The Jackson Reforms

It is ironic that the “Big Bang” ' otherwise known as the day UK Lord Justice Jackson's case management and litigation cost reforms became effective ' took place on April Fools Day, because these reforms are no joke. In fact, they are the most earth-shattering developments in recent UK civil procedure history, with serious ramifications that extend across the pond to U.S. companies. Failing to meet the new timelines the reforms set forth for eDiscovery (eDisclosure in the UK) can have disastrous consequences: it can destroy transparency, ruin efforts to cooperate with opposing counsel, damage a party's relationship with the court, and thwart the recovery of costs.