LegalTech New York Day 2 Keynote Recap

Today’s keynote address was very well attended despite the inclement weather that kept one of the panelists away. The standing-room-only crowd suggested the continued interest in hearing the judges’ panel on “Changing Rules and Best Practices in e-Discovery.” Craig Ball moderated the discussion with Judges Shira Scheindlin, John Facciola, James Francis, and Andrew Peck; Judge Lee Rosenthal was also scheduled but was unable to attend.

Cell phone use was a big topic, including company cell phone vs personal cell phones being used for business. The panelists talked about the laws pertaining to the access of information available on cell phones, including who owns the data and identifying where information is stored. One theme that stood out: Federal Rule of Evidence 502 is the litigator’s new best friend, and it’s a good idea for attorneys to know the basics of today’s technology. Judge Facciola warned, “If you don’t understand technology, you will make a stupid argument that something is too expensive to do, when we know – and you should know – that it can be done more cheaply.”