Although my primary focus is on electronic discovery / electronic disclosure and the increasing number of subjects which relate to it, the wider subject of legal department efficiency attracts my attention, particularly when it involves one of the sponsors of the eDisclosure Information Project.

Huron Legal does more than electronic discovery, having a broad portfolio of advisory and business services designed to help law firms and legal departments improve their business effectiveness and reduce costs. In support of that function, Huron Legal has developed its own technology tools and processes. A recent addition to its collection is its kCreate contract creation tool designed to help companies have visibility and control over their contractual obligations and commitments and to manage the contracting process. Huron’s Contract Management and Compliance web page and press release have further information about this.

My interest in Neota Logic is personal as well as professional thanks to a long-standing connection with founder John Lord from his days at Epiq Systems. I also know Michael Mills, President and Chief Strategy Officer at Neota Logic whom I saw briefly at ILTA in Nashville.

Neota Logic develops expert systems, delivered through its platform Neota Logic Server. It has entered into a strategic alliance with Huron Legal to make Neota Logic Server available to provide custom document logic applications including Huron Legal’s kCreate. The result is that the user is walked through a series of questions whose answers generate appropriate wording and context. Neota Logic draws in data from CRM and other systems as well.

Huron Legal provides other services related to its kCreate contract tool, including strategic advice on a company’s agreements from legacy systems; contract management system selection and implementation; contract discovery review and analytics; and obligations management for ongoing support of the contract management system.