FTI Technology Provided Complex Document Discovery and Review Services to Vodafone and Three in Historic U.K. Telecommunications Merger

Our Role

In recent years, FTI Technology has increasingly been engaged during early stages of merger clearance reviews, including at the pre-notification stage, to help counsel and corporate teams understand the authorities’ document and data production expectations. As the market has adapted to the landscape of challenges, the need for expert forensic technology support has become a standard feature in merger clearance reviews.

Vodafone and Three, alongside their respective legal counsel, recognised the need to engage FTI Technology due to the team’s knowledge and expertise with handling complex document discovery and review requests.

Separate FTI Technology teams were established to service each party, with the implementation of appropriate safeguards. The teams collaborated with the client to enable each organisation to leverage in-house resources where appropriate to further support workflow and cost efficiencies.

Using advanced analytics, technology-assisted review and proprietary workflows, FTI Technology prepared datasets for production to the authorities and reduced costs for both clients. Throughout the review and numerous productions, FTI Technology experts implemented safeguards and methodologies to comply with the CMA’s requests and ensure timely delivery in accordance with its deadlines. FTI Technology provided managed document review services to support first-level review, including multilingual materials.

In close partnership with legal counsel, FTI Technology assisted the clients in meeting timelines for the CMA’s document production requests and in compliance with the CMA requirements.

For their respective clients, Slaughter and May and Freshfields provided specialised legal expertise, each playing critical roles in facilitating the deal’s approval, alongside FTI Technology.