCPA due diligence program that can be adapted to address all your cross-border transactions, regardless of geographic location and language requirements. Implementing such a program is much simpler when you partner with Merrill Corporation.

Merrill Brink International and Merrill DataSite – the right tools for faster, more efficient FCPA due diligence

Merrill Corporation offers two critical components to accelerate the FCPA due diligence process – Merrill DataSite, our premier virtual data room solution, and Merrill Brink translation services. 

1              Merrill Brink for comprehensive language translation services

Simplify foreign language due diligence with Merrill Brink’s comprehensive translation services. A proven leader with more than 30 years of experience, our translation expertise extends to more than 100 languages. Our global reach allows us to service our clients according to their schedules with the local resources they require. Services include:

■ A proprietary language identification tool to sort and segregate documents by language

■ Foreign language optical character recognition (OCR) to convert TIFF images to text and allow native language search

■ Machine translation to provide a basic understanding of the content of foreign language documents

■ Document summaries as a filter to help identify which documents require more thorough translation

■ Informational translations for internal use

■ Certified translations for use in court-ordered documents

■ Bilingual contract attorneys for document review

An accurate translation is critical to help you identify potential FCPA issues in your due diligence. We can help you save time and money by culling large collections of documents to identify the items that truly require translation.

2              Merrill DataSite for faster access to documents and greater control over information

You can greatly simplify FCPA-related document collection with Merrill DataSite, a completely secure online virtual data room (VDR) solution that efficiently houses business information for electronic due diligence in mergers and acquisitions. With Merrill DataSite, your virtual data room can be up and running in two hours or less, and thousands of pages of content can be made available in 24 hours or less. Our solution enables our clients to:

■ Quickly and securely share information with cross-functional team members and external parties, regardless of their geographic locations

■ Reduce the risk of team members overlooking important information by ensuring that it is all stored in a secure, centralized document repository

■ Provide an audit trail to show FCPA due diligence review activities related to document review in the virtual data room

■ Reduce time and labor costs associated with document management

■ Accelerate the entire FCPA due diligence review process

Merrill DataSite is ISO 27001-certified, serving as confirmation that it meets the industry’s most stringent standards for security for international business transactions. For more information, visit datasite.com or call US at 888-867-0309 or UK at 44 (0) 207 422-6100.

An accurate translation is critical to help you identify potential FCPA issues in your due diligence. We can help you save time and money by culling large collections of documents to identify the items that truly require translation. We can also translate codes of conduct and training materials to support your ongoing compliance and e-learning programs.

Better information transparency to drive better due diligence results

Merrill’s solutions make it much easier to achieve the level of information transparency demanded by FCPA compliance requirements today. To find out how we can help your organization implement an efficient FCPA due diligence program, please contact your Merrill sales representative today.

By Guest Blogger: Merrill Corporation

Merrill – DataSite (VDR) Capabilities - Accelerate the Due Dilegence Process!

Accelerate the due diligence process with Merrill DataSite™

A smart, secure virtual data room solution for financial transactions

Merrill DataSite is currently the only VDR provider in the industry to earn ISO 27001 certification, the most stringent and highly recognized security certification.

In the world of high-stakes M&A, execution is everything. Winners gain an edge by leveraging smart technology that transforms paper data rooms into virtual data rooms (VDRs), accessible via the Internet. Sellers save time, reduce costs and gain access to a wider audience of prospective buyers.

Now there is a better, faster way...Merrill DataSite.

Bring your deals to market quickly and securely

Merrill DataSite is a secure VDR solution that transforms the paper data room into an efficient, online room, accessible via the Internet. Sellers benefit in several ways:

Greater speed to market. You can set up a Merrill DataSite in a fraction of the time it takes to set up a paper data room. Your site can be up and running in two hours – and Merrill’s document specialists can scan, upload and organize thousands of pages of content from any source in 24 hours or less.

Accelerated due diligence review. Prospective buyers simply log into a secure Web browser at their convenience – anywhere, at any time. The entire process speeds up, since scheduled visits to a physical data room are no longer necessary. Travel time and costs are either completely eliminated or greatly reduced.

