Cooperation Checklist from the Experts

With all the talk about the importance of cooperation in the electronic discovery process, it is interesting to see a checklist of items which some experts believe come within the ambit of "cooperation". At a recent Fios webinar, the faculty (Richard Braman of Sedona; retired magistrate now law school dean John Carroll; and Fios consultants Kenneth Rashbaum and Mary Mack) offered several examples of cooperation (a list which is, of course, by no means all inclusive):

* Exchanging information with opposing counsel on relevant data sources, including those not being searched;
* Scheduling early disclosures on the topics of ESI
* Joint development of search and retrieval methodologies
* Early identification of (and agreement upon) forms of production
* Development of case-long discovery budgets based upon proportionality principles
* Using court appointed experts, mediators or formal ADR programs to resolve discovery disputes
* Using in-house or third party "experts" to assist the attorney in drafting discovery requests and preparing responses (presumably to make sure the requests and responses are properly targeted and technologically correct.

The Sedona Conference Cooperation Proclamation probably is now becoming required reading for litigators, given its widespread endorsement. However, checklists like the foregoing from the Fios presenters really advance the cause by putting some specifics on the process.