Law.com Subscribers SAVE 30%

Call 855-808-4530 or email [email protected] to receive your discount on a new subscription.

Cybersecurity Law & StrategyFeaturesCommercial LitigationCybersecurityInformation Governance and ComplianceTechnology Media and Telecom

Electronic Signatures: Legal and Practical Considerations for E-Signing on the Virtual Dotted Line

By Anthony J. Diana and David G. Krone
July 01, 2019

As technology pervades all aspects of business life, business leaders, customers and employees increasingly expect to be able to execute signatures on agreements, documents and elsewhere with the same level of convenience and assurance as the rest of their IT-enabled business. In response, organizations are exploring solutions allowing individuals to sign these documents electronically, and without requiring signatories be physically present. These electronic signature ("e-signature") solutions provide substantial benefits not only in terms of convenience, but also security and record keeping. However, in assessing whether or how to employ e-signatures, particularly in higher risk transactions, organizations should be careful to manage the practical issues and potential legal complexities associated with e-signatures through careful assessment and a robust governance program.

Implemented correctly with appropriate controls, e-signatures can provide marked improvements in convenience and overall security when compared with traditional physical or "wet" signatures. The ability to instantaneously execute a contract facilitates efficiency and convenience for all interested parties. E-signature solutions also complement current efforts by many businesses to centrally integrate and manage their contracts into digital repositories. Furthermore, forensic security controls coupled with e-signatures provide authoritative and quick verification, reducing the opportunity for fraud or challenges to authenticity.

This premium content is locked for Cybersecurity Law & Strategy subscribers only

  • Stay current on the latest information, rulings, regulations, and trends
  • Includes practical, must-have information on copyrights, royalties, AI, and more
  • Tap into expert guidance from top entertainment lawyers and experts

For enterprise-wide or corporate acess, please contact Customer Service at [email protected] or 877-256-2473

Read These Next
The DOJ's Corporate Enforcement Policy: One Year Later Image

The DOJ's Criminal Division issued three declinations since the issuance of the revised CEP a year ago. Review of these cases gives insight into DOJ's implementation of the new policy in practice.

The DOJ's New Parameters for Evaluating Corporate Compliance Programs Image

The parameters set forth in the DOJ's memorandum have implications not only for the government's evaluation of compliance programs in the context of criminal charging decisions, but also for how defense counsel structure their conference-room advocacy seeking declinations or lesser sanctions in both criminal and civil investigations.

Use of Deferred Prosecution Agreements In White Collar Investigations Image

This article discusses the practical and policy reasons for the use of DPAs and NPAs in white-collar criminal investigations, and considers the NDAA's new reporting provision and its relationship with other efforts to enhance transparency in DOJ decision-making.

A Lawyer's System for Active Reading Image

Active reading comprises many daily tasks lawyers engage in, including highlighting, annotating, note taking, comparing and searching texts. It demands more than flipping or turning pages.

Bankruptcy Sales: Finding a Diamond In the Rough Image

There is no efficient market for the sale of bankruptcy assets. Inefficient markets yield a transactional drag, potentially dampening the ability of debtors and trustees to maximize value for creditors. This article identifies ways in which investors may more easily discover bankruptcy asset sales.