Litigation Support

Everyone in computer forensics and EDD shook their heads ruefully last week when it become public that Onsite3 had filed a Chapter 11 bankruptcy and was to be acquiried by Integreon. There was a lot of buzz at LegalTech about the absence of some vendors - and undoubtedly the same buzz will acompany ABA TechShow. When lawyers are canned daily, and even major law firms dissolve, vendors are inevitably squeezed.

Recently, I received an e-mail from the President of another computer forensics firm. The subject line read simply "Doom." Kind of says it all, yes?

We've been luckier than most. More law firms are now doing comparison shopping, urged by clients to contain costs. It has been my sense that some lawyers and clients are departing big vendors with big prices and seeing if they can save some money by using smaller firms. It will shock readers to learn that I think that's a splendid idea.

Seriously, those looking for computer forensics and EDD vendors are getting more savvy. They are learning that hourly rates don't mean much and that a lower hourly rate doesn't mean the final price tag will be any less. Instead, they are focused are getting full project estimates based on the scope of work as they know it. If the scope changes, they know the price will go up, but again want to have another estimate. Keeping in close contact with the client has become essential. The single biggest knock against vendors is that costs escalate without notice. No one who wants to ride out the current economic storm can afford to let that happen.

Wishing us all sunny skies and fair winds in the near future.

E-mail: snelson@senseient.com    Phone: 703-359-0700

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