The Challenge
A leading global medical device company involved in a high-stakes regulatory dispute required large-scale document review under tight deadlines and strict budget parameters. With nearly a half million potentially responsive documents and multiple stakeholders involved, the company needed a partner capable of rapidly mobilizing talent, managing review quality, and maintaining cost predictability, without disrupting ongoing business operations.
The matter presented several layers of complexity:
- Rapid ramp-up requirements requiring approximately 100
qualified review attorneys to be staffed within 24 hours
- Aggressive deadlines driven by court schedules and evolving expectations from outside counsel
- Use of the client’s existing eDiscovery platform, requiring seamless integration with established workflows and protocols
- A fixed-cost, per-document pricing model, demanding disciplined project management and operational efficiency
- Coordination across multiple teams, including the client’s internal stakeholders, outside counsel, and Avalon’s managed review and eDiscovery departments
The review environment required operational precision, proactive communication, and steady oversight to maintain alignment among stakeholders while keeping the project on schedule and within scope.
The Strategy
Avalon implemented a comprehensive managed review approach built around speed, transparency, and control.
- Rapid team deployment – Leveraging a deep bench of experienced attorneys, Avalon staffed a team of approximately 100 qualified review attorneys within 24 hours. Dedicated team leads and quality control attorneys were embedded from the outset to drive consistency, defensibility, and productivity.
- Disciplined communication & counsel management – Clear reporting protocols, daily metrics, and structured calibration sessions ensured alignment with outside counsel’s direction – even as guidance evolved. By maintaining a steady communication cadence and solution-oriented approach, Avalon’s review manager effectively handled shifting expectations while preserving momentum and team morale.
- Platform-driven efficiency – Working within the client’s existing eDiscovery platform, Avalon designed streamlined workflows, batching protocols, and dashboards to monitor productivity and quality in real time. Continuous quality control checks minimized rework and preserved accuracy.
- Fixed-cost operational discipline – Under a per-document pricing structure, Avalon applied rigorous tracking and throughput management to maintain efficiency. Forecasting models and productivity benchmarks allowed the team to control cost exposure while meeting deadlines, ultimately, driving strong margin performance.
- Cross-functional coordination – Avalon’s review manager worked closely with the client’s legal team, outside counsel, and our inhouse eDiscovery department to synchronize data processing, review workflows, and reporting. This integrated approach reduced friction and eliminated unnecessary delays.
The Results
Within 24 hours, Avalon’s managed review experts recruited, vetted, and deployed a team of approximately 100 document review attorneys, complete with experienced team leads and quality control oversight. This rapid mobilization allowed the review to begin immediately and proceed quickly. The managed document review was completed on schedule and in full compliance with court deadlines and client expectations.
Key outcomes included:
- Successful staffing of 100 review attorneys within 24 hours
- Effective management of evolving counsel expectations
- Timely and defensible completion of document review milestones
- Seamless execution within the client’s eDiscovery environment
- Predictable spend under a fixed-cost pricing model
- Strong operational margins driven by disciplined project management
By combining rapid scalability, structured oversight, and financial precision, Avalon delivered a review process that was both strategically sound, operationally efficient, and resulted in a defensible work product. The engagement reinforced the value of a well-managed review model – one capable of navigating complexity while maintaining control over cost, quality, and timeline.
