Elevate implemented a structured Managed Document Review approach in Everlaw, supported by experienced data privacy attorneys, to deliver five complex DSAR responses from a single data subject within a strict regulatory deadline while reducing scope and cost.
Challenge
One of the world’s oldest universities received five complex Data Subjects Access Requests (DSARs) from the same requestor, each carrying a strict regulatory deadline. The requests demanded a fast, defensible response without compromising accuracy.
The scope included:
- Reviewing large volumes of documents for responsiveness, privilege, and applicable exemptions
- Redacting third-party personal data scattered across multiple documents
- Identifying documents connected to anticipated litigation by the data subject
- Adapting review criteria in real-time as new insights emerged
Solution
Elevate deployed a structured Managed Document Review solution using Everlaw to accelerate review while ensuring defensibility. Key steps included:
- Performing de-duplication and creating targeted searches aligned to relevant custodians and parties
- Devising intelligent workflows, including priority searches and smart batching based on related search terms
- Leading calibration discussions with outside counsel and escalating key documents in real time
- Integrating second-level review (2LR) insights from the outside counsel to refine first-level review criteria
- Maintaining alignment between outside counsel and the review team through structured working sessions and real-time guidance updates
- Assigning an experienced team of data privacy attorneys and sustaining uninterrupted progress, including weekend work