Reduced deal costs. Clerical, staffing and security costs typically associated with hosting a physical data room are eliminated. Sites are maintained on secure Merrill servers and prospective buyers view information via a secure Merrill Viewer that requires no additional software installation.

Greater competition. Sellers can invite multiple bidders to participate concurrently in the due diligence process – and potentially drive up asset valuation.

On-demand reporting on user activity. Detailed audit reports show exactly what information has been reviewed and by whom – invaluable intelligence in determining viewer’s true intent.

Turnkey support. Merrill DataSite handles all aspects of the virtual data room and provides expert support so that your team can focus on the deal.

A trusted partner

Merrill Corporation has been a trusted provider of secure information management services to Fortune 500 companies in the financial and legal industries for nearly 40 years. Since 2002, Merrill DataSite has empowered more than 500,000 unique visitors to perform electronic due diligence on thousands of transactions totaling trillions of dollars in asset value.

Please contact your Merrill representative for more information or to schedule a comprehensive demonstration of our Merrill DataSite VDR solution.

Merrill DataSite has empowered more than 500,000 unique visitors to perform electronic due diligence on thousands of transactions totaling trillions of dollars in asset value.

By Guest Blogger: Merrill Corporation

Merrill Case Study - In-House Data Collection:Prudent Cost Savings or Potential Piitfall?

Merrill Case Study - In-House Data Collection: Prudent Cost Savings or Potential Pitfall?

Choosing the correct collection method requires a risk/benefit analysis.

Contents: 

Weighing the pros and cons of in-house collection 1

“Zubulake Revisited” 2

Develop a proper collection strategy 3

Prepare a collection plan 5

Select a collection method 6

Execute a collection plan 8

A final note of caution 8

About the expert - Wayne A. Hill, Jr., Esq. / Manager of Client Development

Wayne Hill is an experienced litigator who is committed to educating the legal community on the impact of technology on the practice of law, and particularly its effect on all facets of litigation. A member of the legal community since 1988, he brings an extensive legal background and a deep understanding of technology to his current role as manager of client development for Merrill Corporation.

Prior to joining Merrill, Hill was employed by West, a Thomson Reuters Business, a large multinational corporation that serves the legal community. While at West, he and his team developed products and services specifically for litigators. He has also worked extensively with both trial and appellate courts to provide counsel access to valuable court documents. In addition, he has consulted with attorneys, judges and staff on the use of technology products, services and tools to maximize their practice or position.

A trial attorney with extensive litigation experience in both state and federal courts, Hill has handled complex criminal, civil and commercial litigation matters. He has tried hundreds of cases and understands the tools and resources legal counsel need in order to succeed in the changing practice of law. Hill is licensed to practice law in the state of New York and within the federal courts. He is a member of the New York State Bar Association where he is an active member of numerous sections, including the Commercial and Federal Litigation section.

By Guest Blogger: Merrill Corporation

Merrill LAD – Local Videoconferencing Rooms

Merrill LAD Offers Convenient Local Videoconferencing Rooms

Full-service IP & ISDN videoconference centers allow “face-to-face” interaction without expensive travel

Merrill LAD offers a cost effective alternative to expensive, stressful travel for depositions with its strategically located, state of-the-art videoconference rooms throughout the Washington, D.C. and tri-state area.

Attorneys know that conducting depositions in person allows them to observe nonverbal clues that help them to fine-tune their questioning or detect evasive behavior. However, with today’s pressure inside firms to maintain budgets and cut costs, minimizing travel expenses has also become a mandate.

Merrill LAD offers a cost-effective alternative to expensive, stressful travel for depositions with its strategically located, state-of-the-art videoconference rooms throughout the Washington, D.C. and tri-state area.

These fully staffed rooms offer high-quality video equipment, making it easy for you to conduct “in-person” depositions or other meetings with participants throughout the world, all without ever leaving town.

