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Keeping Relativity Fast, Reliable, and Ready: 5 Practices That Matter

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE – CHICAGO, IL — September 17, 2025

In the fast paced world of eDiscovery, your Relativity platform is more than infrastructure. It is the engine behind every review, production, and deadline. When that engine stutters, the ripple effects are immediate: slower searches, frustrated reviewers, missed timelines, and mounting costs.

Industry surveys confirm this. Uptime Institute reports that 54% of major outages cost more than $100,000, and four out of five could have been prevented with better management. In an environment where speed and accuracy matter, keeping your platform optimized is not a luxury, it is a necessity.

The good news is that most performance issues can be avoided with consistent attention to a handful of core practices.

Here are five areas every Relativity admin should keep on their radar:

1. SQL Server Health is Non-Negotiable

SQL is the heart of Relativity. If it struggles, everything struggles.

  • Ensure SQL servers have enough CPU, RAM, and IO capacity.
  • Configure settings based on Relativity’s best practices (TempDB layout, max server memory, cost threshold for parallelism).
  • Perform routine index maintenance and update statistics to prevent fragmentation.

Even a single misconfigured SQL instance can cause platform-wide lag. Get this right and you remove the most common bottleneck in Relativity.

2. Manage Workspaces Proactively

Inactive workspaces may feel harmless, but they quietly consume SQL resources, expand storage needs, and slow down backups.

  • Archive or delete workspaces that are no longer active.
  • Use archiving tools to preserve what you need without weighing down production systems.
  • Audit workspace design for unused fields, bloated views, or inefficient layouts.

A leaner environment runs faster and costs less to maintain, and with the right data management tools you can make these decisions with clarity and confidence.

3. Stay Current with Updates and Patches

Relativity, SQL Server, Windows, and infrastructure firmware all receive ongoing updates that include performance enhancements, security fixes, and bug resolutions. Ignoring them creates unnecessary risk.

  • Follow a predictable maintenance calendar.
  • Apply patches and hotfixes regularly.
  • Stay on supported versions — unsupported software becomes fragile, expensive, and harder to secure.

Think of patching as preventive medicine. It takes less time and energy than emergency treatment.

4. Monitor Performance Before Problems Escalate

By the time reviewers complain about slow search results, the issue has already snowballed. Proactive monitoring lets you stay ahead of trouble.

  • Use monitoring tools to track CPU, RAM, disk IO, network latency, and backups.
  • Set thresholds and alerts so you’re notified before systems hit their breaking point.
  • Verify backup viability weekly and perform test restores to ensure recoverability.

Outages don’t just disrupt workflows, they create risk. Monitoring ensures you see issues early and act before they impact end users.

5. Tune Searches and Indexes for Speed

Search is where reviewers feel performance most. Poorly tuned indexes or bloated search conditions can grind productivity to a halt.

  • Maintain dtSearch and full-text indexes, rebuilding as needed when data volumes grow.
  • Optimize search conditions to avoid unnecessary load.
  • Adjust analytics settings by disabling idle indexes to free valuable memory.

A well-optimized search experience means faster answers, happier reviewers, and more predictable project timelines.

Bringing It All Together

Relativity is one of the most powerful tools in the legal technology toolbelt, but it requires steady care to deliver peak performance. By focusing on SQL health, workspace hygiene, timely updates, proactive monitoring, and smart search tuning, teams can transform their platform from a potential liability into a competitive advantage.

The takeaway is simple: a stable, optimized Relativity environment saves time, reduces risk, and keeps your team focused on case strategy instead of technical distractions, and our team is here to help you achieve exactly that.

Download Checklist to Keep Relativity Fast, Reliable, and Ready

About GeorgeJon

GeorgeJon is a specialized technology advisory and services firm focused solely on the eDiscovery, Investigations, and Governance industries. Since 2008, GeorgeJon has optimized technology platforms and operations for a global client base, supporting internal staff and supercharging platform performance/security while shrinking total ownership costs. We deliver tangible, bottom-line results that are driven by innovative solutions, strategic architecture/workflow assessments, and ongoing management/support infused with 15+ years of industry-defining best practices. Please contact GeorgeJon at info@georgejon.com or visit georgejon.com for more information.

