The legal industry has radically changed due to new electronic discovery requirements and costs, regulatory mandates, changing technology, growth of large complex projects, outsourcing alternatives and globalization. To succeed in today’s legal environment, law firms and corporate counsel must be able to effectively integrate technology resources, outsourcing solutions and project management techniques with the practice of law.

eTERA Consulting provides corporations and law firms with customized information and data management solutions that enable its clients to achieve greater cost controls and efficiencies related to their litigation, investigations and audits, mergers and acquisitions, and compliance matters.  eTERA Consulting’s project management planning methodology encompassing early information assessment, processing, document review and trial and arbitration-related presentations gives its clients the analytical tools they need to reach well-informed decisions.

eTERA Consulting is headquartered in Washington, DC, with strategic locations within the U.S. and overseas.    For more information click on our logo at the top of the right-hand column.

We recently attended the first in a series of CLE corporate briefing seminars jointly sponsored by Sheppard Mullin and eTERA Consulting.  The seminars focus on emerging legal issues under the Obama Administration.   The focus of the first session was on understanding and managing cartel investigations in the U.S. and abroad. The panel of experts, including Robert Magielnicki, Donald Klawiter, and Jennifer M. Driscoll-Chippendale (all partners in Sheppard Mullen’s Washington, DC office), Daniel Brown partner in Sheppard Mullen’s New York office), and Bob Gillespie, Vice President ESI Consulting for eTERA Consulting.  A copy of the press release is here.

It was a well-balanced seminar in that it presented the substantive legal issues, as well as the case management and electronic discovery processes using a detailed hypothetical scenario.  We have attached a pdf  of the presentation which has a wealth of information on managing a cartel investigation: the substantive law, the process, the e-discovery challenges, etc.

The cartel program will be repeated in New York City during the second week of December, and will be offered by invitation only.  It is part of a continuing series by Sheppard Mullin and eTERA Consulting which we will cover and report on to our members.

    

eTERA Consulting announced today that Sasha Hefler has joined the company as Vice President of Global Strategy and Communications. In her new role, Ms. Hefler will develop educational events, guide corporate marketing efforts, and continue to expand eTERA’s partner and affiliate relationships.

Prior to joining eTERA, Ms. Hefler was President of The Masters Conference.   During her tenure, the two-day educational conference grew to become one of the legal industry’s most revered events. In a short time, Ms. Hefler has become well known in the legal industry for her “can-do” attitude and relationship building.

For the full press release click here.

The Masters Conference starts tomorrow in Washington, DC and runs for two days (click here).   A number of presenters are already in D.C., as well as a number of vendors, so we have been able to begin our coverage.  One of them is DC-based eTERA Consulting.

With the continued growth and expansion of eTERA Consulting, the company has recently hired project managers and senior case consultants. Joe Kanka, Vice President of Corporate Development, told The Posse List in a an interview that “eTERA Consulting continues to look at the contract attorney marketplace in order to identify and attract new talent that fits our business model.”  In addition, eTERA Consulting is anticipating the staffing of upcoming document review projects for its clients.  “Our ability to tap into the contract labor pool allows us to provide the flexible staffing solutions that clients require from us,” said Kanka.   eTERA Consulting is an example of the trend we have reported :  the march of EDD vendors into document review, moving into the “right side” of the EDRM and thereby moving into all aspects of the model, as corporations turn to these companies to secure more ownership over the entire e-discovery process to enhance control and reduce costs. 

eTERA Consulting also recently announced that it has teamed up with the law firm of Sheppard Mullin in order to provide a series of CLE Corporate Briefing Seminars discussing antitrust enforcement and emerging legal issues under the Obama Administration. The first Corporate Briefing Seminar will be held in November will focus on Managing a Cartel Investigation. The seminar series will cover a wide range of legal, case management and electronic discovery issues that corporate counsel must manage.

eTERA Consulting has opened its National Project Center in the heart of Washington, DC, to serve clients locally, nationally and globally.

“The combination of our Project Center, National Processing Center and subject matter experts in one location, allows us to provide cost-effective and centralized litigation and legal management solutions under one roof,” said company President Scott Holec.

The Project Center is ideal for document review and war rooms, and offers flexible solutions that law firms and corporate legal departments need to effectively manage projects and cases.
 
For full announcement see full press release by clicking here.

WASHINGTON, DC, July 6, 2009—–ePIC LDS has announced that the new company name is eTERA Consulting. Company President Scott Holec said that the “new name coincides with the company’s continued growth and expansion into new markets, and fifth year anniversary of being in business.”

eTERA Consulting provides litigation and legal management solutions to law firms, corporations and the federal government. From collections to adjudication, eTERA Consulting serves as a key strategic partner and “go-to” trusted advisor to ensure that clients are provided with solutions to issues that will lead to desired results.

“Our recognized success is measured by Solutions, Knowledge, Experience and Trust that clients have in us. From managing large complex litigation projects to finding hot documents through effective technology utilization, eTERA Consulting is driven to build the best mouse trap, not just a better one,” said Holec.

“Comprehensive solutions to the most daunting challenges and cost-effective results are key guiding principles that drive our company,” says Mike Garner, Principal/Senior Executive Vice President. “As our clients have experienced, eTERA Consulting is the only partner they have to call when issues arise,” he added.

As a solutions driven company, the capabilities of eTERA Consulting encompass electronic discovery, information and data management, project management, contract staffing, project space resources, software training, and trial technology and graphics support. eTERA Consulting is headquartered in Washington, DC and has offices in Philadelphia, PA and Jacksonville, FL.

Quoting Carl Vacketta of DLA Piper (full article below) “from formation through administration, contracting with the federal government is a highly regulated process with many traps for the unsuspecting. Unlike commercial contracting, which is governed generally by the Uniform Commercial Code and the common law, federal government contracting is governed by a maze of statutes and regulations. These statutory and regulatory provisions dictate, for example, what method or process an agency must use to solicit a contract; how the agency is to negotiate or award a contract; and under certain circumstances, what costs the Government will reimburse and how a contractor must account for those costs. In addition, a government contractor must remain aware that it is subject to the policy dictates of the sovereign. The U.S. Government imposes a host of socio-economic obligations through its contracts, including requirements related to affirmative action, drug-free work place, subcontracting, and minimum employee wages. Although Congress has streamlined the contracting process to reduce the burdens on contractors offering commercial products and services, any entity considering entering into a government contract must tread carefully”.

The following are some links to good overviews on the process.  This page will be updated as we develop more sources:

Books on Federal Contracting

Federal Government Contracting blogs

Federal Government Contract Overview

Introduction to Federal Contracting