Jurisdiction(s):
United Kingdom

Key definition

Know-how definition

What does Know-how mean? Know-how describes practical technical or commercial information—typically confidential—that enables a business to perform processes, make products or deliver services more effectively. It covers methods, formulas, designs, operating procedures and problem-solving techniques, whether recorded or retained in an individual’s memory. It is a descriptive term rather than a defined statutory concept and is not a property right in itself. In the UK and Ireland it is commonly protected as confidential information under the law/equitable duty of confidence (e.g. Coco v A N Clark; Saltman Engineering). Where the information satisfies the statutory definition of a trade secret, additional remedies apply under the Trade...

Practical guide for in-house lawyers: supporting colleagues, managing support needs, shared filing, effective know-how sharing, and behaviour consistent with future leadership

Published by a LexisNexis Practice Compliance expert

Practice notes

This Practice Note sets out practical guidance and tips for in-house lawyers on being a team player by backing colleagues, handling challenging personalities and sharing Know-how. For more detail, see Practice Notes: Collaborating with legal colleagues to achieve quality and consistency and Boosting quality, productivity and transparency within the legal team.

The challenges of being a team player

The legal world is frequently seen as competitive, with collegiate teamwork not coming naturally. Teams with a positive collegial culture usually deliver stronger results, and, ideally, the head of legal will foster the right degree of collegial behaviour. Many organisations offer training on personality types and team working. Investing time in the theory can significantly improve how you engage with different personalities. If your organisation does not provide training, you can still build a solid understanding online, for example:

Belbin—http://www.belbin.com/
Businessballs—http://www.businessballs.com/personalitystylesmodels.htm
MindTools—http://www.mindtools.com/pages/article/newLDR_86.htm

Supporting a colleague who concerns you

You may occasionally have professional reservations about a colleague. Two common reasons for...

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Web page updated on 21/05/2026

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