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For more information about this release, please contact:
Kaya Kowalczyk | 312.698.7133 | kaya@georgejon.com

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Nico Van der Beken

ADVISORY BOARD MEMBER

Former Big 4 Partner and renowned forensics expert Nico Van der Beken is a key member of our Advisory Board. Following a distinguished career assisting major law firms and corporations involved in criminal, civil, regulatory, and internal investigations as a partner at KPMG Switzerland, Nico today provides advisory services to global eDiscovery businesses. Employing his specialized knowledge in Investigations, Intelligence, Diligence, Digital Forensics, Cryptocurrency Forensics, Data Analytics, eDiscovery, and Cyber Response, Nico provides expert insights into the European market and steers strategic growth for GeorgeJon.

In an industry where knowledge is power and experience begets performance and profitability, GeorgeJon is constantly absorbing and documenting real-world solutions to proactively improve client systems. Tapping the knowledge of a 25-year industry veteran augments this knowledge base with a client-side focus and market-specific insights. A leader of Forensic Technology teams at PwC, Deloitte and KPMG, and a co-founder of the Swiss office for Stroz Friedberg, Nico aligns GeorgeJon’s proven solutions with client expectations and needs.

Nico is also the co-founder of Undecom, the first global internet search platform specifically designed to congregate investigators, forensic experts, detectives, intelligence professionals, security experts, and customers from all over the world. He holds an Executive MBA in Technology Management from the Université de Fribourg and a Master of Science in Industrial Sciences from Hogeschool West-Vlaanderen.

Amy Mejia

SENIOR DIRECTOR, HUMAN RESOURCES

Amy Mejia has spent her career enhancing people operations and leading strategic HR initiatives for growing companies across a wide range of industries. She develops and evolves GeorgeJon’s HR processes and programs on a daily basis, including talent management and development, employee engagement, compensation/benefits, and much more. She is perpetually focused on helping GeorgeJon achieve ever-evolving goals by optimizing company-wide productivity and satisfaction.

Amy holds a Bachelor’s degree in English from Northeastern Illinois University, a Professional in Human Resources (PHR) Certification from the HR Certification Institute, and is a Society for HR Management (SHRM) Certified Professional (CP). She is a Chicago native and mother of two young boys.

Kaya Kowalczyk

SENIOR DIRECTOR, MARKETING

Kaya leads business operations at GeorgeJon, responsible for how the organization runs and scales through growth and transition.

She started with the company in its early stages, building the operational structure that still supports the business today. Over her 20-year tenure, she has led operations through multiple phases of growth and leadership change, consistently stepping in to stabilize execution, align teams, and drive accountability across departments.

During a period of expansion, Kaya was selected to build and lead the marketing function from the ground up based on her deep understanding of the business. She established the systems and processes needed to support scalable growth and consistent execution.

As the company entered another transition, she returned to operations leadership to address broader organizational needs, with a focus on alignment, efficiency, and digital adaptation.

Kaya’s experience spans operations, marketing, human resources, finance, procurement, technical services, and internal IT. She is known for bringing structure to complexity and building systems that allow the business to run efficiently and scale without disruption.

Reynolds Broker

CHIEF OF STAFF

Reynolds is the primary advisor, spokesperson, and tactical right hand for the Executive Team (Founder, COO, CTO). As an innovative strategist, consultant, and implementer, he spearheads the successful execution of mission-critical projects and strategic initiatives across the organization, specializing in organizational alignment, business operations governance, and marketing/communications management. His diverse professional and educational experience is rooted in the technology, corporate finance, and government affairs sectors.

Reynolds holds an International MBA in Corporate Finance and Spanish from the University of South Carolina and a bachelor’s degree in International Affairs from the University of Georgia.

