Meet eMerge Alumni Amanda Evanson
May 26 2022
Tell us about how you got started at eMerge?
My start at eMerge was a little hard work and a little being in the right place at the right time. After law school, I was on the Doc Review circuit when I was placed on a few projects at Troutman Sanders. I really enjoyed the teams I was working with and eventually worked my way up the food chain. When eMerge started to transition from an idea to reality, I had the opportunity to be involved in the nuts and bolts — developing standards, processes, and procedures. The rest is history!
Can you tell us about your position now?
As senior eDiscovery counsel at Delta Air Lines, I manage and oversee all eDiscovery processes for litigation and regulatory matters. My day to day includes everything from managing internal litigation hold and preservation processes to counseling in-house and outside counsel on everything from ESI protocols to document review workflows. The highlight of my job is getting to interact with all aspects of the business — TechOps, Network, Customer Experience, In-Flight Service. There are so many pieces involved with getting planes off the ground, and every day I’m learning something new.
What were some skills you’ve gained from your time at eMerge that have benefited you the most in your current role?
I don’t think there’s a day that goes by where I’m not using the skills I gained at eMerge. The core value of combining legal and technology is still not something you see at many other service providers. Having that technical background, along with being able to “speak like a lawyer,” really helps me have those difficult conversations. Whether it’s communicating with my internal IT teams, an external eDiscovery service provider, or outside counsel, I’m able to effectively communicate and counsel in any scenario to get the best results for the business.
Can you tell us about your relationship with eMerge?
Luckily, I moved to a company that still has a strong relationship with Troutman Pepper. While we perform most of our eDiscovery tasks internally, we still consult with eMerge on some of our larger litigation matters. Plus, the eDiscovery world is a small one, so I always run into current and former eMerge members at conferences and events. We really are everywhere!
How has the eDiscovery landscape changed in the last 10 years?
Technology has certainly improved and automated many of the tasks we used to perform manually. There are also many more players in the eDiscovery services field — although I find that many are just slapping new names on old workflows/techniques and touting them as the latest and greatest invention that will save you a million dollars. I’m a firm believer that it’s important to have a knowledgeable eDiscovery professional in your corner who can help you sort through all the noise.
How do you like to spend your time outside of work?
Well, I do work for Delta, so traveling is definitely at the top of the list! I also watch way too many hours of HGTV, so on the weekends, you can usually find me staining a piece of furniture or refinishing a bathroom vanity. That picture has changed just a bit since we welcomed our first child on April 30, but we plan for Cece to start racking up the frequent flyer miles as soon as she is ready. There’s never a dull moment around here, that’s for sure.