The Electronic Discovery Reference Model (“EDRM”), an industry group created to develop and establish practical guidelines and standards for electronic discovery, today announces:

WHAT: An EDRM “Lunch and Learn” featuring George Socha, Tom Gelbmann and other industry leaders for a presentation on the key trends impacting e-discovery professionals, including advancing standards across all phases of the process (Evergreen), ethical challenges (Model Code of Conduct), search practices and technology advancements (Search), data challenges (Data Set) and XML integration between various e-discovery tools (XML). Attendees will also have an opportunity to learn more about involvement in this industry-leading organization.

WHEN: Tuesday, February 3, from 12-1:30 pm ET

WHERE: Warwick Hotel, Warwick Banquet Room, 2nd Floor

TO REGISTER: Email: legaltech@edrm.net. Attendance is limited to one company representative and one guest as space is limited.

ADDITIONAL DETAILS: EDRM leaders will give short presentations on their working group activities and progress in 2008 as well as activities of focus in 2009. Attendees can expect to learn more about:

• Evergreen: How can the e-discovery industry ensure best practices are applied across all phases of the discovery process? Learn how the EDRM is being expanded through “Level 2” and get a sneak preview in to the guides that are being developed for legal, IT and project management professionals.
• XML: How can the e-discovery industry improve interoperability among various e-discovery tools? Following the launch and wide adoption of the EDRM XML standard over the past year, the XML working group has begun a 1.1 version of the XML schema as well as an official EDRM metadata dictionary.
• Metrics: How can e-discovery professionals and project managers more effectively measure and manage the time, money and data associated with e-discovery? The completed metrics schema will be discussed, as well as the metrics guide, glossary and adoption tools that are to be developed in 2009.
• Search: How can we define, simplify and manage search processes and technology when applied to the e-discovery workflow? Attendees will learn about the draft EDRM search guide that documents the e-discovery search framework, the role of search, how searches should be conducted and how search results can be validated.
• Model Code of Conduct: What are the guidelines for e-discovery professionals to conduct their duties in an ethical manner? A draft code of conduct will be discussed and open for public comment in 2009.
• Data Set: The goal of the EDRM Data Set Project is to compile a 100 gigabyte data set that can be used to test various aspects of electronic discovery software and services. Find out more about the advancements and findings of this group.

Launched in May 2005, the EDRM Project was created to address the lack of standards and guidelines in the electronic discovery market – a problem identified in the 2003 and 2004 Socha-Gelbmann Electronic Discovery surveys as a major concern for vendors and consumers alike. The completed reference model provides a common, flexible and extensible framework for the development, selection, evaluation and use of electronic discovery products and services. Expanding on the base defined with the Reference Model, the EDRM projects were expanded in May 2006 to include the EDRM Metrics and the EDRM XML projects. Over the past four years, the EDRM project has comprised more than 170 organizations, including 115 service and software providers, 43 law firms, three industry groups and 12 corporations involved with e-discovery.

About EDRM

The Electronic Discovery Reference Model (EDRM) Project was launched in 2005 to address the lack of standards and guidelines in the electronic discovery market. The completed reference model provides a common, flexible and extensible framework for the development, selection, evaluation and use of electronic discovery products and services. Information about EDRM is available at http://www.edrm.net.