Forensic data and analytic insights are experiencing compound growth within Deloitte Forensic’s practice. Nicholas Adamo, Lead Partner for Forensic Data, Deloitte, answered a number of questions posed by Voice&Data on these two key 'data businesses'.
Q: What sorts of organisations are looking to these new businesses for help?
Over the past decade, Forensic Data has assisted clients with a range of issues.
While the issues and industries vary significantly, Forensic Data provides a comprehensive suite of services ranging from computer investigations through to the collection, processing, hosting, review and production of data for e.Discovery.
For example, we helped one high-profile individual to defend himself successfully from regulators and avoid jail. In addition, he then went on the front foot to demonstrate the deficiencies in the other party’s data collection and analysis based on our recommendations.
We have assisted another client by significantly reducing the number of documents to be reviewed by lawyers, from a million items to only several thousand. This not only saved them a great amount of time, but millions of dollars in legal fees.
The business has helped yet another organisation identify an employee who inappropriately accessed commercial-in-confidence information and passed it on to competitors.
Q: Why is it growing?
Forensic Data helps clients in a range of environments including regulatory, legal, government, statutory and corporate. However, the market has moved significantly with the economic downturn and our clients have far greater requirements than ever before.
We help meet the challenges faced by our clients in this heightened regulatory and litigious environment.
Deloitte has committed to investing in people, infrastructure and technology to provide a complete, end-to-end e.Discovery and computer forensic solution. We are able to assist clients no matter how large or difficult their matters may be.
Q: Who are the experts and how do they find the relevant information?
Deloitte merged with Forensic Data to create a team of 30 specialist forensic technology specialists within a total forensic team of over 170 staff. Our experts use both proprietary and commercially available software, combined with decades of experience in forensic techniques to identify, extract, interpret and present relevant information.
In addition, the firm has committed to building a new data centre that will provide unmatched processing potential for our e.Discovery matters and allow for global engagements to be performed more swiftly and cost effectively.
Our new capacity will enable clients to better respond to the ever-increasing legal and regulatory challenges they face or simply deal more efficiently with their general commercial issues relating to their data.
In fact, from a legal or regulatory perspective, clients can no longer ignore their electronically stored information. They must be more proactive in identifying, collating, interpreting and hosting their data.