The partnership aims to advance education, innovation, and resources for legal professionals navigating AI-driven discovery processes.

February 5, 2025

Secretariat is proud to announce the firm has joined the affiliate partnership program of The Association of Certified E-Discovery Specialists (ACEDS), the world’s premier organization dedicated to improving the quality of education and standards of the e-discovery industry and part of BARBRI Professional Education. This collaboration reinforces both organizations’ commitment to advancing excellence, education, and innovation in AI-driven discovery and legal technology.

Secretariat, a globally recognized leader in investigations, disputes, arbitration, engineering, and expert advisory services, brings market-leading expertise in e-discovery and AI-driven solutions. By aligning with ACEDS, Secretariat is poised to play a vital role in enhancing industry standards and providing legal professionals with cutting-edge resources and training.

“We are thrilled to announce our affiliate partnership between Secretariat and ACEDS. This collaboration marks a significant step forward in advancing excellence, education, and innovation in AI-driven discovery. By combining Secretariat’s world-class expertise with ACEDS’ industry-leading education programs, we’re poised to provide crucial resources and benchmarks for the legal industry as it increasingly adopts AI in discovery processes. Together, we’re committed to empowering legal professionals with the knowledge and tools they need to stay at the forefront of technological advancements in our industry,” commented Richard Finkelman, Managing Director at Secretariat.

Maribel Rivera, VP of Strategy and Client Engagement at ACEDS, who oversees the ACEDS community globally, expressed her excitement about the partnership:

“As AI continues to revolutionize eDiscovery and the management of legal data, it’s critical for professionals to stay ahead of the curve. At ACEDS, we are dedicated to equipping our members and the broader eDiscovery community with the tools, knowledge, and strategies needed to optimize workflows, uncover insights quickly, and drive efficiency. Partnering with Secretariat strengthens this mission by providing access to cutting-edge expertise and resources that empower legal teams to embrace AI-driven solutions confidently and effectively.”

The partnership will also provide ACEDS members with access to insights and best practices from Secretariat’s experts through webinars, thought leadership articles, and collaborative events.

For more information about ACEDS and its affiliate program, visit www.aceds.org.

About Secretariat

Secretariat experts are trusted in the highest-stakes legal, risk, and regulatory matters around the world. Renowned law firms, leading corporations, and respected governmental entities turn to our more than 600 disputes, investigations, economic, engineering, and data advisory experts when the stakes are high— supporting them with meticulous preparation, insightful analysis, and clearly persuasive communications.

Our bright minds and passionate problem-solvers put their financial, analytical, and strategic insights to work in the fast-paced sectors we serve – from construction and energy to healthcare, technology, and natural resources.

Quality, integrity, and independence are woven into every aspect of our work. But, most importantly, when success is on the line, our globally integrated teams thrive on working through the most daunting problems in ways that remove uncertainty and instill confidence.

About ACEDS

The Association of Certified E-Discovery Specialists (ACEDS), part of leading legal education provider BARBRI Global, is the world’s leading organization for training and certification in e-discovery, information governance, and related disciplines. ACEDS provides training to corporate legal departments, law firms, the government, service providers, and institutions of higher learning. Our flagship CEDS certification is recognized worldwide and used to verify skills and competence in electronic discovery for organizations and individuals through training, certification, and continuing education. The CEDS credential is held by practitioners at the largest Fortune 500 companies, Am Law 200 firms and government agencies. ACEDS has 30 chapters in most major US cities, Canada, the UK, Ireland, the Netherlands, South Africa, and Australia. Our goal is to help professionals and organizations reduce the costs and risks associated with e-discovery while helping to improve and verify their skills and advance their careers and overall technology competence in e-discovery and related fields. Learn more at www.aceds.org

About BARBRI

BARBRI is the global leader in technology-enabled legal education with leadership positions in the US and the UK. Dedicated to providing unparalleled innovation and excellence in legal education, BARBRI delivers outstanding success to learners by providing the most trusted and industry leading products under one unified experience and across every step of the legal learner’s path. Building on the success of its core bar courses, which have helped more than 1.5 million lawyers around the world pass a U.S. bar exam, BARBRI offers a comprehensive suite of learning solutions for higher education institutions and law-related businesses empowering every step of legal learning journey. Founded in 1967, BARBRI is headquartered in Dallas, Texas, with offices throughout the United States and around the world.

Secretariat Media Contact

Nathan Jenks
Director of Marketing & Communications
+1 773 220 8896
njenks@secretariat-intl.com

ACEDS Media Contact

Katie Saylor
913.219.4444
ksaylor@aceds.org