Sebastian Ko is Director, Document Review Services, for Epiq, based in Hong Kong. I had the opportunity to interview him when I was in Hong Kong earlier this year and I asked him about how Epiq handles the issues which can arise in the region.
Epic does eDiscovery exercises, from collection through to review, not just in Hong Kong but in mainland China and in South East Asia, including Singapore. The principal problem, Sebastian Ko said, is integrating all the disparate data components which are to be found there so that they can “tell a good story”.
A major issue in the region, particularly in China, is dealing with data protection rules and guidelines which, Sebastian Ko says, are both broad and vague. Epiq has developed workflows to deal with with overlapping regulatory frameworks and set up on-site hosting and review facilities.
This inevitably adds costs. Sebastian Ko says that Epiq helps its clients by setting up a data centre in China and by undertaking document reviews in different cities. Mobile solutions are available where necessary. Perhaps the most critical component is engaging the right contract lawyers.
Epiq is, of course, part of a global organisation with expertise available in the US and in Europe which can be made available to the Hong Kong office when necessary.
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