Independent solicitors dominate legal LinkedIn with relatable, human-first content
- 86,599 total likes across top 10 indie solicitors
- 19,165 total comments
- 1 post per week enough to rank in the top 10
- Henry Nelson-Case got 152% more likes than the next highest ranked solicitor
- Amy Cousineau Massey received almost 24x more engagement per post than the lowest-ranked performer
- Thrive Law had 3 people in the top 40 — the highest of any firm
Independent solicitors – often without agency support, marketing teams or polished content plans – are outpacing their big-firm peers when it comes to influence and engagement on LinkedIn.
The Q1 LinkedInfluencers Indies Report, released today by TBD Marketing, reveals a wave of legal professionals reshaping how the law shows up online. With a focus on relatability, openness and unfiltered insight, these solicitors are building strong and loyal followings simply by being themselves.
Henry Nelson-Case, Commercial Lawyer at Thrive Law takes the top spot this quarter, with posts centred on career growth, inclusion and workplace dynamics that cut through without ever resorting to corporate tone.
“these solicitors are building strong and loyal followings simply by being themselves”
He said: “Legal LinkedIn doesn’t need to be stuffy. I want to use it to connect, question and open up the profession — not to perform for it. It’s great to be recognised in the rankings, showing that my approach does actually work.”
Also in the top five is Amy Cousineau Massey, Employment Solicitor at Arch Law whose sharp, witty posts on everything from parenting to prehistoric fossils to casual sexism have earned her a fast-growing, highly engaged audience.
Craig Kelly, commercial litigator solicitor at Aquabridge Law, Pardeep Kandola, Associate Solicitor at Thomas Lavell, Lisa Haywood of Stutt Associates and Heledd Wyn, Partner at Rothley Law all rank highly, each bringing their own distinct tone to the platform. Kelly is known for his compassionate reflections on mental health and neurodiversity. Kandola’s dry humour and understated posts on the quirks of property law are consistently popular. And Wyn remains one of the most trusted private client voices, using LinkedIn to support and inform people through difficult decisions.
She said: “People are tired of corporate content that says nothing. I use LinkedIn as a way to speak directly — to clients, colleagues, future lawyers. It’s a space to be useful, thoughtful and human.”
“People are tired of corporate content that says nothing”
Heledd Wyn, Partner at Rothley Law
Simon Marshall, founder of TBD Marketing and creator of the LinkedInfluencers rankings, said the success of the Indies is no accident.
He said: “Independent lawyers are cutting through because they sound like people, not press releases. Their influence isn’t accidental. It’s built on consistency, curiosity and credibility. They show up as themselves, and that’s what people connect with. You don’t need a personal brand agency to be heard. You need a point of view and the courage to share it.”
This quarter’s report shows a clear trend: the legal profession is shifting away from broadcast-style messaging, and towards authentic, human-first storytelling.
To download the report visit here: tbdmarketing.co.uk/linkedin-influencers/legal/2025-q1-leaders-barristers-indies
LinkedInfluencers Q1 report reveals which law firm leaders are cutting through
Only 20% of leaders at the UK’s top 200 law firms posted on LinkedIn last quarter – but among those who did, the influence is undeniable.
The latest LinkedInfluencers Leaders Report from TBD Marketing is a clear signal: the law firm leaders being heard are the ones speaking with clarity, courage and consistency. It’s not about noise – it’s about resonance.
The analysis reveals that one in three of all leaders’ posts this quarter came from just ten people.
Sitting at the top of the rankings is Walied Soliman, Global Chair at Norton Rose Fulbright, whose post on the erosion of democratic norms became the most engaged-with legal post of the quarter.
He says: “I became a lawyer to uphold democracy and do the right thing. When we see those foundations under threat, silence is not an option. LinkedIn gives us a space to speak up – and I take that responsibility seriously. The fact my posts are getting so much engagement proves other people care too. I’ll keep posting and saying things that matter.”
Also leading the charge is Jo Farmer, Joint Managing Partner at Lewis Silkin, whose deeply human take on leadership, parenting and inclusion continues to shape conversation across the platform.
She says: “People want to connect with people – not titles. I don’t post for the algorithm. I post because I believe that empathy and openness can make our profession better. And being included in the top five LinkedInfluencers proves that strategy is working.”
“People want to connect with people – not titles”
Jo Farmer, Managing Partner at Lewis Silkin
Paul Sams, Managing Partner at Dutton Gregory, Trevor D Sterling, Partner at Moore Barlow and Sarah Walker-Smith, Chief Executive Officer at Shakespeare Martineau round out the top five – all of them blending authenticity with insight, and proving that influence is built on trust, not tactics.
The report reveals that:
- 77 videos were posted by law firm leaders
- 82 leaders scored lower than a single standout performer Jen Shipley in the main report
- Just one leader mentioned Trump
Simon Marshall, founder of TBD Marketing and curator of the rankings, says this isn’t about vanity metrics – it’s about meaningful engagement: “If your firm’s leaders aren’t visible, someone else is telling your story. The data shows that lawyers who use LinkedIn with intention – not just for promotion, but for leadership – are building credibility, loyalty and trust far beyond their firms. We’ve always said LinkedIn is the room. These are the people commanding it.”
“If your firm’s leaders aren’t visible, someone else is telling your story”
Simon Marshall, Founder of TBD Marketing
To download the report visit here: tbdmarketing.co.uk/linkedin-influencers/legal/2025-q1-leaders-barristers-indies
