Business Legal Services
We offer a wide range of legal services for businesses of all sizes, with pricing plans designed for start-up, small and venture-backed businesses and medium to large businesses.
Find out more
Banking & Finance Law
Business Disputes
Business Immigration Law
We advise businesses, entrepreneurs, investors and educational establishments on all aspects of UK immigration law, from recruiting overseas staff to ensuring ongoing compliance obligations are being met with the UK Visas and Immigration (UKVI).
Find out more
Commercial Law
Commercial Property Law
Construction Law
Corporate Law
Data Protection & Privacy Law
Employee Share Schemes
Employment Law
Financial Services Regulation
Funding & Investment
Insolvency & Corporate Recovery
Intellectual Property
IT & Commercial Technology Law
Business Life Cycle
Our Business Life Cycle is designed to guide you through the different situations you’re likely to encounter on your business journey.
Overview 
Sectors
Our senior solicitors have built up a wealth of specialist sector knowledge throughout their careers. We appreciate that one size never fits all, which is why we leverage our team's sector knowledge through a multi-disciplinary approach to providing you with tailored and relevant advice. Our sector focused interest and experience enables us to provide up-to-the-minute advice and help you to anticipate the legal impact of potential future changes on your business.
Find out more
Creative Industries
Our creative sector solicitors keep abreast of the latest cases, legislative changes, and industry developments, to ensure our clients receive smart, pragmatic, insightful, and tailored legal services. We provide expert legal advice and representation in relation to all creative endeavours, including clients in advertising and marketing, television, theatre, music, art, publishing, architecture, technology, and all spheres of design.
Find out more
Energy, Utilities & Environment
Our energy, utilities and environment solicitors are expert legal advisers to the industry, including individual and institutional investors and funders, technical advisors, developers, entrepreneurs, utility firms, environmental and waste technology companies, landowners, aggregators, CICs, inventors and environmental scientists, contractors and suppliers and have vast experience in the sector.
Find out more
Life Sciences
Our multi-disciplinary life sciences legal team has specific sector experience, and our life sciences lawyers cover a range of areas such as risk assessment and management, manufacturing and supply chain issues, compliance review and advice including product liability, intellectual property issues and the development of IP strategies, data protection and GDPR advice, licensing and contractual issues, financial advice and mergers and acquisitions, as well as disputes and litigation management.
Find out more
Manufacturing & Engineering
Our manufacturing and engineering lawyers have an in-depth understanding of these sectors and the needs of businesses. We understand the vast and vital contribution manufacturing and engineering businesses make towards the British economy. Our solicitors partner with clients within these sectors to ensure their interests are protected and their commercial ambitions are achieved.
Find out more
Public Sector
Whether you’re situated directly within the public sector or you’re a commercial partner, our public sector solicitors can help you with all areas of business law you’re likely to need advice on, from banking and finance, commercial tenders and contracts, dispute resolution, real estate, intellectual property, data protection, employment law and much more.
Find out more
Retail & Luxury Brands
Whatever your business within the retail sector, our retail lawyers understand this challenging market and work across a range of areas including e-commerce, corporate and commercial, commercial property, dispute resolution and employment law to help advise and provide solutions for your business.
Find out more
Sports
Our sports law solicitors have expertise in the latest sports law and they also understand the industry; including its structures, regulations, challenges, pressures, trends, and developments. We offer legal advice and representation to national governing bodies, international federations, sports clubs, and athletes in any sport, whether amateur or professional.
Find out more
Start-ups
Our team of experienced senior solicitors are business and finance law specialists, with a proven track record in supporting start-ups - they have the legal skills and experience to help founders who want to get things right from day one. We act for start-up companies, entrepreneurs, founders, boards and individual directors of early-stage companies, financial institutions, and investors considering investment under the EIS and SEIS schemes.
Find out more
Technology