Darrin Hernandez, CPA

VICE PRESIDENT OF FINANCE

Darrin Hernandez is the Vice President of Finance for GeorgeJon, responsible for ensuring corporate financial vitality, including accounting strategy, cash flow, reporting, forecasting, budgeting, and legal/insurance/tax compliance. Possessing a unique background that meshes accounting & finance expertise and executive management with emerging technology initiatives, Darrin is uniquely qualified to bring stability and foresight to GeorgeJon’s financial endeavors.

Over the course of his twenty-year career in corporate finance and accounting, Darrin has established himself as an authority in tech-enabled services and SaaS businesses. Prior experience in the cyber-security, bookings management as an online marketplace, and digital transformation consulting spaces provided invaluable insights for anticipating and adjusting to the ever-changing landscape that permeates the tech industry. Being nimble, adaptable, and prepared is necessary to deliver stability for fast-growing companies, and Darrin is the man with the plan.

Darrin has a B.S. in Accounting from Northern Illinois University and is a Certified Public Accountant. He lives in Chicago with his wife and two kids.

Hannah Mize

SENIOR DIRECTOR, DELIVERY

Hannah Mize is the Senior Director of Delivery at GeorgeJon, where she leads client delivery operations and engagement strategy across the firm’s enterprise portfolio. With 14 years of experience in client-facing leadership roles, she specializes in ensuring clients receive measurable outcomes through structured onboarding, operational rigor, and strong post-sales partnership.

Throughout her career, Hannah has worked at the intersection of delivery, enablement, and client success — helping organizations adopt complex technologies, streamline workflows, and sustain long-term program value. She is known for building cross-functional alignment, anticipating challenges before they impact delivery, and creating repeatable processes that support both client outcomes and internal scale.

She has supported delivery and client outcomes across enterprise legal, financial services, and technology environments, working with executive stakeholders, global operations teams, and high performing technical resources to ensure mission-critical programs run smoothly. 

Hannah’s global leadership experience has been instrumental in developing and executing delivery frameworks that improve client satisfaction, accelerate adoption, and strengthen continuity across regions and workstreams. Her approach blends strategic planning with operational discipline, enabling teams to deliver with consistency, transparency, and accountability.

Allison Jessee

CHIEF REVENUE OFFICER

Allison Jessee is the Chief Revenue Officer at GeorgeJon. With 20+ years of experience in sales, account management, and customer success, Allison has demonstrated a profound commitment to driving growth and success for both GeorgeJon and its customers. She delivers deep industry knowledge, strategic vision, and an endless passion for innovation to guide customers through the complexities of data ecosystems while future-proofing operations.

Allison’s expertise in sales automation, strategy and sales execution, and customer relationship management makes her the ideal leader to guide GeorgeJon’s revenue growth.

Formerly Vice President of Customer Success at GeorgeJon, Allison led a team of customer success managers dedicated to optimizing eDiscovery ecosystems and data management solutions for some of the world’s leading law firms and corporations. Her collaborative approach with the sales, marketing, and tech teams has been instrumental in developing and executing strategies that have increased customer retention and satisfaction.

Prior to her tenure at GeorgeJon, Allison was the Vice President of Customer Success and Account Management at UPSTACK, where she played a pivotal role in launching and scaling a cloud-based platform for IT infrastructure services. Her experience also includes serving as the Director of Client Engagement at HBR Consulting, where she managed a diverse portfolio of clients in the legal industry and delivered strategic and operational solutions for Data Center, Network, and eDiscovery Hosting.

Dustin Allen

CHIEF TECHNOLOGY OFFICER

Dustin Allen is the Chief Technology Officer at GeorgeJon. A stalwart industry innovator and one of the original architects of GeorgeJon’s delivery model, Allen ensures stability, scalability, and informed insights for customers while advancing new innovations that meet today’s evolving demands.

A trusted expert with deep knowledge of both the business and the industry, Allen is a seasoned technologist who guides our strategic growth and innovation. He helps customers stay aligned with best practices, scale with confidence, and adopt new technologies without compromising performance or security.

