Wednesday, November 16, 2011

The Geographical Boundaries of eDiscovery

As technology has evolved, the boundaries of business have dissolved. The Internet, among other technological advances, has provided a means to conduct business and commerce across states, countries and continents. This, of course, has resulted in Electronically Stored Information (ESI) being distributed across the world, even if it all pertains to one company or one matter.

We understand the growing nature of international business and the ease in which people can store sensitive data on portable devices. To respond to this growing need, QUiVX eDiscovery & Document Solutions has gone global. We are proud to announce that we are able to provide for the worldwide collection and analysis of data at any stage of the eDiscovery process. With recent data collections in locations in Europe, the Middle East and Asia, we have elevated our level of service onto a whole new scale. There is no longer a need for multiple vendors at different points throughout the globe. QUiVX can provide a single point of service, which streamlines the entire process and ensures a direct line of communication while minimizing miscommunications.

As a vendor seeking to provide the highest quality of service, we ensure that we are up-to-date and informed when it comes to recent rules and guidelines provided by organizations such as the International Centre for Dispute Resolution (ICDR), Chartered Institute of Arbitrators (CIArb), International Institute for Conflict Prevention & Resolution and the International Bar Association (IBA). We also comply with the policies set forth by SafeHarbor, a joint directive between the U.S. Department of Commerce and the European Commission intended to streamline the measures that a U.S. organization needs to take in order to comply with Swiss data protection law.

It is of the utmost importance to understand the complex legal issues when dealing with international electronic discovery. For example, one of the most important things to consider when litigation spreads into Europe is the issue of data privacy within the European Union. Litigation often requires data collection within a very short window of time. If not done properly, data collection could easily break criminal laws enacted in both the country where the litigation originated and the country of data collection. This is one of the many reasons that, as a vendor, we pride ourselves on staying on top of current laws and procedures governing data collection and processing throughout the world. It is the only way to guarantee that all data is collected in a manner that complies with all local laws and is handled appropriately during every single stage of the eDiscovery process.