Electronic Discovery Services
Full-lifecycle ESI collection, processing, and production for litigation. Trusted by the SEC, NASA, the City of New York, and hundreds of law firms for more than three decades.
Discovery and Legal Data Intelligence
GDF is not a commodity hosting and review vendor. We are a discovery and legal data intelligence firm built for matters where the hardest evidence lives in the least obvious places: shadow IT repositories, cloud collaboration tenants, structured enterprise databases, mobile devices, and SaaS platforms that most providers cannot collect directly.
With more than 30 years in the field, GDF has handled hundreds of matters annually for clients including the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission, NASA, the City of New York, and Am Law 100 firms across the country. Our forensic analysts work alongside our eDiscovery team on matters that require both disciplines, with expert declaration and testimony support available when needed.
Every engagement is built around the same principles: identify the right data before collecting broadly, preserve it defensibly, and produce it in a form that holds up under court or regulatory scrutiny. Use the sections below to find the service area that fits your matter.
Four Service Pillars
GDF's eDiscovery practice is organized around four outcomes, not EDRM boxes. Each pillar links to detailed service pages.
Pillar 1: Data Discovery and Intelligence
Unknown repositories create discovery risk before collection even starts. GDF maps data sources, aligns custodians to systems, and scopes matters intelligently so that downstream collection is targeted and defensible.
Data Discovery and Source Mapping
- Hidden and shadow IT source identification
- Custodian-to-system mapping
- Cloud tenant and SaaS inventory
- Targeted scoping before collection
Cloud and SaaS Collections
- Direct-source collection via eCloudDiscovery
- Microsoft 365, Google Workspace, Slack, Salesforce, Box, Zoom
- Full metadata and context preservation
- Forensically sound chain of custody
Structured Data and Database Discovery
- ERP, CRM, HRIS, and financial database analysis
- SQL and API extraction with documented methodology
- Multi-table normalization for review
- Damages-supporting structured data exports
Mobile, Endpoint, and Forensic Collections
- iOS and Android device acquisition
- Remote and on-site endpoint collection
- Forensic imaging with hash verification
- Chain-of-custody documentation at every step
Pillar 2: Preservation and Collection
Spoliation risk starts the moment litigation is reasonably anticipated. GDF implements holds that satisfy court standards and collects data using forensically sound methods that protect admissibility.
Legal Holds and Preservation
- Hold notice issuance and custodian tracking
- Acknowledgment and reminder workflows
- Preservation-in-place for cloud platforms
- Defensible audit trail documentation
Cloud Collections via eCloudDiscovery
- GDF's proprietary eCloudDiscovery platform
- Least-privilege, auditable cloud access
- Real-time collection logging
- Direct transfer to review with no intermediate export gaps
Pillar 3: Early Intelligence and Analysis
The most expensive part of discovery is review. GDF's early case intelligence work cuts that cost by finding what matters before full review spend is incurred.
Pillar 4: Review, Production, and Services
GDF's in-house review platform includes every feature at a flat rate, with no per-feature pricing surprises. When matters require staffing, GDF's managed review team steps in with project management, quality control, and expert support.
Review Platform
- In-house platform: flat-rate, all features included
- AI-assisted review queues with human validation
- Privilege workflows, redaction, and logging
- Integrated collection modules and audit trail
Managed Review and Expert Services
- GDF-staffed review teams with QC and reporting
- Privilege review and clawback support
- Expert declarations and deposition testimony
- Scalable from overflow support to end-to-end delivery
Production and Defensible Delivery
- Production in TIFF, native, PDF, or custom format
- Privilege log support and redaction documentation
- Rule 502(d) clawback strategy support
- Production validation and delivery documentation
Solutions By Client Type
GDF serves both law firms and corporate legal departments. The service set is the same, but the engagement model, reporting structure, and cost priorities differ. Select the path that fits your organization.
Solutions for Law Firms
- Flexible engagement models for boutique to Am Law firms
- White-glove project support under tight deadlines
- Expert declarations and trial testimony available
- 30+ years of litigation support experience
Solutions for Corporations
- Hybrid insourcing and outsourcing models
- Legal-IT-privacy coordination across departments
- Repeatable workflows for recurring matters
- Predictable spend and executive-level reporting
Security and Trust
Client data in discovery matters is sensitive by definition. GDF applies strict access controls, encryption in transit and at rest, documented chain-of-custody procedures, and auditable logging at every stage of the workflow. Named certifications, architecture details, and privacy posture are published on our Security and Compliance page.
How GDF Engages
Every matter starts the same way: we identify the right team and the right scope before deploying resources. GDF's network of responders can be on-site at most U.S. locations within hours for emergency matters.
Scope and Source Assessment
GDF works with counsel to identify custodians, relevant platforms, and potential data sources. We surface hidden or overlooked repositories before collection decisions are made.
Preservation and Legal Hold
Hold notices go out to the right custodians with tracking, acknowledgment workflows, and a documented audit trail. Preservation-in-place is implemented for cloud and SaaS platforms where available.
Targeted Collection
Collections are performed directly from the source using forensically sound methods. GDF's eCloudDiscovery platform handles cloud and SaaS collections; endpoint and mobile collections follow NIST-aligned acquisition procedures with hash verification throughout.
Early Intelligence and Culling
Collected data is ingested, deduplicated, threaded, and analyzed before review begins. The goal is to identify what matters earlier so that review spend goes to the right documents.
Review and Production
Documents are reviewed in GDF's in-house platform or delivered to counsel's preferred platform. Production goes out in the specified format with privilege logs, redaction documentation, and delivery validation. Expert declarations are available when the process itself is at issue.
Last reviewed and updated: April 2026
Discuss Your eDiscovery Needs
All matters are handled in strict confidence. Contact GDF for a free consultation about your eDiscovery needs, emergency collection, or readiness assessment.