DATA EXCHANGE: 30-strong group aims to cut litigation costs

A group of leading law firms has formed a think tank in a bid to develop a uniform approach for the use of IT in litigation and dispute resolution.

The 30-firm strong group, called LiST (litigation support technology), includes litigation support managers from all the City's magic circle firms - Allen & Overy, Clifford Chance, Freshfields Bruckhaus Deringer, Linklaters and Slaughter and May - and most of the other top 30 firms.

The group, which began spontaneously earlier this year, is meeting on a monthly basis and has created ad hoc working parties to discuss specific issues such as data exchange and costs.

Jo Glenister, the head of litigation support at Allen & Overy, said: 'Currently with data exchange, each firm uses its own system to prepare disclosure lists in litigation and these frequently need to go through lengthy IT script translation in the course of litigation.'

On costs, she said: 'We are looking at ways in which parties to litigation could minimise IT costs involved by allotting tasks or sharing them.'

She said the group is also discussing the best methods of using IT for court presentations during cases.

Ms Glenister added that 'no one has ownership of the project.

We take it in turns to host it and do the minutes'.

Leading legal IT consultant Charles Christian said: 'I think this is a good idea...

There are many examples of cases - such as the Lloyds litigation of the 1990s - which have had problems resulting from differences in IT systems used by the parties.'

To contact Ms Glenister, e-mail: jo.glenister@allenovery.com.

Jeremy Fleming