In addition to deposition services, videoconferencing is an excellent forum for:

❑✔ Witness preparation                       ❑✔ Confidential client conversations

❑✔ Co-counsel meetings                      ❑✔ Group or partner meetings

❑✔ ADR hearings                                   ❑✔ Expert consultations

❑✔ Strategy sessions                           ❑✔ Job interviews

❑✔ Settlement discussions                  ❑✔ Presentations

Convenience and comfort

It’s easy to schedule a videoconference room with a simple call, fax or e-mail to Merrill LAD. Our videoconference rooms can comfortably accommodate up to 40 people at a time, and are available 24 hours a day, seven days a week. We continually evaluate and update our technology to bring you the best videoconferencing experience available.

In addition:

Professional court reporters can capture and provide realtime transcription services.

Skilled videographers can capture testimony with digital, broadcast-quality equipment.

Realtime text and video streaming is available.

Resulting videos can be synchronized to the certified transcript for use in all major software packages; can be burned to portable media such as CDs or DVDs, or be hosted online in Merrill LTR (Lextranet® Transcript Repository).

Convenient Videoconferencing Locations

Our videoconference rooms are located throughout the tri-state area. Call 800.292.4789 for more information.

1325 G Street N.W. Suite 200 Washington, D.C. 20005

21 Church Street Suite 150 Rockville, MD 20850

6301 Ivy Lane Suite 610 Greenbelt, MD 20770

300 East Lombard Street Suite 1125 Baltimore, MD 21202

8484 Westpark Drive Suite 110 McLean, VA 22102

60 West Street Suite 203 Annapolis, MD 21401

Contact your local Merrill LAD office today via phone at 800.292.4789, via e-mail at scheduling.dc@merrillcorp.com or via fax at 202.861.3425 to schedule a videoconference room for a deposition, interview or meeting. Or to learn more, visit us at www.merrilllad.com.

By Guest Blogger: Merrill Corporation

Merrill - National Deposition Coverage MAP

Complete deposition services in every location

One call connects you to a worldwide network for deposition and video services

When you have a large case requiring depositions in numerous locations worldwide, coordinating schedules can take up a lot of your time. Counsel, co-counsel and witnesses need to be organized. Conference rooms need to be located and booked. Court reporting, videography and realtime hook-ups need to be arranged.

With dozens of domestic locations, international locations in Europe and Asia and more than 400 affiliates worldwide, Merrill Corporation can deliver the consistent quality you expect.

Make one local phone call or schedule online. Merrill Corporation makes your job easier:

■ Cover depositions anywhere in the world with just one local phone call

■ Arrange court reporters, videographers and conference rooms

■ Store all transcripts locally for quick retrieval and convenient access

Merrill has the largest network of court reporters and a global reach. One call gives you deposition resources anywhere in the world, enabling you to save time and streamline your process. And because Merrill Corporation is recognized for timeliness and accuracy, you can trust that regardless of the deposition location, your quality requirements will be met.

By Guest Blogger: Merrill Corporation

Merrill - Large case management for Depositions

Large case management for depositions / Complete support for complex case matters

When you are faced with a large case matter that requires numerous depositions spread across the country or around the globe, coordination can be daunting. Then transcripts need to be produced and delivered quickly. Merrill Corporation provides two unique tools to make it easy to coordinate large cases.

Online Managed Litigation Suite

Merrill can create a customized online managed litigation suite for your next case. You’ll be able to organize and track all past and upcoming depositions in one place.

Schedule a Deposition : Schedule court reporters and videographers anywhere, anytime

View Calendar : Check the case calendar for upcoming depositions

Order Transcripts : Order hard copy, electronic or compressed transcripts, ASCII, exhibits or video copies

Notification List : Automatic notification of new settings in this matter

Dedicated case management

On large cases Merrill assigns a case manager to support you free of charge. Your Merrill case manager is your day-to-day contact:

Coordinates all aspects of the litigation such as scheduling court reporters and videographers anywhere in the world, locating conference rooms and interpreters

Archives and disseminates copies of transcripts and exhibits

Answers billing questions

Sends e-mail and phone notifications of upcoming depositions

Merrill Corporation provides tools and services to streamline the deposition process. Our technology synchronizes your transcripts, exhibits and video together in one searchable interface. A dedicated case manager makes phone calls, answers questions and supports your team. As a result, you gain a conveniently organized, simplified case management process at no additional cost, so you can focus your time and energy on moving the matter forward.

By Guest Blogger: Merrill Corporation