Consilio in Action: Global Collaboration Powers On-Site Collections in Shanghai

How Rapid Response and Cohesive Teamwork Drove Success for a High-Stakes Healthcare Investigation

The Challenge: Urgent On-Site Collections in Shanghai

Late on a Thursday evening, a large healthcare organization’s legal affairs team came to Consilio with a critical and time-sensitive request: forensic data collection for an internal investigation in mainland China. The assignment, made in close coordination with AmLaw 50 outside counsel, involved 15 custodians requiring on-site collections starting just days later. Relying on Consilio’s trusted forensics experts who had previously supported both their law firm and healthcare vertical teams the organization needed a partner known for efficiency, accuracy, and meticulous process management.

Swift, Strategic Response

Within an hour of the initial request, Consilio confirmed both its capability and readiness to mobilize resources. By Monday, forensic specialists were on the ground in Shanghai, working collaboratively with clients to craft a tailored collection strategy. Over the following two weeks, Consilio’s team remained on-site, expertly managing the collection of 17 mobile phones, tablets, and other electronic devices while supporting simultaneous in-person witness interviews.

A hallmark of Consilio’s approach was a steadfast focus on custodian comfort and minimizing operational disruption, working hand-in-hand with stakeholders to provide real-time updates and ensure a seamless process throughout.

Jane Funk, vice president of eDiscovery services at Consilio, states, “The most important factor was our ability to assist our clients, with very little notice, on a global and impactful scale. We assembled a team in Shanghai and China and launched the project within 48 hours of receiving the request. Our ability to be on-site, with the corporate client and outside counsel, throughout the process, working in conjunction with the client’s stringent deadlines and deposition schedule, was critical to the success of this investigation.”

White-Glove Client Experience

Consilio’s dedication to client service was evident at every stage. By managing every detail of the collection process, Consilio freed the case team to concentrate on investigation priorities. The client and outside counsel commended Consilio’s ability to advance the investigation efficiently and relieve them from the logistics of collections. Local Consilio experts in mainland China provided essential guidance, ensuring that everything progressed smoothly on-site.

“(T)he team has been a pleasure to work with and [I] really appreciate the hard work put in by the Consilio team.  [Outside Counsel] was particularly appreciative of the collaboration and that the process overall has been smooth,” said the client’s head of global investigations.

Workflow Flexibility & Global Delivery

No eDiscovery matter ends with collection alone. Recognizing China’s complex privacy regulations, the client requested Consilio’s support in hosting and reviewing documents within mainland China. Consilio forged a seamless transition—extracting, converting, and processing data into Relativity in China and deploying first-level review teams under outside counsel’s direction. Collaboration among forensic, project management, and review teams enabled prompt, secure review and rapid delivery of key information.

Nick Reizen, global managing director for the law firm vertical, claims, “Watching Consilio leverage our global footprint to deliver seamless support for our clients really showcased our unwavering commitment to exceptional client experience—no matter the location or the challenge.”

Meanwhile, regular communication with U.S.-based stakeholders ensured consistency and alignment—a testament to Consilio’s cohesive, follow-the-sun global service.

Jeff Si, Consilio’s senior regional director - China, says, “I am quite proud of our local capacities in terms of quick responses, bilingual proficiency, and deep expertise in China’s data policy. Our Shanghai forensic team hatched a compliant plan for data collection based on the clear understanding of client and outside counsel’s expectations. When handling the data collection from one device to another, our forensic team provided timely updates to the client and outside counsel until completion, which was impressive and gained the trust from clients as well as the outside counsel.

Lasting Impact

By combining global reach, local expertise, and an unwavering client focus, Consilio delivered a successful outcome for all stakeholders in the Shanghai Collection II matter. The project demonstrated the power of rapid response, collaborative problem-solving, and flexibility in meeting even the most complex and time-sensitive investigative needs.

"I wanted to pass along praise from our team that they are very impressed with the work product they have seen. They said that it is some of the best they have seen in a long time," claims the client’s associate.