A fast-changing regulatory landscape is changing the once distant relationship between legal and technology departments in companies. Research carried out by Robert Half Legal found greater collaboration between the two. THe research - 'Client dynamics driving change in the legal profession' - found that managing data access, retention and protection had become a priority for in-house counsel. According to Tim Collins, general counsel and chief ethics and compliance officer at business outsourcing company Convergent, 'Legal;s accountablity with data and compliance matters is inextricably entwined with the growing roles of IT departments.' Some companies were actually establishing a direct reporting structure between the two groups to enable more effective management of their respective and intersecting responsibilities, such as responding to ediscovery requests, the report said. Source: Roberthalflegal