In the decade since the introduction of Technology Assisted Review (TAR), AI tools have steadily gained acceptance. Now, in 2025, these technologies are not only commonplace but actively sought after — even by the most cautious and risk-averse players in the industry. We are at an interesting inflection point. After several years of concept related to Gen AI, we are moving to practical applications with real-life impacts.

Many early adopters of this technology have fallen short in producing expected results. Indeed, one of the prominent themes at Legalweek 2025 is that in some ways, this technology, and the endless availability of tools, all with AI baked in, is making it increasingly difficult to differentiate which tools will survive the early rush. 

Some tools have risen to the top — they are effective in concept, perform well, and improve real-life workflows. This year, we will continue to see these tools impact eDiscovery accuracy, time, and cost savings. 

Embracing these benefits comes with additional risk. Understanding that any investment in time, money, and resources may be subject to tool failure or another business risk, is a necessary reality due to a lack of broad adoption and traction.

A managed services approach and provider can reduce the risk associated with AI. Managed services providers assist in the evaluation, selection, and adoption of AI in several ways: 

• They reduce the heavy lifting of testing, selecting, and deploying the right technology. Providers can offer vetted technology that increases your ease of entry.
• They will reduce the potential risk of tool and technology changes; if something new comes along, or there is a pivot to make, you will be able to transition to what the provider has access to and has vetted. 
• They may have multiple technologies available, meaning you can use the best tool from their toolkit for the job — you don’t have to put all your eggs in one AI basket.

Managed service providers simplify AI use and make it more accessible, democratizing its adoption and use in eDiscovery, eDisclosure, and investigation work globally. In addition, deploying AI across your portfolio can amplify many positives:

• Managed services utilize technology with an intentional and vetted process; the team builds around matters and makes it repeatable and deployable regardless of who counsel is.
• Depending on your portfolio of matters, you may obtain cost savings for buying in greater volume, and at minimum, you can obtain the benefits of a managed services providers’ purchasing power in the form of lower rates.
• You can apply lessons learned to future matters while also taking advantage of the lessons your provider learned from other clients and matters.

The adoption of AI is increasingly imperative to maximize benefits while considering ever-changing cutting-edge technologies. With the help of a managed services provider such as Epiq Managed Services (EMS), you can confidently adopt AI tools. Partnering with a provider that has access to vetted technologies and experts eliminates concerns while actioning the latest legal AI tools. 

 
 Brandon Hollinder, Vice President, eDiscovery and Cyber Solutions, Epiq

Brandon Hollinder has more than fifteen years of experience in eDiscovery and Cyber Solutions. Today he leads Epiq’s go to market strategy for its eDiscovery Managed Services, Managed Document Review, and Cyber Incident Response business lines, where he focuses on partnering with clients as an expert to provide value and ensure their solutions are effectively designed and expertly implemented. He is responsible for the growth and health of the Epiq Managed Services, Managed Document Review, and Cyber Incident Response organizations as well as their development, ensuring they are cutting-edge and meeting and exceeding customer needs.