Harper James is a modern, full-service commercial law firm for ambitious businesses, from start-ups and scale-ups to established companies. Advising on the laws of England and Wales, our experienced senior lawyers provide practical commercial judgement, clear scope and flexible support that adapts as your business develops.
Your legal priorities change as your business grows. An idea needs protection and the right structure. A growing company needs sound contracts, employment arrangements and shareholder agreements. A scaling business may need funding, acquisitions, new premises or support entering international markets. When you are ready to exit, you need coordinated advice on the transaction, its risks and the transition that follows.
Harper James gives you access to experienced lawyers across business law through one firm. Whether you need a defined project, recurring support or an outsourced legal function, we connect the right expertise to your objectives, timing and risk appetite.
Start with the big idea when you are protecting intellectual property, discussing investment, structuring your business or recruiting key hires. As your priorities develop, getting started provides a practical route through contracts, director duties, premises, data and shareholder arrangements.
Our lawyers look beyond the legal issue in isolation. They consider what the decision means for your business, including cost, timing, risk and available options. You receive advice that is designed to inform a practical business decision, not simply describe a legal position.
Harper James has more than 80 lawyers, with an average of 17 years' post-qualification experience. Many have worked in leading law firms and in-house legal teams, bringing senior perspective to the decisions founders, finance leaders, people teams and General Counsel make every day.
Connected legal issues rarely fit neatly into one department. A funding round may involve corporate structure, employee incentives, intellectual property, data protection and commercial contracts. An acquisition may require due diligence, employment advice, property support and careful handling of warranties and indemnities.
Our full-service offering includes:
Your business does not have to follow a fixed legal support model. Engage provides project-based or ad hoc support for a defined matter, without a subscription commitment. Enable is a 12-month subscription for start-ups and smaller businesses that need continuing access to legal support. Extend is a managed annual subscription for businesses with more frequent or complex requirements.
Extend can operate as an outsourced legal function or alongside your in-house team. It includes dedicated account management and priority access to a curated team of experienced lawyers. Enable and Extend are designed to support ongoing relationships, so your legal advisers build a stronger understanding of your business, priorities and risk appetite over time.
Better value is not simply a question of paying less. It means receiving useful, high-quality advice from experienced lawyers, with a service model that fits the work. Harper James agrees scope and the basis of charging with you, helping you understand the work involved, the risks being considered and the next practical steps.
Fixed-fee and fixed-scope services include a Data Protection Health Check, HR Compliance Audit, Lease 'MOT' Review Service, Outsourced Data Protection Officer, Share Plan Management, Company Secretarial Service and Trade Mark Monitoring Service. These focused options give businesses a clear route to address specific legal needs.
Harper James supports founders, CEOs, CFOs, HR leaders, General Counsel, in-house lawyers and compliance teams. We work with businesses that need additional capacity, specialist expertise or coordinated advice across several areas of law.
Our clients include technology, life sciences, manufacturing, construction, professional services and financial services businesses. We also support international companies establishing or expanding UK operations under the laws of England and Wales.
Whether your team is getting on with it, dealing with employee or supplier issues, responding to a data breach or reviewing software licensing, our lawyers focus on the decision in front of you and the action required next.
Businesses seek legal advice at moments that matter: investment, recruitment, a new product launch, a contract negotiation, a dispute, a regulatory change, a data incident or a planned exit. Harper James helps you assess the legal position, understand the trade-offs and put the right response into practice.
For businesses scaling up, that may mean supporting an acquisition, securing funding, expanding the workforce or preparing for international growth. For shareholders and leadership teams looking to exit, it may mean preparing the company, structuring the deal and managing the legal work needed for a smooth transition.
Our remote-first operating model uses technology, including proprietary tools and artificial intelligence, to reduce routine and administrative work. This supports an efficient way of working and helps us focus our time on legal judgement, communication and client service.
Technology supports our lawyers. It does not provide legal advice on its own or replace the responsibility of experienced lawyers for the advice you receive. Face-to-face meetings are available by arrangement, with Harper James headquartered in Birmingham and regional spaces in Cardiff, Cambridge, London, Manchester, Oxford, Sheffield and Southampton.
Harper James was founded in 2014 by Toby Harper, Founder and CEO, and has supported more than 8,000 businesses since then. The firm is authorised and regulated by the Solicitors Regulation Authority, SRA number 612099, and holds Cyber Essentials Plus certification.
Harper James is ranked Band 1 for SME-focused Firms, UK-wide, in the Chambers UK 2026 and 2027 guides, and Band 1 for SME-focused Firms in the Midlands in the 2027 guide. The firm was also Commended for New Law Business of the Year at The Lawyer Awards 2026.
Good legal support gives you a clearer view of the issue, the available options and the action that follows. Explore the latest insights for practical guidance from Harper James, or choose the service plan that fits the way your business needs to work today.
From a single contract to an evolving outsourced legal function, Harper James brings senior legal expertise, coordinated support and practical commercial judgement to the businesses building what comes next.