London solicitors Speechly Bircham has adopted the DespatchBox DDX encrypted e-mail system for confidential communication with clients.

The e-mail encryption facility will be presented to clients as an optional service.

Michael Lingens, managing partner at Speechly Bircham, said that, in recent months, the firm had become acutely aware of the security flaws inherent in unencrypted e-mail.

Lingens said the DespatchBox system would provide security against the interception and fraudulent misuse of e-mails sent between the firm and its clients.

He added: "All law firms deal with confidential information for which a simple e-mail disclaimer is just not an acceptable means of protection."