LDM Global delivers timely response to adversarial DSAR

eDisclosure services help streamline messy disclosure

Challenge

A demanding Data Subject Access Request (DSAR) with a tight turnaround time, in adversarial circumstances and a client who was unfamiliar with outsourcing.

Solution

The DSAR Solutions team at LDM Global assisted Mourant Ozannes (leading off-shore law firm) on an early briefing call with the end client to explain the outsourcing process, ultimately providing trust in the process. A streamlined workflow delivered the project four days ahead of schedule, within budget and despite changing instructions.

The Full Story

One of the world leading financial services institutions received a demanding Data Subject Access Request from a disgruntled former client with whom they had been locked in longstanding litigation. LDM Global was instructed by the end client’s lawyers, Mourant Ozannes (Mourant), a leading off shore law firm. Although the number of documents appeared to be small at only 5,000, the law firm was not contacted immediately by the end client, so the normal 30-day deadline to respond was now looming.

The law firm suggested outsourcing the work to LDM Global, who is experienced with DSARs; however, the end client was not used to outsourcing such work and required some convincing. Mourant’s lead on the case, Associate Jeremy Bell-Connell, suggested a joint call between the end client and LDM Global’s Solutions Director and Legal Services Director to help explain the process.

“The client had never outsourced a DSAR before and it was therefore important to get LDM Global’s directors on the phone with the client to explain the process and in doing so demonstrate their capability.” Bell-Connell said. “The call went really well and it was clear that the client now had sufficient trust in the process to press ahead.”

Once the client signed off to outsource the project, LDM Global stepped in and got started. However, the scope of the project increased almost immediately, with the volume of documents increasing three-fold from the initial scope. Some aspects of the instructions also changed during the first few days of the project.

However, LDM Global adapted to the changes very quickly and managed to deliver clean and defensible work product four days ahead of schedule.

Additionally, LDM Global’s in house Document Review team went a step further to identify documents that might be relevant in other cases.

“When I noticed many documents that were not relevant, I considered why they would be in the document set,” said LDM Global Services Director Rashmi Kishore. “Many of them may have been relevant to another matter, so I discussed with the law firm whether these might be useful to mark, as well, and ultimately, they were very happy with that proactiveness on our part.”

Overall, Mourant and the end client were very happy with LDM Global’s expertise and support, which provided assurance and confidence to the client that their needs would be met. The fast turnaround with a changing scope and instructions, all while kicking off the project on a weekend, also resulted in excellent value for the client.

“LDM Global was very flexible and was able to amend the timetable to meet our changing needs,” Bell-Connell said. “Everyone adapted very well and was responsive to us despite some changing plans and instructions.”