E-Discovery Innovation: Leveraging Technology, Tools, and Generative AI for Collection and Analysis of ESI

Suzanne H. Clark | Beasley Allen Law Firm

Suzanne H. Clark graduated from the University of Florida and began her legal career in 2002. In 2014, she received her Certified eDiscovery Specialist (CEDS) designation from ACEDS and transitioned to a full-time focus on eDiscovery, becoming a nationally recognized speaker and panelist in the field.

Suzanne works remotely from Jacksonville as Discovery Counsel for the Mass Torts Section of Beasley Allen Law Firm’s Montgomery home office. In this role, she assists the mass torts attorneys with discovery, particularly concerning ESI. She earned the Mass-Tort MDL Certificate from the Bolch Judicial Institute at Duke Law to further her expertise.

A frequent lecturer at eDiscovery educational events, Suzanne serves on the Planning Committee for the annual University of Florida College of Law eDiscovery Conference. From 2019 to 2020, she was an Associate Professor at Samford University, Cumberland School of Law, where she taught ESI I: Introduction to E-Discovery and ESI II: Discovery to students earning their Master of Studies of Law. In 2022, she also served as faculty for The Sedona Conference eDiscovery Negotiation Training (eDNT) Program.

Suzanne co-founded the Jacksonville chapter of ACEDS in 2014, which was later recognized as the national Chapter of the Year for its vibrancy and outreach. She continues to serve on the board and is also a Board Member of the Plaintiff’s Complex Litigation eDiscovery Forum (CLEF). In past service, Suzanne chaired the Jacksonville Bar Association’s Legal Technology Committee for two years and served on the Board of the Jacksonville Women Lawyers Association (JWLA) for two years. She is also a past member of the Global Advisory Council of the EDRM.

Sean Lanterman | Computer Forensic Services

Drawing on more than a decade of experience, Sean focuses on complex matters involving electronic evidence, including civil and criminal litigation, as well as information security events. Sean is considered a trusted advisor by his clients, and has successfully, and efficiently, identified actionable facts from digital sources in a variety of situations. Sean’s clients appreciate his ability to concisely, and understandably, communicate often technical, complex findings. As it relates to his practice, Sean provides continuity throughout the course of a project, from initial investigation through reporting and testimony.

Sean has been invited by organizations to speak about numerous topics, including smartphone evidence, working with experts, and cyber incidents. Sean has also provided his expertise to national and local news outlets. Sean earned his bachelor’s degree, with honors, from the University of St. Thomas in Minnesota, and then continued his studies at the University of St. Thomas School of Law. Sean is licensed to practice law in Minnesota state courts. Sean receives ongoing training in digital forensics and incident response from the SANS Institute and is a member of the GIAC (Global Information Assurance Certification) Advisory Board. Sean is also a member of the International Association of Computer Investigative Specialists (IACIS), and InfraGard (an intelligence partnership between the FBI and the private sector).

Aron Ahmadia | Applied Science at Relativity

Dr. Aron Ahmadia is the Senior Director for Applied Science at Relativity, where he leads the development of AI capabilities for Relativity One, including AI-Assisted Review, Analytics, and Search. Dr. Ahmadia is an internationally recognized expert on machine learning and artificial intelligence. His specializations include the use of AI in Legal Discovery, Model Risk Management, and Responsible AI. He previously held an adjunct faculty position with George Washington University and was an inaugural Professor of Computer Science at KAUST, where he taught one of the first coed classes in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia.

Dr. Ahmadia has a breadth of US government service, where he collaborated with various domestic intelligence, regulatory, security, and space agencies in design and evaluation of novel systems for exploring and managing information at massive scale. Dr. Ahmadia also has significant enterprise and financial services experience. While serving in the Model Risk Office at Capital One, he was an accredited Model Risk Officer responsible for supporting deployment decisions for key AI and machine learning capabilities in fraud defense, underwriting, and digital services. He holds a Ph.D. in Applied Math from Columbia University and a B.S. in Computer Engineering from the Illinois Institute of Technology.

I. Methods Used to Obtain Evidence | 2:00pm – 3:00pm

• Mobile devices
• Cloud accounts
• Cloud storage
• Collaborative platforms
• PCs

Break | 3:00pm – 3:10pm

II. AI Tools To Categorize and Analyze Data in E-discovery | 3:10pm – 3:40pm

• NLP tools
• Machine learning algorithms

III. Metadata | 3:40pm – 4:10pm

• How metadata is used in e-discovery processes
• Types of metadata
• Techniques for extracting and analyzing metadata from various file types
• Metadata management and preservation