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Clinton P. Sanko

ESI/Contract Counsel Officer

Clinton Sanko, office managing shareholder in Baker Donelson's Chattanooga office and the Firm's eDiscovery and document review officer, is a seasoned commercial trial lawyer advocating for client value through proportionate eDiscovery.

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Professional Biography


Clinton Sanko, Chattanooga office managing shareholder and the Firm's eDiscovery and document review officer, is a seasoned litigation trial lawyer who focuses his practice on efficient, effective and expeditious management of eDiscovery and document review. He has substantial experience in a variety of matters, including the defense of a client in two large multidistrict antitrust class actions alleging wage and compensation fixing of thousands of employees and independent contractors arising out of alleged information exchanges, benchmarking and no poach agreements.

While Clinton has been the lead lawyer on various high-stakes commercial litigation, he principally manages the critical juncture where electronically stored information intersects with legal need, whether that intersection occurs in litigation, investigations, information governance, litigation preparedness, or mergers and acquisitions. Clients turn to Clinton for advice on maintaining a proportionate approach to finding what is needed and complying with all legal obligations, while keeping costs measured and finding the case story in the documents.

As a trial lawyer and technology enthusiast, Clinton has 13 years of experience dealing with eDiscovery issues in litigation settings. He is uniquely positioned to understand the client's perspective, the trial team needs and the legal requirements of eDiscovery as they play out in actual litigation. As such, he is positioned to advise, counsel and advocate for clients on these critical issues. Clinton has direct oversight responsibility for the Firm's eDiscovery, Document Review and Investigations Team, which is responsible for supporting the Firm's needs for active cases where eDiscovery or document review services are needed. He seeks to bring value to clients through integrated processes, applied legal knowledge and management of the Firm's eDiscovery technology vendors. In conjunction with the team, Clinton has led the development of Baker Donelson's LeanDiscovery™ system, which seeks to closely integrate process, technology and the various team constituencies for the cost-effective and efficient management of eDiscovery and document review.

Clinton works closely with the Firm's Data Protection, Privacy and Cybersecurity Team and Client Solutions Group, and is a member of the Technology Steering Committee.

  • Listed in Mid-South Super Lawyers (2016 – 2018)
  • Listed in Mid-South Rising Stars (2013 – 2014)
  • AV® Preeminent™ Peer Review Rated by Martindale-Hubbell
  • Rule 31 Listed General Civil Mediator
  • Member – American Bar Association, Young Lawyers Division, Dispute Resolution Section (Vice Chairperson, 2006 – 2007)
  • Member – Chattanooga Technology Council
  • Member – DRI
  • Member – Federal Bar Association
  • Member – Tennessee Bar Association
  • Member – Chattanooga Bar Association
  • Instructor – University of Tennessee at Chattanooga, Spring 2013, Digital Investigation of Crimes
  • Recipient – JD Supra Readers' Choice Award – Top Author in eDiscovery (2018, 2021, 2022)
  • Recognized in "The Gold Club 2018" as one of 30 influential business leaders by City Scope Magazine
  • Associate Member – Brock and Cooper Inns of Court (2006 – 2007)
  • "eDiscovery Meets the Merits: Preserving, Finding and Using Electronic Information," 56th Annual Midwest Labor and Employment Law Seminar, Columbus, Ohio (October 2019)
  • "Email – A Legal Affair," Association of Corporate Counsel, Alabama Chapter (September 2018)
  • Co-presenter – "Analyzing the Impact of Artificial Intelligence in Legal," Innovation to Add Value Webinar Series, Tennessee Commission on CLE and Specialization (September 2018)
  • "Lean Manufacturing Meets EDiscovery," 75th Judicial Conference of the Sixth Circuit (May 2018)
  • Panelist – "'Busting' Big Data With the 3 P's: People, Process + Platforms," ABA Corporate Counsel CLE Seminar, Scottsdale, Arizona (February 2016)
  • Moderator – "The Ethics of Taking Care of Your Documents and Email," Baker Donelson Long Term Care Symposium, Nashville, Tennessee (November 2014)
  • Co-presenter – "Cybersecurity Risks: Was the client's data breach your fault?," KBA's Law Practice Today Expo CLE session, Knoxville, Tennessee (April 2014)
  • Co-presenter – "What's Trending Now: Current Topics in e-Discovery and Social Media," International Paper, Memphis, Tennessee (November 2013)
  • Co-presenter – "eDiscovery Boot Camp," 7th Annual Labor and Employment Law Conference, New Orleans, Louisiana (November 2013)
  • "Email in 2013: a Perspective," off-site client presentation (July 2013)
  • Co-presenter – "Transparency in Discovery: Living in a Glass House," webinar sponsored by Recommind (June 2013)
  • "Campaigns/Technology/Social Media," Tennessee Judicial Conference and the Administrative Office of the Courts, Spring Conference (March 2013)
  • "Practical Tips on How to Request Social Media in Discovery," 6th Annual Law Conference for Tennessee Practitioners (2012)
  • Co-presenter – "Ediscovery in Employment Cases: Legal Issues, Best Practices & Practical Tips," Nashville Bar Association, Employment Law Institute (October 2012)
  • "Social Media: Discovery and Trial Impacts," Tennessee Clerks of Court Conference, Fall Conference (September 2012)
  • "Practical Tips for Requesting Social Media Discovery," TBA General Practice Sampler (June 2012)
  • "Social Media in the Courtroom," Tennessee Judicial Conference Spring 2012 (March 2012)
  • Co-presenter – "e-Discovery: Navigating the Industry and Its Players," CLE (December 2011)
  • Co-presenter – "Document Retention for Human Resource Professionals," Tennessee SHRM Conference (September 2011)
  • Co-presenter – "SharePoint and e-Discovery - Working Together," Virtual LegalTech (June 2011)
  • Co-presenter – "Document Review Best Practices for In-House Counsel," CLE (May 2011)
  • "e-Discovery for the Business Lawyer (and Electronic Privacy in the Workplace)," TBA CLE (March 2011)

Education

  • The Pennsylvania State University Dickinson School of Law, J.D., 2001, magna cum laude
  • Grove City College, B.A., 1998, cum laude, with honors in History

Admissions

  • Tennessee, 2004
  • Pennsylvania, 2001
  • United States District Court, Middle District of Tennessee, 2013
  • United States District Court, Eastern District of Tennessee, 2004
  • United States District Court, Western District of Pennsylvania, 2002

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