LinkedIn GC Erika Rottenberg (pictured), who oversaw the company's initial public offering (IPO) in 2011, is stepping down in August after six years in the role.

Rottenberg joined the social networking service as its first full-time attorney and GC in 2008.

In May 2011 the company launched on the New York Stock Exchange, seeing shares in the company more than double in price, closing at $94.25 (£58) per share and giving the company a market cap close to $10bn (£6.1bn).

It was reported at the time that Rottenberg's shares and options in LinkedIn were worth approximately $27m (£16.6m).

Prior to joining LinkedIn Rottenberg was GC for SumTotal Systems, a Florida-based talent development enterprise software company, and also worked as GC at Creative Labs, a computer peripheral and digital entertainment product company. She began her legal career at US law firm Cooley – the same firm that represented the underwriters on LinkedIn's IPO.

In a statement, Rottenberg said: "Whatever opportunities lie ahead when I'm ready to jump back into the fray after some time off, I'm deeply appreciative for the LinkedIn experience, and forever indebted to my colleagues and friends for building a company that has changed the way the world works. I look forward to helping the team identify LinkedIn's next GC and to ensure a smooth transition."

LinkedIn's legal department now has 30 staff, and has doubled in size since 2012. Rottenberg is also credited with helping the social networking site establish a presence in China.