DLTA eDiscovery Report Highlights the Role of ALSP
The Discovery & Legal Technology Association (DLTA) has announced the release of its inaugural data-driven industry insights report, eDiscovery: State of the Industry. DLTA represents electronic discovery service providers and is dedicated to advancing best practices, innovation, and excellence across the legal sector.
The eDiscovery industry is undergoing rapid transformation. Expanding data volumes, accelerating adoption of artificial intelligence, and an increasingly fragmented tools landscape are reshaping how discovery is executed. For many organisations, the challenge is not any single change, but the accumulation of these forces. Successfully navigating this complexity requires more than just technology; it demands careful coordination of tools, processes, and expertise to ensure defensible outcomes.
Alternative Legal Service Providers (ALSPs) are uniquely positioned to help clients meet these challenges. They guide the defensibility strategy, resolve complex data issues that cannot be addressed solely by software, and translate AI promises into practical use cases.
For the first time, eDiscovery: State of the Industry brings together leading ALSPs, in collaboration with L.E.K. Consulting, to share insights derived from aggregated industry data, in-depth analysis, and perspectives representing thousands of matters. The report provides the industry with an end-to-end view of discovery workflows, AI and technology adoption, and the expanding strategic and operational role of ALSPs.
“As discovery becomes more complex, defensibility increasingly depends on how technology, process, and expertise are orchestrated together,” said Bryan Campbell, CEO of Innovative Driven. “This report highlights why ALSPs have become the operating layer that enables clients to manage risk, scale responsibly, and realise the full value of emerging technologies while ensuring defensibility.”
Report Highlights
- Discovery workflows are non-linear and iterative, with ALSPs responsible for end-to-end execution across 500–550 petabytes of managed data while actively managing 2.5–3 times as much unseen data beyond hosted platforms.
- ALSPs are leading AI adoption across the industry, collectively piloting and deploying nearly 100 AI tools across the EDRM in 2025.
- Strategic advisory roles are expanding. ALSPs are increasingly engaged before matters begin, advising on information governance, early case scoping, and case strategy.
- Achieving defensible outcomes depends on operational expertise across complex, constantly changing environments. ALSPs remain essential to preserving the chain of custody, managing risk, and ensuring defensibility throughout the discovery lifecycle.
The eDiscovery: State of the Industry report is intended to serve as a practical resource for industry leaders seeking to understand how discovery is evolving and the capabilities required to succeed in an increasingly complex, data-intensive environment.
About Discovery & Legal Technology Association
The Discovery & Legal Technology Association is a community of professional service providers of electronic discovery services dedicated to promoting best practices, innovation, and excellence in the legal industry. The association provides education and resources to shape the industry’s growth. By sharing knowledge and fostering partnerships, they aim to uphold the integrity of the legal industry and contribute to a more effective legal ecosystem.
