Decoding Digital Evidence: An introduction to digital forensics for legal professionals

Lars Daniel | Envista Forensics

Lars Daniel is the Practice Leader of the Digital Forensics Division at Envista Forensics, where he leads a team of exceptional experts with backgrounds in law enforcement, including Homeland Security, the Secret Service, and High-Tech Crime task forces. Under his leadership, the division remains at the forefront of digital forensic capabilities through innovative technological solutions and the continuous growth and development of world-class experts.

Lars is a co-author of two influential books in the field of digital forensics: “Digital Forensics for Legal Professionals: Understanding Digital Evidence from the Warrant to the Courtroom,” published by Syngess, and “Digital Forensics Trial Graphics: Educating the Jury Through Effective Use of Visuals,” published by Academic Press.

With extensive experience as an expert witness, Lars has testified in both state and federal courts across the United States and internationally. He is recognized as an expert in various domains, including digital forensics, computer forensics, cell phone forensics, video forensics, photo forensics, and audio forensics. He has provided testimony for both the defense and prosecution in criminal cases and for plaintiffs and defendants in civil cases.

Lars has trained thousands of attorneys and claims professionals, delivering over 400 Continuing Legal Education (CLE) and Continuing Education (CE) classes across the United States and internationally. His educational efforts have significantly contributed to the professional development of legal and insurance professionals.

Lars holds a range of certifications in digital forensics, including EnCase Certified Examiner (EnCE), Cellebrite Certified Operator (CCO), Cellebrite Certified Physical Analyst (CCPA), Certified Telecommunications Network Specialist (CTNS), Certified Wireless Analyst (CWA), Certified Internet Protocol Telecommunications Specialist (CIPTS), and Certified Telecommunications Analyst (CTA).

Collectively, Lars and his team have testified as expert witnesses in state and federal courts over 400 times, qualifying as experts in cell phone, computer, location, video, photo, audio, and digital forensics, among others. Some notable cases they have worked on include the Casey Anthony case in Florida, James Holmes, the theater mass shooter from Colorado, Dylann Roof, the church mass shooter in South Carolina, Aaron Hernandez, the Patriots football player, and the Adnan Syed case, which was the subject of the first NPR Serial Podcast.

I. Digital Forensics | 11:00am – 11:30am

• Importance of digital forensics
• Types of digital evidence and their sources
• The role of digital forensics in criminal investigations and corporate settings

II. Digital Forensics Process | 11:30am – 12:00pm

• The digital forensics lifecycle: identification, collection, acquisition, examination, analysis, and reporting
• Best practices for preserving and handling digital evidence
• Tools and techniques used in digital forensics investigations

Break | 12:00pm – 12:10pm

III. Legal Considerations | 12:10pm – 12:40pm

• Protecting digital evidence from spoliation claims
• Admissibility of digital evidence in court and authentication challenges
• Gaining access to electronic evidence and overcoming privacy concerns

IV. Case Studies and Emerging Trends | 12:40pm – 1:10pm

• Real-world examples of digital forensics in action
• Challenges faced by digital forensics professionals
• Future trends and advancements in the field of digital forensics