Director of eDiscovery and Litigation Support

At Haynes and Boone, our people are the driving force behind our success. Because we value the role every individual plays in how we deliver exceptional legal services, we hire people who will contribute to our professional reputation, enhance client relationships and share in our success.

Haynes and Boone is one of the largest law firms in Dallas, and it continues to grow. In 2023, Haynes and Boone moved its headquarters to a new 27-story office tower in the Harwood District of uptown Dallas. Lawyers in our Dallas office serve all the firm’s practice and industry areas – including corporate, litigation, banking/finance, insurance law, healthcare law, labor and employment, estate planning, real estate, bankruptcy, intellectual property, white collar crime, and antitrust. Our Dallas lawyers are widely recognized in their practice areas in publications such as The Best Lawyers in America directory (Woodward/White, Inc.) and the Chambers USA legal directory (Chambers & Partners). This office attracts high-energy, technically proficient people who enjoy working in a collegial environment. We are committed to having a diverse workforce that reflects our communities, and we seek highly motivated lawyers and staff who value our culture of respect and teamwork.

This position serves as the head of electronic discovery services and litigation support. This role is integral to the Haynes Boone litigation practice, overseeing all aspects of electronic discovery and providing strategic support for complex litigation cases. Core services include: all aspects of case management, project planning, and project management. This position will be responsible for setting the strategies for the department, managing the department, developing and maintaining the best practices and procedures for the firm throughout the entire EDRM spectrum. The ideal candidate will have a strong understanding of e-discovery processes, technologies, and litigation support services, along with excellent leadership and communication skills.

We will consider candidates to work in any location where Haynes and Boone has an office.

Essential Duties:

Strategic Planning & Leadership

• Develop and maintain departmental strategies in conjunction with input from the litigation partners.

• Oversee and ensure successful completion/execution of all departmental projects and initiatives.

• Maintain up-to-date knowledge of general technology (including Artificial Intelligence use and evolving rules and accepted laws) and eDiscovery trends affecting litigation automation. Share knowledge with the department and evaluate new technology, working with appropriate technology teams.

• Assist with any other ALS projects and perform related duties as needed.

• Manage and direct approved managed service providers.

People Management & Development

• Manage all litigation support staff, which includes, but is not limited to, performance management, workflow coordination, training, development and mentoring.

• Provide training and guidance to clients and internal users on eDiscovery processes and best practices.

• Provide education to Firm attorneys on topics of document retention and destruction and electronic evidence and discovery matters.

Process, Standards & Operational Excellence

• Design, implement and enforce standards, processes, and best practices for the department including, but not limited to, proper file and data management, form of production, document review strategy and outside vendor guidelines.

• Oversee, and assist, when necessary, with the support of all litigation software and hardware tools installed throughout the firm.

• Communicate effectively to troubleshoot and address the needs of end users, with respect to supported litigation support programs.

Financial & Budget Oversight

• Monitor and review the departmental budget to ensure the department stays within or below the approved budget.

• Develop and manage budgets for eDiscovery and litigation support services.

• Monitor expenses and identify cost-effective solutions for managing eDiscovery efforts.

• Oversee the billing activities of the Litigation Support department and ensure billable requirements are satisfied.

• Review and recommend billing charges, hourly rates and billing strategies within the department and communicate these charges and rates to the project management and case teams.

• Work with Litigation Support staff to ensure time is billed correctly and create best practices with regard to time narratives.

Client Services & Communication

• Serve as a point of contact for clients regarding eDiscovery and litigation support matters.

• Consult with attorneys, paralegals and clients regarding electronic discovery best practices, rules and laws. Provide guidance and strategies to determine the best use of litigation support technology and workflow processes.

• Consistently initiate and maintain communication with partners, associates and paralegals to monitor and increase firm-wide department utilization (i.e., marketing).

• Oversee and ensure efficiency and quality of deliverables to external and internal clients.

• Other duties as assigned.

Reporting Relationship:

The Director of eDiscovery and Litigation Support will be part of the IT department and report to the Director of Practice Innovation.

Subordinate Roles: The Discovery Analyst Supervisor, Discovery Project Manager, Discovery Analyst, Trial Services Consultant, Legal Services Coordinator and Discovery Specialist will report to the Director.

Experience/Knowledge:

• Experience: 5+ years as a practicing litigator, demonstrating a strong track record in litigation and legal proceedings, or equivalent work experience in eDiscovery/Litigation Support at a law firm.

• Experience working in a law firm, corporate legal department, or professional services environment is required.

• Emotional Intelligence: High emotional intelligence, with the ability to manage and navigate complex interpersonal relationships effectively.

• Initiative: A self-starter who is proactive and able to work independently with minimal supervision.

• Technical Knowledge: Proficient in specific eDiscovery technologies, with a deep understanding of the tools and processes involved in electronic discovery.

• Leadership: Proven ability to effectively lead a team, fostering collaboration and ensuring the successful completion of projects.

Education:

A Juris Doctor (JD) degree from an accredited law school is preferred, although other advanced degrees will be considered supplemented with real-world experience working with law firm litigation teams and eDiscovery processes.

Physical Requirements:

• Frequently operates a computer and other office productivity machines, such as a copier, scanner, and printer.

• Constant communication with attorneys, clients, and firm staff is required.

Working Conditions:

• Office environment.

• Occasional extended hours beyond the normal schedule may be required to meet firm or client needs.