New e-disclosure technology developed by Eversheds Sutherland is on track to deliver a £2m revenue boost for the firm in its first year of operation, according to litigation head Paul Worth.

The ES Locate platform – which was developed in tandem with Canadian technology company OpenText – was launched about six months ago, and has since been utilised by the firm in more than 40 litigation cases.

The technology enables the firm's 700 disputes and investigations lawyers to review information more quickly and accurately using data analytics, predictive coding and interactive data visualisation tools.

Worth (pictured) said: "ES Locate is likely to generate additional revenue of up to £2m in the first year. Historically, we would have paid different external suppliers for the e-disclosure support we needed on a case-by-case basis. Now my team all have 24/7 access to a cutting-edge review platform and a team of our own data analysts. So we are far more self-sufficient, which allows us to offer a better service to our clients.

"The fact that we are keeping the revenue within the firm is a 'nice to have', rather than a driver for the project. It is all about improving the way we do things."

The launch of ES Locate was accompanied by the hire of litigation technology head Enzo Lisciotto, who joined from Norton Rose Fulbright earlier this year to help the firm with its efforts to modernise its disclosure and document review processes.

The firm also now has three full-time data analysts who provide support to its litigators, and as part of its arrangement with OpenText, it can also draw on the tech company's team of project managers and analysts as additional resource if required.

"The old outsourcing model was OK, but having our own platform and team with overflow capacity available on tap from OpenText is a much better solution," said Worth.

Worth added that the use of technology would help save money for clients when compared to manual document review.

"Using clever data analytics and predictive coding as part of a review will generally mean a significant cost saving for clients. Every case is different of course, but cost savings of 50% or more can be achieved when compared to traditional review methodology," he said.

Eversheds' litigation team also receives assistance from a support unit based in Cardiff, which provides document review and costs-related support for clients, while the firm also now has a similar litigation support centre in Houston following this February's merger with US merger partner Sutherland Asbill & Brennan.

"This provides a fully integrated but more flexible approach to resourcing, and ensures a lower-cost solution for appropriate workstreams during the conduct of a case. We have now added market-leading technology into the mix, and no doubt there will be a lot more of that to come," Worth said.

The legacy Eversheds business took in revenues of £438.6m during 2016-17, while Sutherland reported revenues of $305m for the last calendar year before the tie-up.