Our expert technology solicitors advise both specialist technology companies as well as their partners, customers, and users. We understand the commercial issues involved in tech depend on the services and products involved, which is why we endeavour to understand your niche and its implications. Whether you are a crowdfunded start-up or a large multi-national, our dedicated team of technology specialists are adept at acting for you wherever and whenever technology defines or intersects your organisation.
Find out more
Our Pricing & Service Plans
Our Pricing & Service Plans
We’ve reimagined the way law firms work with businesses to put you in control. We offer three ways of working together to suit your needs, and thanks to our clever use of technology and remote operating model, they all deliver partner-level expertise with significant savings on ‘city’ law firm prices.
Find out more
The Engage Plan
Our Engage plan gives you flexible access to our experienced solicitors, with no fixed monthly cost and low hourly rates, typically £290 per hour. Whatever legal assistance you need, we can support you, and the cost of using our experienced solicitors will provide a significant saving compared to those associated with traditional law firms.
Find out more
The Enable Plan
Our Enable plan is a 12-month subscription, costing £215 per month. Included in the subscription is £145 of credit each month, plus access to our Standard Rates at 50% discount, providing consistently great savings on each project we assist you with.
Find out more
The Extend Plan
Our Extend plan is a smarter way for high-growth and established businesses to get legal advice. A legal subscription service with dedicated account management, it gives you priority access to a curated team of highly experienced solicitors, whenever you need them, at a budget set by you.
Find out more
Fixed Fee Products
Solve common issues with our suite of fixed fee products, giving you clarity on costs and deliverables.
Find out more
About Us
Harper James is a new breed of commercial law firm – a national law firm designed exclusively to champion ambitious and entrepreneurial businesses, enabling them to access expert legal advice at an affordable cost when they need it most. We work with start-ups through to established businesses that have been running for years or looking to scale, futurecorns and unicorns as well as those ready to sell and often build their next business.
Find out more
Careers
Work with like-minded individuals and free from the bureaucracy of traditional law firms in a truly flexible workplace. We offer career opportunities for solicitors and business support professionals that meet your needs and evolve as you evolve.
Find out more
Meet Our Team
Meet the people of Harper James.
Find out more
Press & Media
Our solicitors are well-positioned to provide commentary on all manner of commercial legal issue and regularly contribute to both national, sector and industry press.
Find out more
What Our Clients Say
A selection of our client testimonials.
Find out more
Join our team
Work with like-minded individuals and free from the bureaucracy of traditional law firms in a truly flexible workplace. We offer career opportunities for solicitors and business support professionals that meet your needs and evolve as you evolve.
See Our Open Positions 
News & Insights
The latest news and insights from Harper James including our 'Meet the client' interview series, case studies, legal updates, events and webinars, podcasts, videos and spotlights on our solicitors.
Find out more
Company News
The latest Harper James news.
Find out more
Client Stories
Examples of some of the exciting work and waves our clients are making as well as in-depth client interviews and stories.
Find out more
Events & Webinars
Providing practical insights and Q&A opportunities based on common legal challenges.
Find out more
Podcasts & Videos
Watch and listen to our latest podcasts and videos featuring client and Harper James interviews and stories.
Find out more
Thoughts & Opinions
Our views and perspectives on some of the latest developments.
Find out more
Knowledge Hub for Growth
Our free resource designed to help your business overcome challenges and realise its potential. Written by lawyers and business experts, these resources will help you decipher legal terminology and tackle key milestones from securing funding and growing your team, to protecting your ideas and expanding to new markets.
Find out more
Subscribe to Our Newsletter
Receive the latest legal insights, practical guides, client stories and other news.
Subscribe Now 
Contact Us
Please leave us your details and we’ll contact you to discuss your situation and legal requirements. There’s no charge for your consultation, and no obligation to instruct us. We aim to respond to all messages received within 24 hours.
Find out more
Make An Enquiry
Get in Touch
Request A Call Back
Get in Touch
Offices
Get in Touch
Offices
We mainly work remotely, so we can work with you wherever you are. But we can arrange face-to-face meeting at our offices or a location of your choosing.
Overview 