With 20+ years of experience in enterprise infrastructure, cybersecurity, and managed services, Dustin knows how to align IT with business outcomes. He leads GeorgeJon’s technology strategy across platform architecture, automation, information security, and operational execution. He also works directly with customers and partners to ensure their platforms are built for long-term performance and peace of mind.

Ryan Merholz

VICE PRESIDENT, ENGINEERING

Ryan Merholz is the Vice President of Engineering at GeorgeJon. An experienced eDiscovery industry veteran, Ryan oversees our support, professional services, and security programs to ensure world-class customer experiences for our global client base.

Ryan’s service acumen and technical expertise was honed over 15+ years in the eDiscovery realm at Relativity, where he built and led customer support/success, program management and consulting teams. He led the transition of Relativity’s support organization to the cloud and evolved their approach to customer success management for service providers. He is also a passionate advocate for workplace inclusion, diversity and belonging.

Ryan has a B.S. in Electrical and Computer Engineering from Ohio Northern University and lives in the Chicago suburbs with his family. When not working, Ryan enjoys going to the theater, trying new restaurants, and walking his dogs.

Tom Matarelli

CHIEF SALES OFFICER

Tom Matarelli is the Chief Sales Officer at GeorgeJon. A proven eDiscovery innovator, thought leader, and community contributor, Tom’s leadership skills, global perspective and technical expertise provide deep knowledge to our global customer base. He brings 15+ years of experience in Governance Risk Compliance and Legal Technology to the GJ Leadership Team. 

Tom has held leadership roles at multiple eDiscovery technology providers, including Relativity, Vertical Discovery / Ligl, and Reveal. Starting his career as a CPA, Tom quickly moved into forensic accounting and investigations, eventually focusing on forensic technology for eDiscovery. He migrated this knowledge base to the software market, joining Relativity to build and lead their global advisory practice. He has helped law firms and corporations adopt AI-based workflows for eDiscovery, investigations, audits, and corporate compliance.

Tom holds a BA in Accounting and Marketing from Western Illinois University and an MBA in Finance from the University of Chicago Booth School of Business. He is active in the local community, mentoring Chicago Public School students and coaching little league baseball.

George Orr

COO / CHIEF OPERATING OFFICER

George Orr is a transformational leader who informs and drives the day-to-day operations of GeorgeJon. Working in close partnership with George Nedwick, CEO, he strategizes and implements both daily and long-term initiatives for the business.

Orr held multiple executive roles at Relativity, leading customer teams focused on support, professional services, customer success, and the growth of the certified professional community throughout his tenure. Orr was an original member of the Relativity “go-to-market team” in 2007, and helped grow the company in revenue and employees (5-1500). Orr brings his operational expertise and understanding of the eDiscovery customer landscape to the GeorgeJon team.

When not in the office, George can usually be found at a Pearl Jam concert or taking on new adventures with his family.

George Nedwick

CEO / FOUNDER

George Nedwick is the founder, owner, and principal architect of GeorgeJon (GJ). Under George’s leadership, the company has grown from an IT startup to an internationally acclaimed industry leader serving a global client base.

George is a world-class systems architect who has spent fifteen years perfecting a performant, scalable, modular eDiscovery framework that can be replicated and managed on a universal scale. Recognizing a deficiency in technical expertise, storage capabilities, and cost-effective oversight within the eDiscovery industry, George methodically built a team to address this challenge. This includes forging partnerships with hardware manufacturers (Dell), software providers, and leading industry software providers to develop best practice methodologies for optimized infrastructure, specifically designed to meet the demanding needs of eDiscovery users.

George has developed clients in multiple vertical markets, including multinational corporations, leading law firms, government agencies, consulting firms, and premium service providers. He has proven expertise in working with sensitive/classified data and is well versed in navigating complex international data export laws. George has also moved the firm into creation and delivery of proprietary hardware, specifically monitoring appliances that can be placed at client sites to allow for remote access and 24/7 monitoring of all infrastructure components.