Business disputes can often be anticipated months in advance of formal proceedings. Executives involved in the conflicts are usually aware of the issues beforehand and are in a position to take action that can materially affect the outcome of the dispute. A forensic examiner, working in conjunction with your attorney, should be used to document and properly preserve the computer data (this can include email traffic, documents, accounting records, etc.) as an unassailable record for the court. This proactive approach can save thousands of dollars. Why struggle with a case where the evidence has been destroyed or partially obscured either through deliberate measures or simply due to the fact that the computers have remained in service?  Wouldn't it be easier and more effective if  the attorneys and consultants instead have documented, forensically valid, computer data with which to prepare their case?

Let's say your company hires a software development firm to write some software for you. The deliverables don't meet your expectations and you are losing confidence in the developers. You begin considering litigation to recover your development fees. Attorneys from both sides of this dispute should consult with a forensic computer expert before the matter ends up in court. The forensic examiner will preserve all of the computer data involved so that nothing is lost or destroyed. Examination of the data preserved can determine whether it met with industry standards and was fit for the intended purpose. Analysis of the specifications and correspondence between the developers and the company can help to establish if the specifications changed during development, dooming the software to failure despite best efforts. Hiring a forensic expert before litigation saves both time and money by quickly isolating the significant facts and helping the parties understand their responsibilities and options. Should the parties decide to go to court, the data required to prepare the case have already been preserved in a forensically valid manner acceptable to the court.