Ashley Christakis has 19 years of experience in the Legal and eDiscovery industry. Her roles have included Litigation Paralegal, eDiscovery Project Manager, eDiscovery Program Manager, and Senior Manager, eDiscovery and Legal Operations. Ashley's experience spans each phase of the EDRM in the law firm and in-house settings, including information governance and litigation readiness for key and complex data sources, legal hold management, collection strategy and execution, processing specifications, crafting and iterating on search terms, analytics, document review management, data disposition, and optimization, driving efficiencies in each phase, and drafting and consulting on associated corporate policies and procedures. She enjoys building relationships and collaborating to advance legal technology in support of the business and legal industry. Ashley lives in Malvern, PA, with her husband, two kids, and their assortment of pets.

In episode 001 of Careers and The Business of Law: Legal Data Intelligence Series, Ashley Chistakis talks with David about her path from Law firm marketing to paralegal to legal operations at Siemens, “the art of the possible” in elevating the role of legal ops and eDiscovery, the three legal superpowers-- technology curiosity, relationship building, and a service mindset--that all nextGen legal data intelligence workers will need.

(0:24) The Evolution of Legal Roles. Ashley Christakis introduces her role at CrowdStrike and her dual responsibilities in legal operations and eDiscovery, highlighting her efforts to elevate the legal department by enhancing internal workflows in collaboration with her team and the tech department.

(1:35) Facing Challenges in LegalOps. Discussing the biggest challenges in her role, Ashley points to the need for reimagination and innovation in legal processes, along with the hurdles of technology implementation and workforce management. She emphasizes the broad scope and the inherent difficulties of making decisive choices in her field. "I would say it's the reimagination... it's really hard, at least for me individually, to make a decision.”

(3:05) From Childhood Dreams to Legal Innovator. Ashley recounts her unexpected career trajectory from dreaming of being a musician or ballerina to pioneering legal technology and eDiscovery. She draws an engaging analogy between musical roles and departmental functions within a company, illustrating her creative approach to organizational dynamics. "H.R. is the guitar... and we all know that the lead singer is sales."

(6:02) Legal Data Intelligence Explained. Ashley delves into the concept of Legal Data Intelligence (LDI), emphasizing its reliance on nextGen technology to drive improvements in productivity and efficiency within legal operations. She articulates her personal connection to LDI, noting her introverted nature and her passion for the subject. "And so when I raise my hand, it's about something I'm passionate about. And that's LDI.”

(10:19) The Superpowers of Legal Professionals. Highlighting the unique qualities essential for roles in legal data and operations, Ashley identifies technology curiosity, relationship building, and a service-oriented approach to internal clients as her professional "superpowers." These traits, she argues, are crucial for navigating the complex intersections of law and technology. 

(15:59)  Building the LDI Community. Ashley speaks about forming a collaborative group within the realm of Legal Data Intelligence, named the LDI posse, which includes professionals like Farah, Pepper, Omar, and Jeremiah. This group aims to spearhead new initiatives and bring diverse ideas to the forefront of legal operations. "There's at least 30 of us, and we're all uniquely qualified in various ways to present this new initiative.”

(21:07) A Personal Note: Life Beyond the Office. Ashley shares personal insights into her daily routine and how she balances professional demands with personal life, emphasizing the importance of maintaining boundaries for work-life balance. She also shares her leisure activities, such as watching TV shows to unwind. "I probably watch either a comedy, like Parks and Recreation, or I watch The West Wing to fall asleep to.”