At CDS, real results matter—but it’s our people who make the real difference. Real People, Real Results, is a monthly blog series spotlighting the incredible individuals behind the work we do. 

Each month, you’ll get to know one of our team members—their journey into eDiscovery, expertise, and a little bit of what makes them, well, them. Because at the end of the day, real results start with real people. 

This month, meet Brad Berkshire, our Director of Consulting & Digital Forensics. With 25+ years of experience, Brad combines deep technical expertise with a client-first approach—leading complex investigations, creating smart workflows, and delivering clear, defensible solutions across digital platforms. 

How did you land in eDiscovery? 

I started in the technology industry back in 1996. My first role was supporting networking, application and infrastructure technologies for a large chemicals manufacturing company located outside of Richmond, VA. In that position I happened to meet a law firm administrator at a Microsoft network management class and shortly after, filled a Network Admin role at the firm, a national litigation boutique based in Richmond. The firm was expanding quickly and specifically in the area of discovery review and advisory. 

My role there quickly evolved into Director of Information Technology and eventually a dual role as Director of Litigation Technology as well. At that point in the early 2000’s law firms were experiencing exponential growth in eDiscovery and lit support needs so this was a primary focus for our partners and administrative group. I had the good fortune to be part of a very forward thinking and advanced team of eDiscovery professionals. We built and maintained the firm’s 250 seat review center along with creating an eDiscovery solutions practice that managed many significant eDiscovery cases of that time period, for a variety of large clients. For law firms in eDiscovery, it was also a critical time for developing effective and practical management of outside service providers and partners as well. After our firm merged with another large Richmond VA based firm in 2008, I decided it was time to move over to the consulting and service provider side, where I’ve been having fun ever since! 

How do you stay ahead of emerging technologies and evolving data sources?

Great question. The real challenge in keeping ahead of new technology is knowing where and how to focus your energy and attention to research. There really is no sidestepping the investment in reading, attending classes and self-study, and paying close attention to industry news and academic studies. But most importantly, no matter how you are exposing yourself to new technology studies and new and emerging material, you have to make the time to perform your own testing and validation work, particularly in the eDiscovery and digital forensics fields. 

Technology and data content changes are so rapid these days, simply watching educational content or reading up on the latest application trends is not enough. You have to put what you are learning to the practical test and perform your own evaluations and analyses. That means taking the time to deploy and test new solutions in proofing environments and developing your own workflows specific to what new tech or data types can provide. There is no substitute for digging in, piloting, and validating new technologies to figure out the strengths and weaknesses of any new solution. 

Have you ever had to explain a forensic finding in court or to legal teams? How did you make it understandable?

Yes! And it can definitely be a challenge to try and explain the importance and practical impact of a data finding or conclusion. For information technology and digital forensics folks, the key is to first clearly understand the context of the analysis or investigation request and what your audience is looking to achieve with your findings and results. Also, to the degree it’s possible, take the extra time to interview and understand your intended audience, i.e. get familiar with their roles, responsibilities and backgrounds as well as their experience and technical levels. This is the best way to start figuring out how to best ‘normalize’ the data for an everyday conversation. 

I’ve also found that preparing and providing equivalent, not-so-technical comparisons when explaining a complex data finding can be helpful, as well as focusing on practical implications of the finding in the most relatable way possible. 

Your audience can have a variety of technical knowledge levels and familiarities, so you also have to be ready to react quickly to questions and feedback and adjust your explanations accordingly. Be prepared to read the room and think on your feet! 

Why Complete Discovery Source?

That’s an easy one! I had been an admirer of CDS for a long time, as both a buyer in the eDiscovery/Forensics services market and during my time with a similar service provider and direct competitor of CDS. I heard so many great success stories from my peers about CDS client engagements and how the CDS team solved some of the most difficult problems with creative and innovative solutions. That really resonated with me as I’ve focused on the exact same in my career: leveraging technology to create custom workflows and solutions to solve complex problems and provide solutions for clients. 

When the opportunity came to join the CDS team, there was no hesitation on my side, it was a perfect time for me to join one of the best and most diverse teams of eDiscovery professionals in the market. The cutting-edge tech and solution workflows are superior, but it’s the people and culture at CDS that makes the real difference. It shows in our commitment to our clients and to each other…CDS is a great place to work! 

What’s the best piece of advice you’ve ever received?

Early in my IT career I had a mentor give me the single best piece of simple life and work advice I have ever received. “If you aren’t uncomfortable, you aren’t growing”. 

At a young age, that drove me to accept roles and positions with significant titles and responsibilities, even though I had my own doubts about whether I was ready for them. But the theme was and still remains so true: pushing yourself to learn, try new things, and take new opportunities, even when you are doubtful of your own abilities or chances for success, is a fundamental key to growing as a individual. Chances are meant to be taken, and sometimes that means dismissing any fear of failure. 

This…and all of John Wooden’s Pyramid of Success are great life lessons! 

Name something fun or surprising about you outside of work.

OK, I’m also a farmer!. Believe me, I’m surprised as well. A couple years ago when my wife and I became empty nesters, we decided to move from the city and bought a farm near the Blue Ridge mountains of Virginia. We had always wanted some land with mountain views and boy did we find it…just way before I was ready! 

Over the last couple of years, we renovated an old farmhouse (that just so conveniently happens to have super-fast fiber optic internet since we both work in tech) and have built a working hobby farm, complete with a roadside farmstand. We have a huge garden growing everything we can think of, plus a growing flock of 8 laying hens that keep us stocked with a LOT of eggs. The farmstand has been great and gives us a chance to give back to our amazing community and share in the bounty the land is providing for us. We’ve got big plans for more livestock, fruit trees, and other fun farm stuff. Maybe even hosting small weddings, glamping sites, and hiking trails as well. Check us out at FourGables151! 

I can tell you honestly that I was ready for none of this! We continually have to fail, try again, fail, and keep trying until we figure it out, but it is so fulfilling and rewarding. It’s been an amazing couple years and really hard work, but I wouldn’t trade it for anything. So back to the advice I’ve received and hold dear: keep challenging yourself and don’t be afraid to be uncomfortable, even if you have to fail from time to time. That’s how you will always grow and learn! 

Lookout next month as we highlight more of team members in our Real People Real Results series. To learn more about CDS, reach out to us at .