Knowledge Hub
for Growth

As entrepreneurs ourselves, we know first-hand how difficult it can be to start and scale a business. That’s why we’ve created this knowledge hub – a free resource designed to help your business overcome legal challenges and realise its potential.

Knowledge Hub
Choose topic
Business Disputes Business Growth Business Immigration Business Planning Commercial Law Commercial Property Corporate Law Data Protection Employee Share Schemes Employment Law Finance & Investment Law Financial Services Regulation Insolvency & Corporate Recovery Intellectual Property International Trade and Brexit Recession Busting
Business Disputes

Business Disputes

77 resources

View All 
Updated 15 hours ago
A guide to breaches of shareholder agreements 
Article
Article
11 mins read
Updated 6 days ago
How to respond to a statutory demand 
Article
Article
8 mins read
Updated 3 weeks ago
Expert determination for business disputes: a handy guide 
Article
Article
11 mins read
Updated 1 month ago
How do you resolve a shareholder dispute? 
Article
Article
7 mins read
Updated 2 months ago
Court proceedings in business disputes: a handy guide 
Article
Article
8 mins read
Show all 77 resources 
Business Growth

Business Growth

36 resources

View All 
Updated 4 months ago
How to get funding for your startup: Angel investors 
Article
Article
9 mins read
Updated 1 year ago
What is a founders agreement and why do you need one? 
Article
Article
3 mins read
Updated 1 year ago
Step-by-step guide to equity crowdfunding 
Article
Article
8 mins read
Updated 1 year ago
How entrepreneurs ride the ups and downs of the business life cycle 
Whitepaper
Whitepaper
Updated 1 year ago
Private equity vs venture capital: what’s the difference? 
Article
Article
4 mins read
Show all 36 resources 
Business Immigration

Business Immigration

23 resources

View All 
Updated 3 months ago
FAQ on supplementary employment under the UK immigration rules 
Article
Article
5 mins read
Updated 7 months ago
A guide to the Innovator Founder visa 
Article
Article
6 mins read
Updated 7 months ago
A guide to sponsor licence duties: compliance, record keeping and reporting 
Article
Article
7 mins read
Updated 8 months ago
The immigration health surcharge: how does it work? 
Article
Article
7 mins read
Updated 1 year ago
What to do if Your Sponsor Licence Application is Rejected or Refused 
Article
Article
9 mins read
Show all 23 resources 
Business Planning

Business Planning

12 resources

View All 
Updated 1 year ago
How entrepreneurs ride the ups and downs of the business life cycle 
Whitepaper
Whitepaper
Updated 2 years ago
Everything you need to know about start-up business structures 
Article
Article
9 mins read
Updated 2 years ago
How to choose the right business structure 
Article
Article
5 mins read
Updated 3 years ago
Small business dividends: how do they work? 
Article
Article
4 mins read
Updated 3 years ago
What happens if you don’t have a shareholders’ agreement in place? 
Article
Article
6 mins read
Show all 12 resources 
Commercial Law

Commercial Law

92 resources

View All 
Updated 1 week ago
Protecting IP created and developed with third parties  
Article
Article
4 mins read
Updated 2 weeks ago
Integrating artificial intelligence into commercial products – What are the legal considerations? 
Article
Article
7 mins read
Updated 3 weeks ago
Improving your contracting process: Optimising your contract lifecycle management 
Article
Article
7 mins read
Updated 1 month ago
Contract novation: When and how to transfer contractual obligations? 
Article
Article
5 mins read
Updated 2 months ago
Running an online business in the UK: Key legal considerations 
Article
Article
6 mins read
Show all 92 resources 
Commercial Property

Commercial Property

81 resources

View All 
Updated 2 days ago
Crane oversail licences 
Article
Article
7 mins read
Updated 3 weeks ago
Commercial bridging loans 
Article
Article
10 mins read
Updated 3 weeks ago
Commercial lease renewals – A guide for landlords and tenants 
Article
Article
9 mins read
Updated 1 month ago
How to refinance a commercial property 
Article
Article
11 mins read
Updated 1 month ago
Is a tenant responsible for repairs and maintenance in a commercial lease? 
Article
Article
10 mins read
Show all 81 resources 

Most read

Express and implied terms of a contract
What is indirect or consequential loss?
Dismissing an employee with less than 2 years’ service 
Share Purchase Agreements (SPA): your practical legal guide
Contract auto-renewal provisions
Language discrimination in the workplace: what employers should know
How to remove a director and avoid future legal disputes
Misrepresentation in contract law
Corporate Law

