- Nationwide Digital Forensic & Cyber Investigation Services
Business operations manager
Shana Gallagher is the Business Operations Manager at Elite Digital Forensics. She manages the firm's day to day office operations, including engagement agreements and contracts, CRM and lead management, invoicing and payment plans, vendor relationships, and client account communication. She is the primary point of contact for the administrative and financial side of an engagement. Shana is not a digital forensic examiner or cyber investigator and does not answer technical or forensic questions about devices, acquisitions, artifacts, tools, or findings. What she will do is identify what type of matter you have and get you to the right expert, who answers those questions directly.
Forensic work is only half of what a client experiences. The other half is whether the engagement letter arrives quickly, whether the invoice matches what was agreed, whether the retainer and payment plan are clear, whether a records request or vendor order is placed on time, and whether someone answers the phone when a question comes up two weeks later. That is the side of the engagement Shana manages.
With twenty years of experience supporting attorneys and managing professional offices, Shana brings a legal support discipline to forensic casework: documents are accurate, deadlines are calendared, files are complete, and nothing waits on someone remembering to follow up.
What Shana handles
- Engagement agreements, contracts, and authorizations from draft through execution
- Invoicing, retainers, payment plans, and billing questions
- CRM administration and lead management, so no inquiry is lost
- Vendor relationships, purchasing, and outside service coordination
- Client and attorney account communication on all non technical matters
- Internal workflow, recordkeeping, and day to day office administration
What the role covers
Contracts and engagement agreements
Every matter begins with a written agreement that defines scope, deliverables, and cost. Shana prepares those documents, routes them for signature, tracks execution, and keeps the executed copies organized with the file. When counsel requires specific engagement language, conflict checks, or billing arrangements, that gets handled before work begins rather than after.
Invoicing, retainers, and payment plans
Shana manages invoicing from retainer through final billing, including payment plans, business and insurer billing, and receipts. Clients and firms get invoices that clearly reflect the agreed scope, and questions about a charge are answered by the person who issued it.
CRM and lead management
Inquiries arrive by phone, web form, referral, and email. Shana administers the systems that capture them, keeps records accurate, and makes sure each inquiry is assigned and followed through rather than sitting in an inbox.
Vendor and outside service relationships
Forensic work depends on tooling, licensing, laboratory supplies, records vendors, and outside services. Shana manages those relationships, purchasing, and renewals so capability is in place before a case needs it.
Client and attorney relationships
For the administrative side of a matter, Shana is the point of contact. Document requests, billing, scheduling logistics, status of paperwork, and account questions come to her, which keeps examiners on examinations and gives clients one reliable person to call.
How an engagement is set up
| Step | What happens | Who handles it |
|---|---|---|
| Consultation | Scope, devices, data sources, and questions are identified | Digital forensic examiner |
| Written scope and cost | Engagement agreement prepared with deliverables and pricing | Shana Gallagher |
| Execution | Agreement signed, retainer invoiced, file opened | Shana Gallagher |
| Evidence intake | Devices and records received under documented chain of custody | Examiner and operations |
| Examination and reporting | Analysis performed, report written, findings testified to if needed | Digital forensic examiner |
| Billing and closeout | Final invoice, records, and file retention handled | Shana Gallagher |
Day to day operations
Shana keeps the administrative side of the firm running. That means the calendar works, the files are complete, the systems are current, the vendors are paid, the paperwork is where it belongs, and the small administrative items that quietly delay cases are closed out before they become problems. For attorneys and firms that work with us repeatedly, she is the operational continuity between matters.
| Area | What it means for a client or firm |
|---|---|
| Documents | Agreements, authorizations, and records handled accurately the first time |
| Billing | Clear invoices, defined payment terms, and a person to call with questions |
| Recordkeeping | Complete files, organized correspondence, and retrievable history |
| Confidentiality | Sensitive matters handled discreetly and shared only with the working team |
| Continuity | One consistent operational contact across multiple matters |
Experience and strengths
Twenty years of professional experience, including work as a legal assistant supporting attorneys on active matters. That background covers document preparation and management, contract and agreement handling, client communication under pressure, deadline and calendar discipline, billing, and confidential file management. Legal support work rewards precision and follow through, and both carry directly into forensic engagements.
| Strength | How it shows up in casework |
|---|---|
| Legal document discipline | Engagement agreements and authorizations prepared correctly and executed quickly |
| Financial administration | Retainers, invoices, and payment plans tracked accurately end to end |
| Systems management | CRM, lead intake, and internal workflow kept current and reliable |
| Relationship management | Clients, counsel, and vendors dealt with professionally and consistently |
| Follow through | Administrative items closed out rather than passed along |
Note on scope of role
Shana Gallagher manages business operations, contracts, billing, and client and vendor relationships. She is not a digital forensic examiner or cyber investigator and does not answer technical questions about acquisitions, artifacts, tools, or findings. Forensic examinations, analysis, reporting, and expert testimony are performed by the firm's digital forensic examiners, and she will connect you with the right one for your matter.
Frequently asked questions
Who is Shana Gallagher?
Shana Gallagher is the Business Operations Manager at Elite Digital Forensics. She manages day to day office operations, contracts and engagement agreements, CRM and lead management, invoicing and payment plans, and vendor and client relationships.
Who do I contact about an invoice or payment plan?
Shana. She issues invoices, sets up retainers and payment plans, handles business and insurer billing, and answers questions about any charge.
Who prepares the engagement agreement?
Shana prepares and routes the engagement agreement after the examiner defines scope and cost during the consultation, then tracks execution and opens the file.
Does Shana perform forensic examinations?
No. Shana manages business operations and client relationships. Examinations, analysis, reporting, and expert testimony are performed by the firm's digital forensic examiners.
Can Shana answer technical forensic questions?
No. Shana is not a digital forensic examiner or cyber investigator and does not answer technical questions about device acquisitions, artifacts, tools, or findings. Shana identifies the case type and connects you with the right forensic expert, who answers those questions directly during the free consultation.
Is my information kept confidential?
Yes. Case and billing information is handled confidentially and shared only with the team members working the matter. When the firm is retained through counsel, the engagement is coordinated under counsel's direction.
Get in touch with Shana Gallagher
Email Shana directly for contracts, invoices, billing, or account questions, or book a time on her calendar.
Email Shana Gallaghershana@elitedigitalforensics.com
Book a meetingPick a time on Shana Gallagher's calendar.
Email shana@elitedigitalforensics.com
Book a meeting
References
- Federal Rule of Evidence 702, Testimony by Expert Witnesses
- Federal Rule of Evidence 902(14), Certified Data Copied From an Electronic Device
- NIST Computer Forensics Tool Testing Program
This content is for educational and informational purposes only and does not constitute legal advice. Elite Digital Forensics provides independent digital forensic services and expert witness testimony; we do not provide legal representation. Every case is fact specific; outcomes depend on the evidence, jurisdiction, and counsel. Retain qualified legal counsel for advice about your matter.
