Robert Ambrogi Blog
If you’ve never worked in the field of e-discovery, then you might think of it as just another type of technology or just another area of law practice. But for those who work in the field, it is very much also a community. Sadly, that community has lost one of its pillars, as Kaylee Walstad, a friend and mentor to countless people who work in the field, has died.
A widely respected leader in the e-discovery and legal technology communities, Kaylee was perhaps best known for her role as chief strategy officer of the Electronic Discovery Reference Model (EDRM), which she and her colleague Mary Mack acquired in 2019. She was a driving force behind EDRM’s global project-based organization, fostering innovation and community for legal professionals navigating e-discovery, litigation, and data management.
Before joining EDRM, Kaylee had served as vice president of client engagement at the Association of Certified E-Discovery Specialists (ACEDS), where she helped build and amplify the organization’s brand and connect professionals across the globe.
EDRM’s website describes Kaylee as having been known for her ability to unite people and organizations, build thriving communities, and help promote EDRM’s partners through social media and events, and from what I know of her, that description is spot on. A frequent public speaker on topics ranging from personal development to the intricacies of e-discovery, she brought both deep practical experience and heartfelt compassion to everything she did.
After she and Mary acquired EDRM, she played a pivotal role in steering the organization through a new period of growth and innovation. Under their leadership, EDRM expanded its reach, launched numerous collaborative projects, and became a welcoming home for legal technology professionals in over 100 countries. Kaylee’s influence as a connector and mentor was felt deeply throughout the legal technology ecosystem.
Although I have known Kaylee for many years, I never worked closely with her in any capacity. But posts this week by others who did are testaments to who she was:
E-discovery blogger Craig Ball wrote that Kaylee “devoted herself to lifting the spirits of others.”
“Kaylee was the loving, nurturing mom of our e-discovery community; our tireless cheerleader, stalwart friend, and steady heart. She showed up for everyone—eager to listen, to soothe, to lift burdens from others’ shoulders. She was generosity and kindness incarnate. Wise and warm, radiant and real, she was simply one of a kind.”
E-discovery blogger Doug Austin recalled the weekly support calls Kaylee and Mary held for the e-discovery community:
“Kaylee did more than attend – she listened to everyone. If someone was experiencing struggles, she would tell them that she would set a call up with them for Mary and her to help them out. At the end of each call, she would call out each person by name and provide words of praise or encouragement or something to let them know they were being heard. She was always thinking of others and what they needed on those calls.
“That’s what Kaylee did.”
Clearly, Kaylee’s legacy is her genuine care and generosity — the warmth, kindness, and steadfast support she showed everyone in the e-discovery community and beyond. She touched the lives of countless colleagues and friends in the legal technology world and will be dearly missed.
(Below is a Level Legal interview with Kaylee on how she started in e-discovery.)