Legal Hold Notice

LEGAL HOLD NOTICE

Issuer Name:    Issuer Contact:

Recipient Name:    Recipient Title/Role:

Matter Name:    Matter Number/Reference:

Effective Date of Hold:

RECITALS

WHEREAS, an actual or reasonably anticipated legal matter, investigation, regulatory inquiry, or litigation has arisen involving the Matter Name and Reference identified above; and

WHEREAS, Issuer, in its capacity as the custodian of records for certain enterprise systems, has determined that preservation of relevant documents and electronically stored information is necessary to satisfy legal obligations and to prevent spoliation; and

WHEREAS, Recipient has custody, control, or access to data, documents, communications, devices, or other materials that may be relevant to the Matter;

NOW, THEREFORE

Issuer hereby issues this Legal Hold Notice directing Recipient to preserve and not destroy, alter, delete, or otherwise make inaccessible any documents, records, communications, electronically stored information, or tangible items that are or reasonably may be relevant to the Matter, subject to the terms and obligations set forth below.

1. DEFINITIONS

For the purposes of this Notice, "Documents" and "Electronically Stored Information (ESI)" include, without limitation, emails, attachments, drafts, final documents, instant messages, text messages, voicemail, mobile device data, metadata, system logs, backups, social media content, files stored on personal or networked computers, removable media, cloud-hosted data, and any other form in which information is recorded or maintained.

2. SCOPE OF THE HOLD

Recipient must preserve all Documents and ESI in its possession, custody, or control that relate to the Matter. The custodial scope includes materials created, received, or stored during the period: From through .

Custodial status (select applicable):
Employee Contractor Vendor Other

Types of information to preserve (check all that apply):
Email and attachments Cloud storage and collaboration platforms Mobile devices and text messages Laptops and desktop computers
Backups and archival media Paper files and hardcopy records System logs and audit trails

3. CUSTODIAN OBLIGATIONS

Recipient shall: (a) immediately cease any routine or intentional deletion, destruction, or alteration of Documents and ESI subject to this Hold; (b) suspend any auto-delete, scheduled purge, or recycle procedures for relevant accounts and devices; (c) preserve all existing copies in native format and retain associated metadata; and (d) take reasonable steps to prevent intentional or inadvertent loss or corruption of data.

Recipient must provide to Issuer, upon reasonable request, a written list of devices, accounts, repositories, and third-party providers where relevant materials may reside and must cooperate with collection procedures determined by Issuer or its counsel.

4. PRESERVATION OF ELECTRONIC DATA

Electronic data subject to this Hold shall be maintained in a manner that preserves metadata and original file formats. Where feasible, Recipient should abstain from opening, editing, or forwarding relevant items except as required for compliance with normal job duties that cannot be performed otherwise, and only after notifying Issuer's designated contact.

5. PRESERVATION OF PHYSICAL DOCUMENTS

All hardcopy materials within the scope of this Notice must be retained and stored in a secure location. No hardcopy material relevant to the Matter shall be destroyed, discarded, or altered without express written permission from Issuer.

6. ACCESS, COLLECTION, AND PRIVILEGE

Issuer or its authorized representatives may instruct Recipient to make specified systems, devices, accounts, or locations available for inspection or collection. Recipient must not intentionally delete potentially privileged communications but shall notify Issuer if privileged documents are identified so that Issuer may assert privilege and take protective measures. Preservation does not constitute waiver of any applicable privilege.

7. DURATION; RELEASE OF HOLD

This Hold is effective as of the Effective Date and remains in effect until Issuer provides written notice releasing the Hold. A release may be limited to specified categories of records or universal. Recipient must continue to preserve information until notified in writing of release by Issuer.

8. CONSEQUENCES OF NONCOMPLIANCE

Failure to comply with this Legal Hold may expose Recipient and Issuer to legal sanctions, adverse evidentiary rulings, and other remedies. Noncompliance may result in disciplinary action up to and including termination of employment or contract, subject to applicable policies and laws.

9. NOTICES

All notices, requests for clarification, or communications concerning this Hold shall be directed to Issuer's designated contact:

10. AMENDMENTS; WAIVER

This Notice may be amended or supplemented by Issuer in writing. No failure or delay by Issuer in exercising any right shall operate as a waiver of that right, and no waiver shall be effective unless in writing signed by Issuer.

11. GOVERNING LAW

This Notice shall be governed by and construed in accordance with the substantive laws of the jurisdiction specified by Issuer and to the extent not preempted by applicable federal law.

12. ENTIRE AGREEMENT; SEVERABILITY

This Notice contains the entire instruction regarding preservation obligations for the Matter and supersedes all prior oral or written communications on the subject. If any provision of this Notice is held invalid or unenforceable by a court of competent jurisdiction, such provision shall be severed and the remaining provisions shall remain in full force and effect.

13. ACKNOWLEDGMENT AND CERTIFICATION BY RECIPIENT

By signing below, Recipient acknowledges receipt of this Legal Hold Notice, certifies that Recipient understands the preservation obligations described herein, and agrees to comply fully with those obligations. Recipient further certifies that Recipient will promptly report to Issuer any known or suspected loss, deletion, or compromise of relevant Documents or ESI.

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