New Emea head of litigation at EDS plans panel overhaul

The world's second largest IT company EDS has appointed a new head of litigation for Europe, the Middle East and Africa (Emea), who plans to rethink the company's external panel choices.

Nick Rogers, who took over Huw Owens' position in March, said he was looking to get more out of external counsel. "We'll be looking at people we use and asking ourselves whether these people are really giving value," he told The Lawyer.

Rogers said he was not looking for discounts, but a better service from law firms, such as a well-managed document management system and clear explanations of how costs are accrued during big litigations. "If someone comes forward and offers me this, then I'll look seriously at them," he said.

At the moment EDS uses Julian Stait at DLA Piper Rudnick Gray Cary and Michael Bywell at SJ Berwin for large disputes. For smaller commercial matters, the company instructs Geoff Mendelsohn at Reading firm Boyes Turner.

Rogers took over as head of litigation for Emea when Owens took up a senior business position in March. Rogers manages disputes with a team of two litigation lawyers and is looking to add another in the months ahead.

Rogers was a litigation partner at DLA until 1999, when he moved to EDS to be second in command in the Emea litigation team.

EDS clients include the Department for Work and Pensions and the Ministry of Defence, for whom the company will install a multibillion-pound IT system connecting up the Army, Navy and RAF.