A U.S.-based industrial company operating in a highly regulated environment became involved in a legal dispute requiring the forensic preservation of data from an executive-issued laptop. Multiple parties and outside counsel were involved, necessitating a neutral, third-party digital forensic expert capable of executing a defensible and court-ready collection.
The client needed to preserve digital evidence in a manner that would:
- Meet strict, counsel-defined forensic protocols
- Capture not only active data, but deleted and residual artifacts
- Maintain a clear and defensible chain of custody
- Withstand scrutiny from opposing parties in active litigation
The matter required careful coordination between counsel, multiple stakeholders, and a forensic vendor trusted to operate independently and precisely.
Sandline was retained as the independent forensic examiner and implemented a collection strategy rooted in forensic completeness, auditability, and evidentiary integrity.
Key elements of Sandline’s approach included:
- Creation of a forensic, bit-for-bit image of the laptop using industry-standard protocols
- Preservation of all data types reasonably feasible, including deleted files and unallocated space
- Secure storage of the original forensic image, with all review and processing conducted on verified working copies
- Production of a transparent, structured file inventory capturing essential metadata fields, including hash values and timestamps
Sandline delivered materials securely via encrypted file transfer and remained actively engaged with counsel to ensure forensic steps aligned with legal requirements.
To reduce review burden and surface relevant content quickly, Sandline implemented a structured, iterative Sandline’s work enabled counsel to proceed with confidence, knowing that the digital evidence had been preserved comprehensively and defensibly. The structured file inventory accelerated legal review, while the separation of preservation and analysis reduced risk related to evidence spoliation or procedural challenge.
By operating as a neutral third party and adhering strictly to forensic best practices, Sandline helped establish a reliable digital foundation for the broader legal process.
This engagement demonstrates Sandline’s ability to:
- Act as a trusted, consultative and independent forensic examiner
- Execute highly controlled forensic collections under legal oversight
- Balance technical rigor with practical coordination across multiple legal stakeholders
- Deliver work that is both technically sound and litigation-ready on an expedited basis
