Hiring of noted industry experts bolster Project Leadership’s Litigation, e-Discovery and Forensics offerings

Chicago, IL -- (SBWire) -- 10/29/2010 -- The Litigation Solutions practice of Project Leadership Associates (PLA), the largest business and technology consulting firm focused on the US legal market, has recently hired two leading experts in the electronic discovery and computer forensics fields. Sean Byrne joins PLA as Litigation Solutions Counsel and Chris Tragasz will assume his new role as Senior Consultant in the Litigation Solutions group.

Sean Byrne joins PLA as Litigation Solutions Counsel, where, in addition to working closely with PLA’s internal legal team, his expertise in the electronic discovery space is now available to help guide PLA client services and solutions needed by the swiftly evolving litigation marketplace. Sean brings over 15 years of broad experience in the litigation and technology marketplace, as a litigator, and later, as a consultant with several global litigation consulting firms.

In addition to his duties at PLA, Sean represents PLA and other clients on the Illinois Seventh Circuit Electronic Discovery Pilot Program Committee, a ground-breaking Federal initiative aimed at providing more structure around and controlling costs involved in the eDiscovery process. He currently serves as a co-chair of its Technology sub-committee, and a member of its Education and Communication/Outreach subcommittees. The Committee consists of more than 60 experts in the field of electronic discovery, including judges and lawyers from some of the largest firms and corporations. PLA is pleased to bring this specialized expertise to our clients.

Sean is a certified Six Sigma Green Belt and is certified to practice law in the courts of the State of Illinois, as well as the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of Illinois.

Chris Tragasz joins PLA as a Senior Consultant in the Litigation Solutions group. Chris was formerly a forensic examiner working at the High Tech Crimes Bureau of the Illinois Attorney General’s Office. In that role, he provided forensic analysis for the State of Illinois, Department of Justice, U.S. Immigration & Customs Enforcement (ICE), and various State and County law enforcement agencies.

Chris is a Certified Forensic Computer Examiner (CFCE). He holds A+, Security+ and Network+ certifications. He is also a member of the High Technology Crime Investigation Association (HTCIA), as well as the International Association of Computer Investigative Specialists (IACIS).

Bruce Malter, PLA’s Litigation Solutions Group Leader says, “PLA has become increasingly well known as a skilled, reliable and high quality partner that serves many of the largest law firms and corporate legal departments across the U.S.” Bruce comments, “The addition of Sean Byrne and Chris Tragasz to our experienced, highly talented team, adds depth to our already broad capability sets and enables us to offer more value added services for litigation client consumption.”

In less than seven years, PLA’s Litigation Solutions practice has grown to become one of the nation’s leading electronic discovery services providers, with a strong emphasis on quality and client service. PLA’s legal practice has worked with more than 360 corporate legal departments and law firms, representing over 75% of the AMLAW 100, including 10 of the top 13 law firms.

“We continue to extend our lead as the top business and technology consulting firm focused on the legal market, through our ongoing investments,” notes Dan Safran, Executive Vice President – Legal Solutions at PLA. “We consistently receive high praise for our client facing legal services. The market continues to tell us that it values our experienced consultants and high quality solutions that are focused, but tailored to our clients’ needs.”

PLA boasts an experienced, multi-disciplinary Litigations Solutions practice that offers case consultation, complex matter management, electronic data discovery, computer forensics, data processing, expert testimony, business and technology consulting and litigation preparedness to assist law firms and corporate law departments.

About Project Leadership Associates, Inc.
PLA is a business and technology consulting firm that empowers small, middle market and enterprise organizations with services across four core solution groups: 1) Business Strategy Execution; 2) Business Operations; 3) Applications; and 4) Infrastructure. PLA has been consistently ranked among Inc. Magazine’s Inc. 5000 list of the fastest growing companies in America, Crain's Chicago Business’s Fast 50 and Everything Channel's CRN Fast Growth 100 List as an annual recognition of growth, performance, and maintaining profitability since its founding in 1998. With headquarters in Chicago and branch offices in Dallas, Indianapolis, Houston, New Orleans, New York and San Francisco, PLA is uniquely poised to offer a broad array of solutions that work collaboratively with clients to help them realize substantial results.