Media Alert:
 CGOC to Host Workshop with PricewaterhouseCoopers on the Collision of Privacy, Discovery and Retention Laws for Global Companies

BP, GE, Raytheon, Citigroup and PSS Systems to Speak

New York, NY — June 2, 2008 — CGOC is hosting a workshop on June 3rd in New York to address the conflicts of law between jurisdictions and the corresponding increase in risk and complexity for global companies. The increases in US discovery activity and in information volume being discovered have exacerbated long-standing data protection requirements in the European Union and other countries. A recent rise in enforcement of data protection rules in France, UK, Germany and elsewhere is making it increasingly difficult for companies to meet their US-driven discovery obligations to preserve data, identify employees that may have such data, then collect and produce data in litigation when this data or personnel reside in countries with data protection provisions that prevent collection, processing and transport of personal information. As a result of US discovery rule changes, many companies are also revising their data retention policies and schedules only to find vast differences, and often direct conflicts, in record keeping laws in the countries where they operate.

CGOC, a corporate practitioner’s forum uniquely addressing retention, preservation, and compliance issues, is focusing its 4th Annual Summer Workshop on the intersection and frequent collision of privacy, discovery and retention laws for global companies, and the operational and legal challenges these conflicts present to legal and compliance staff in multi-national corporations. Industry and legal experts will address the laws related to privacy and data protection, industry compliance trends, best practices for managing complex international discovery, and frameworks for managing country compliance while operating in many countries. Featured experts include:

  • Russell Stalters, Director of Information & Records Management, BP
  • Jay Brudz, Senior Corporate Counsel, GE
  • Woods K. Abbott, Senior Manager of Legal Operations, Raytheon
  • Richard Gomes, CISA, CISSP, Citigroup
  • Eric Schwarz, Americas Leader, Legal Technology Fraud Investigation & Dispute Services, Ernst & Young
  • James Koenig, Director, Privacy & Identity Theft Practice, PricewaterhouseCoopers
  • Thomas M. Lahiff Jr.; Director, PricewaterhouseCoopers; former Assistant General Counsel, Citigroup
  • Deidre Paknad; Founder, CGOC; CEO, PSS Systems
  • James Daley; Co-chair, Sedona International Electronic Information Management, Discovery and Disclosure Working Group; Partner, Redgrave, Daley, Ragan & Wagner
  • David J. White, EDiscovery Practice, London University Alumnus, Seyfarth Shaw
  • James G. Mitchell, Managing Director, Huron Consulting

75 corporate practitioners from global companies are attending the event, including general counsel, litigation counsel, retention program directors, and privacy counsel at some of the world's largest companies. PricewaterhouseCoopers, Huron Consulting Group and Ryley, Carlock & Applewhite are event co-sponsors. This is one of 15 CGOC events in 2008 in which corporate practitioners and legal experts convene to share experience and develop best practices. According to Vivian Tero, Compliance Infrastructure analyst at IDC, "The CGOC forum has done significant work in advancing the legal holds and retention practices of corporations."

About CGOC
The CGOC is a community of experts in retention, preservation and compliance which convenes a variety of events, publishes papers, and provides ongoing resources and expertise on these important topics. CGOC events are known for their quality of experts and exchange. Its annual 3-day Summit in January sets the agenda for the year with a look at issues on the horizon for legal governance professionals; a Spring series focuses on best practices in most major metropolitan areas, the June Workshop is an in-depth review of difficult issues, and a Fall series addresses how changing law or shifting expectations impact corporate practices. The organization was founded in 2004 by Deidre Paknad, CEO of PSS Systems and a visionary in retention and preservation solutions, to create a continuing, high-quality, executive level exchange of expertise and information on these fast-changing business issues. For more information visit www.cgoc.com.

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