[Webcast] eDiscovery Lessons for 2026: Spotlighting the Top ESI Cases and Trends from 2025 (January 28, 2026)
[Webcast] eDiscovery Lessons for 2026: Spotlighting the Top ESI Cases and Trends from 2025 (January 28, 2026)
2025 ushered in several ESI developments affecting eDiscovery professionals. Courts have issued decisions addressing cutting-edge issues regarding AI-content. They include cases discussing preservation and production standards; attorney-client privilege and work product issues; and the need for better information governance to address AI-generated content. In addition, courts have issued rulings with new wrinkles on longstanding topics like ESI search; possession, custody, or control; and family production practices. Outside of the courthouse, privacy issues figured prominently in 2025, with regulators (particularly in California with the CCPA) rigorously enforcing data protection standards.
Event Details
Moderated by seasoned attorney and eDiscovery expert Philip Favro, this session will provide practitioners with an understanding of the top eDiscovery court decisions and trends from last year and the lessons they signal going forward for practitioners in 2026.
+ Original Date: Wednesday, January 28, 2026
Expert Panelists
+ Philip Favro (Moderator)
Founder of Favro Law PLLC
Philip Favro is the founder and president of Favro Law PLLC, where he counsels clients on ESI, AI, and discovery issues and serves as a special master, mediator, and expert witness. Phil is nationally recognized for his expertise on ESI, discovery, and information governance, with courts acknowledging his credentials. See, e.g., Oakley v. MSG Networks, Inc., No. 17-CV-6903 (RJS), 2025 WL 2061665 (S.D.N.Y. July 23, 2025). This background makes Phil particularly well-suited to counsel clients and advise courts on information-related issues. As a special master, Phil is acclaimed for his collaborative approach, working with parties to find stipulated solutions to complex issues. For disputes that require adjudication, he is renowned for the clarity and vigor of his written dispositions.
+ Judge Allison H. Goddard
Magistrate Judge, U.S. District Court, Southern District of California
Judge Allison H. Goddard has served as a Magistrate Judge for the U.S. District Court, Southern District of California, since 2019. She presents regularly on e-discovery and technology and the law for the Federal Judicial Center, The Sedona Conference, and at legal conferences throughout the country. She recently spoke on “AI and the Courts in the Digital Era” at the Congressional Office for International Leadership Conference in Mongolia and has traveled to Uzbekistan to speak to its Supreme Judicial Council about judicial independence. Judge Goddard also coaches a local high school mock trial team.
+ Ruth C. Hauswirth
Special Counsel and Head of Litigation & eDiscovery, Cooley LLP
Ruth C. Hauswirth bridges the gap between legal strategy and emerging technology. As Special Counsel and Head of Litigation & eDiscovery at Cooley LLP, she founded and leads the firm’s innovative eDiscovery and Information Governance practice. With over 30 years of experience navigating complex litigation and the evolving landscape of electronically stored information, Ruth delivers strategic, defensible solutions that integrate emerging technologies, including Generative AI, to optimize legal outcomes. Ruth is also a Certified AI Governance Professional through the International Association of Privacy Professionals. She is also a trusted advisor to clients on litigation readiness and enterprise information governance, with work spanning policy development, implementation, and regulatory compliance across global jurisdictions. In 2023, Ruth was named a Relativity AI Visionary and is a sought-after and frequent speaker on eDiscovery, GenAI, and the intersection of law and technology. Ruth served as an adjunct professor teaching eDiscovery Law at the University of San Diego School of Law between 2015–2023, and also previously served as Assistant Dean for Law and Technology at Santa Clara University School of Law. Ruth holds a J.D. summa cum laude from Santa Clara University School of Law and is a member of the California State Bar since 1994. Ruth is also a long-time meditator and trained mindfulness meditation facilitator through UCLA. Ruth regularly leads workshops for lawyers and legal professionals to integrate mindfulness into their practice for greater fulfillment and well-being. Full Bio: cooley.com/people/ruth-hauswirth
+ Eric Stansell
Senior Counsel, Discovery, Tyson Foods
Eric Stansell serves as Tyson Foods’ Senior Counsel for Discovery. In this role, Eric works with Tyson’s legal team and outside counsel to ensure that Tyson’s Discovery obligations and interests are properly addressed. He is also responsible for leading the development and implementation of eDiscovery best practices, management of eDiscovery vendor-partner relationships, and evaluation of new eDiscovery-oriented partners and technologies. Additionally, Eric also works with internal partners on strategic, enterprise-wide data retention and deletion policies, and collaborates with internal stakeholders to streamline collection processes. Prior to his current role, Eric led teams and initiatives focused on technology-assisted review for one of the country’s largest alternative legal service providers. Over his 15-year career in E-Discovery, he has worked on hundreds of matters, saving his clients millions of dollars and helping them to reduce their legal risks. Before his E-Discovery career, Eric worked as an insurance regulator and in the political sphere. Eric received his BA, MBA, and JD from the University of Tennessee at Knoxville. He is married to Kristina, and they have an eight-year-old son, Alex, and a six-year-old daughter, Katie, all of whom assist him in his second job of wrangling Ozzy the Bernadoodle, Eevee the German Shepherd, and Callie the Calico cat.
About HaystackID®
HaystackID® solves complex data challenges related to legal, compliance, regulatory, and cyber requirements. Core offerings include Global Advisory, Cybersecurity, Core Intelligence AI™, and ReviewRight® Global Managed Review, supported by its unified CoreFlex™ service interface. Recognized globally by industry leaders, including Chambers, Gartner, IDC, and Legaltech News, HaystackID helps corporations and legal practices manage data gravity, where information demands action, and workflow gravity, where critical requirements demand coordinated expertise, delivering innovative solutions with a continual focus on security, privacy, and integrity. Learn more at HaystackID.com.
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SOURCE: HaystackID