Corporate Law

133 resources

View All 
Updated 15 hours ago
How to remove a director and avoid future legal disputes 
Article
Article
11 mins read
Updated 15 hours ago
How to increase share value via a share buyback 
Article
Article
5 mins read
Updated 15 hours ago
A guide to breaches of shareholder agreements 
Article
Article
11 mins read
Updated 2 weeks ago
How to sell your business in the UK: a legal guide 
Article
Article
6 mins read
Updated 1 month ago
Disclosure letters and why they are important when selling your business 
Article
Article
6 mins read
Show all 133 resources 
Data Protection

Data Protection

61 resources

View All 
Updated 1 week ago
How will data protection training protect my business? 
Article
Article
5 mins read
Updated 1 week ago
Suppliers as data processors: Mastering GDPR due diligence to secure contracts 
Article
Article
7 mins read
Updated 3 weeks ago
How to run a cyber security risk assessment 
Article
Article
6 mins read
Updated 2 months ago
What is a controller-to-processor agreement? 
Article
Article
11 mins read
Updated 2 months ago
Negotiating data processing agreements: key considerations 
Article
Article
11 mins read
Show all 61 resources 
Employee Share Schemes

Employee Share Schemes

21 resources

View All 
Updated 3 weeks ago
Employee share schemes: what to consider before buying a business 
Article
Article
6 mins read
Updated 1 month ago
Save As You Earn (SAYE) Schemes: Benefits for your business 
Article
Article
5 mins read
Updated 2 months ago
FAQs: setting up an EMI scheme 
Article
Article
13 mins read
Updated 2 months ago
What are employee share schemes and how do they work? 
Article
Article
8 mins read
Updated 3 months ago
Employee Ownership Trusts (EOTs): FAQs for businesses looking to exit 
Article
Article
10 mins read
Show all 21 resources 
Employment Law

Employment Law

104 resources

View All 
Updated 1 month ago
GC focus: employment law priorities 
Article
Article
15 mins read
Updated 3 months ago
A new Labour government – what it means for UK employment laws and employers 
Article
Article
22 mins read
Updated 3 months ago
Sexual harassment in the workplace – a guide for employers 
Article
Article
9 mins read
Updated 3 months ago
IR35: Guidance for employers 
Article
Article
13 mins read
Updated 4 months ago
Transferring employees under the Transfer of Undertakings (Protection of Employment) Regulations 2006 (‘TUPE’) 
Article
Article
22 mins read
Show all 104 resources 
Finance & Investment Law

Finance & Investment Law

31 resources

View All 
Updated 9 months ago
Convertible loan note explained 
Article
Article
8 mins read
Updated 1 year ago
Corporate insolvency: Administration 
Article
Article
10 mins read
Updated 1 year ago
Corporate insolvency: schemes of arrangement 
Article
Article
8 mins read
Updated 1 year ago
Simple Agreement for Future Equity (SAFE) Vs Convertible Notes  
Article
Article
8 mins read
Updated 1 year ago
What’s the difference between a credit facility and a loan? 
Article
Article
4 mins read
Show all 31 resources 
Financial Services Regulation

Financial Services Regulation

29 resources

View All 
Updated 3 weeks ago
Unsuccessful FCA authorisation application? Your trouble-shooting guide 
Article
Article
6 mins read
Updated 3 weeks ago
FCA’s paradigm shift: Consumer Duty 
Article
Article
4 mins read
Updated 3 weeks ago
Appointed Representatives: a practical guide 
Article
Article
5 mins read
Updated 2 months ago
Regulation of payment services in the UK: what you need to know 
Article
Article
7 mins read
Updated 3 months ago
Bank Failures: How to respond to financial risk and mitigate exposure? 
Article
Article
5 mins read
Show all 29 resources 
Insolvency & Corporate Recovery

Insolvency & Corporate Recovery

46 resources

View All 
Updated 1 day ago
What to do if you can’t pay a bounce back loan 
Article
Article
8 mins read
Updated 1 month ago
Preference payments 
Article
Article
7 mins read
Updated 3 months ago
Bank Failures: How to respond to financial risk and mitigate exposure? 
Article
Article
5 mins read
Updated 3 months ago
Tenant insolvency: what’s next for your commercial property? 
Article
Article
11 mins read
Updated 3 months ago
If a creditor goes into administration, do I have to pay the money I owe them? 
Article
Article
3 mins read
Show all 46 resources 
Intellectual Property

