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Barry D. Willms
Discovery Process Architect, E-Discovery Division
112 Westwood Place, Suite 350
Brentwood, TN 37027 T: 615.467.2388 F: 615.467.2391     Download vCardEducation J.D., Georgia State University B.S., cum laude, Kennesaw State University Speaking Engagements | Publications |
Barry Willms is the Discovery Process Architect for the E-Discovery Division of Counsel On Call. Under the direction of supervising counsel, he develops the structure under which Counsel On Call attorneys implement cost-conscious, repeatable and defensible e-discovery review processes, document retention/ESI policies and early case assessment initiatives.
He is also a frequent contributor to Counsel On Call's blog, Lawdable, where he writes about e-discovery trends.
Mr. Willms is a former practicing attorney with more than 14 years of law firm experience at Bass, Berry & Sims in Nashville; King & Spalding in Atlanta; and at his own firm in Georgia. At Bass, Berry & Sims, Mr. Willms educated clients on the discovery process and developed policies and reproducible best practices to significantly reduce pre-litigation and discovery costs. In the nearly 10 years he spent at King & Spalding, he supervised and managed large discovery review teams and worked directly with clients on strategic decision making and analysis.
Since 1995, Mr. Willms has developed the following expertise in discovery-related matters:
• Managed large teams of reviewers for more than 100 different matters
• Created and updated record retention policies
• Created and updated litigation hold processes
• Developed reproducible and defensible processes for cost-effective preservation, culling, review, production,
privilege log
• Drafted infrastructure data maps
• Provided general e-discovery advice
• Conducted interviews to identify key custodians and their ESI
• Evaluated vendors and their various e-discovery software programs, including: Applied Discovery; CaseCentral; Catalyst; Clearwell; Concordance; Discovery Mining; iCONECT; Introspect; iPro; KPMG; Kroll Ontrack; Ringtail; Summation; and TCDI
• Types of cases: product liability, toxic tort, investigations by OIG and State Attorneys General
Representative client Industries from his prior experience and while developing protocols for Counsel On Call attorneys (who work under the direction and supervision of law firm and corporate clients) include:
• Healthcare-related (10)
• Pharmaceutical (3)
• Retail (2)
• Tobacco (2)
• Energy (2)
• Technology-related (4)
• Financial (2)
• Security
• Food/Beverage (2)
• Manufacturing
• Paper (2)
• Shipping/Logistics (2)
• Telecomm
Mr. Willms received his J.D. from Georgia State University and his bachelor’s degree, cum laude, from Kennesaw State University.
He serves on the board of directors of a number of charities, in an alderman in his community, and serves on the personnel committee of his local community.
Recent Speaking Engagements
• "E-Discovery: A Tactical Approach to Managing Risk and Reducing Cost," Fraud and Compliance Forum, September 2011
• "Record Retention," CLE Presentation, E-Discovery & Ethics: They're Kind of a Big Deal, September 2010
• "Software Experiences, Culling and Early Case Assessment," Panelist, Discovery Symposium 2.0, May 2010
Publications
• "Drywall Litigation Requires Centralized Approach: Lessons Learned Help a Better Model Emerge," Westlaw Journal: Class Action, March 2010
A contributor to Lawdable, here are some of his recent posts:
• "Social Media: Early Involvement, Where We're Going, What To Do"
• "No Better Place Than Florida for a Little E-Discovery"
• "E-Discovery Review Platforms: Choices Abound"
• "Harried, But With Purpose"
• "What Would Hal 9000 Do (WWH9D) for E-Discovery?"
• "Consider 'One-Stopping' Project Management, Not Technology"
• "E-Discovery Tools: Evaluate, Collaborate and 'Lawyer the Problem'"
• "Legal Project Management: Fad or Focus?"
• "Changing Platforms, Leaders and ... New Questions"
• "The 'Zubulake' of Legal Holds"
• "It's 2 a.m. Do You Know Where Your E-mail Is?"
• "ESI in 2010: Trash or Treasure?"
• "Don't Hit the Snooze Button on Project Management"
Counsel On Call (“COC”) works solely at the direction of, and under the supervision of, counsel in the matter for which it has been retained to conduct document review or otherwise provide assistance in discovery. The information contained within these materials is not intended to constitute, and should not be construed as, legal representation or advice. COC is not sponsored by or affiliated with any law firm.