Initial Contact & Retention
1. Identify Clients – Adverse Parties – Related Parties: entity
/ individual; locations / jurisdictions
2. Run Conflicts and resolve
3. Obtain billing guidelines or limitations
4. Engagement Letters and Waivers
Assessment of Status
5. Insurance • Request policies • Identify if claims made
6. Identify ADR obligations [arbitration or mediation]
Assessment of Client
7. Identify the client’s goals
8. Explore the client’s risk tolerance
9. Determine need and scope of budgets
Assessment of Adverse Party
10. Conduct litigation search of party and counsel
Assessment of Venue
11. Identify the venue and removal options
Initial Assessment
12. Identify Claims, Defenses, Statutory or Contractual Deadlines
13. Request Relevant Documents
14. Identify primary witnesses • Schedule interviews
15. Prepare Litigation Hold letters • Identify custodians
16. Identify ESI issues and prepare plan for retention and collection