Intellectual Property

93 resources

View All 
Updated 2 days ago
Trade mark renewals 
Article
Article
10 mins read
Updated 1 week ago
Trade mark ownership: Who should own your trade mark? 
Article
Article
10 mins read
Updated 1 week ago
Protecting IP created and developed with third parties  
Article
Article
4 mins read
Updated 3 weeks ago
Bona vacantia – Buying intellectual property from the Crown 
Article
Article
7 mins read
Updated 1 month ago
How to avoid patent infringement 
Article
Article
8 mins read
Show all 93 resources 
International Trade and Brexit

International Trade and Brexit

22 resources

View All 
Updated 11 months ago
What do UK businesses need to know about the EU Digital Services Act? 
Article
Article
9 mins read
Updated 1 year ago
Who is the greater risk to your business? Your customers or your suppliers? 
Article
Article
8 mins read
Updated 2 years ago
Managing risk in supply chain contracts 
Article
Article
10 mins read
Updated 2 years ago
Imports and exports post Brexit: Managing your commercial contracts 
Article
Article
11 mins read
Updated 3 years ago
Reviewing a franchise agreement: What to look out for when buying a franchise 
Article
Article
13 mins read
Show all 22 resources 
Recession Busting

Recession Busting

16 resources

View All 
Updated 15 hours ago
How to increase share value via a share buyback 
Article
Article
5 mins read
Updated 2 months ago
Ending a business contract: What are the initial considerations for businesses? 
Article
Article
6 mins read
Updated 3 months ago
Bank Failures: How to respond to financial risk and mitigate exposure? 
Article
Article
5 mins read
Updated 1 year ago
Who is the greater risk to your business? Your customers or your suppliers? 
Article
Article
8 mins read
Updated 1 year ago
Turnover rent leases: a solution to weather economic uncertainty   
Article
Article
7 mins read
Show all 16 resources 

How can we help?

To access legal support from just £145 per hour arrange your no-obligation initial consultation to discuss your business requirements.

0800 689 1700

Make an enquiry

0800 689 1700

What next?

Need advice from a law firm designed to support businesses from stat-up to scale-up and beyond? Please leave us your details and we’ll contact you to discuss your situation and legal requirements.  We aim to respond to all messages received within 24 hours.

Get in touch

0800 689 1700

or fill out the short form below with your enquiry.

Your data will only be used by Harper James Solicitors. We will never sell your data and promise to keep it secure. You can find further information in our Privacy Policy.

Our offices

A national law firm

A national law firm

Our commercial lawyers are based in or close to major cities across the UK, providing expert legal advice to clients both locally and nationally.

We mainly work remotely, so we can work with you wherever you are. But we can arrange face-to-face meeting at our offices or a location of your choosing.

Head Office

Birmingham 
Floor 5, Cavendish House, 39-41 Waterloo Street, Birmingham, B2 5PP
Regional Spaces

Cardiff 
Capital Tower Business Centre, 3rd Floor, Capital Tower, Greyfriars Road, Cardiff, CF10 3AG
Cambridge 
Stirling House, Cambridge Innovation Park, Denny End Road, Waterbeach, Cambridge, CB25 9QE
Manchester 
13th Floor, Piccadilly Plaza, Manchester, M1 4BT
London 
10 Fitzroy Square, London, W1T 5HP
Oxford 
Harwell Innovation Centre, 173 Curie Avenue, Harwell, Oxfordshire, OX11 0QG
Sheffield 
1st Floor, Dearing House, 1 Young St, Sheffield, S1 4UP
Southampton 
White Building Studios, 1-4 Cumberland Place, Southampton, SO15 2NP
A national law firm

Like what you’re reading?

Get new articles delivered to your inbox

Join 8,153 entrepreneurs reading our latest news, guides and insights.

Subscribe

Search
View search results
View search results 

Watch our webinar

Video: Transform compliance into a competitive edge

In this webinar recording you’ll learn how mastering data protection doesn’t just safeguard against breaches — it can also positively impact your business reputation, speed up contract negotiations and drive your business success.

Watch now