Dorsey & Whitney LLP

Caroline Sweeney is responsible for the delivery of Dorsey’s e-discovery services, including LegalMine Managed Review services, litigation technology support, and trial technology support. She is a member of Dorsey’s Electronic Discovery Practice Group and the Cyber-security, Privacy and Social Media Practice Group. She has extensive experience consulting with attorneys and clients with regard to e-discovery, including identification, preservation, collection, processing, review and production of electronically stored information. Her 25+ years of experience in the litigation support industry, include working in the law firm and litigation support vendor environments.

What are some of the major challenges or trends that you've observed impacting the IT sector lately?

In terms of the major challenges and trends impacting the IT sector, one primary concern is cybersecurity. There have been recent articles about data breaches at law firms. I recently read an article about a significant data breach at a legal service provider. Even in the services provided by my team and me to clients, we are experiencing an increasing volume of data security questionnaires, audits, and evaluations. Clients want to understand how we protect the information we collect and maintain, especially in response to discovery, litigation, or deals. Protecting sensitive data within our organization is a critical issue. There are also challenges regarding data retention and proper disposal to ensure that we know where data is stored, who accesses it, and that we are not keeping electronic files for an extended period, which increases the risk of potential data exposure.

Another challenge in the IT sector is the constant emergence of new technology and the need to balance business needs for productivity and collaboration. Implementing new technology is not as simple as purchasing it. You must consider data security requirements and how to secure the data stored on specific platforms. Retention policies and the collection of information from these new platforms also need to be considered. Deploying new technologies involves complexities, including associated business processes to ensure successful implementation.

What is keeping you up at night when it comes to particular challenges in the IT sector?

The security issues definitely keep me up at night. Clients evaluate the security measures provided by law firms to protect data that they share with us. We want to ensure that our data is not dispersed to other law firms we work with when using service providers. Cost management is another area that occupies my thoughts due to the current economic situation. We strive to get the best deal for our firm and invest in the right technologies without duplicating tools or siloing different types of technology. Additionally, I spend a lot of time thinking about how we can continue to innovate and support the strategic business initiatives of the firm, ensuring client satisfaction and internal/external support from our attorneys.

Can you talk to us about some of the current technological trends that excite you or have caught your attention?

One trend we are looking at is the widespread adoption of client collaboration platforms. We aim to enhance collaboration with clients, enabling transparent communication for them to leverage our expertise and knowledge. Another exciting emerging technology is Chat GPT. Although it raises concerns about the potential impact on the significance and role of young attorneys, it also presents opportunities to assist in drafting and refining materials. I'm definitely keeping an eye on this technology. All of these examples also highlight the change management challenges that come with implementing new technologies, which can be both difficult and exciting. The opportunities these new technologies offer are exciting, but they also come with their own set of challenges.

Any latest projects that you have worked on?

We have recently implemented contract analysis and contract AI tools, which have proven to be helpful in solving clients' business problems. As these tools continue to evolve, they assist with tasks such as contract negotiation. Contract AI has been successful in helping clients understand the content of their contracts and their obligations. It helps identify standard contract language that they want to incorporate into their tools. We have utilized this technology in various scenarios, including M&A due diligence, new contract management platforms, and assisting clients in understanding force majeure clauses and contractual obligations during the COVID pandemic.

We have also deployed unique implementations. For example, one client receives an average of 50 subpoenas per day. We use the contract AI tool to extract specific information from the subpoenas, providing it to the client to facilitate timely responses. Additionally, we have incorporated no-code technology software to develop an internal solution supporting our D&I initiative. It involves a blind matching system for first or third-year associates, ensuring equal access to opportunities across our platform.