The law on LinkedIn

Nearly half of the top 200 law firms have won business directly through social media such as LinkedIn or Twitter.

Three-quarters of 101 law firms responding to research commissioned by communications company Byfield Consultancy encouraged their employees to engage in social media on behalf of the firm, and nearly half considered LinkedIn to be “very important”. Only one in five of the firms does not have a social media policy in place. However, more than 60% think “breach of confidentiality” through social media is a “high risk”.

The risk was recently highlighted in Whitmar v Gamage [2013] EWHC 1881 (Ch), where the High Court granted an injunction to stop ex-employees using confidential information gathered from LinkedIn and other sources.

Niki Avraam, partner at Rosling King, says: “The judgment sends out a clear message that employees leaving a company cannot plunder the LinkedIn contacts their employer builds up.”