Life and culture at Harper James

We believe in the power of real stories being told through authentic voices and lived experiences.

Listen to the stories below of some of the people who play an important part in our journey and who help us redefine what working at a forward-looking law firm can and should be like.

Their stories bring the unique culture and values at Harper James to life. Working here is not just a job but it’s a community of exceptional professionals who are able to achieve career progression and genuine work-life balance – all while working with like-minded colleagues and doing great work for exciting clients.

Jas is a Partner in our Corporate Team, advising on corporate governance, mergers & acquisitions, venture capital and investments. Jas shares her inspiring journey as the first employee at Harper James, balancing motherhood, a successful legal career, and the unique flexibility that allows her to thrive.

With over 24 years’ experience advising on commercial matters, Stephen, a Partner in our Commercial Team, has a wealth of technology expertise, having previously worked in-house as Senior Counsel at BT. Stephen shares his journey from being an in-house solicitor to co-founding his own law firm and later joining Harper James, where he discovered a different kind of law firm with quality clients, meaningful work, and a culture that truly exceeded his expectations.

Leah is Head of Talent Acquisition at Harper James, leading the strategy to recruit exceptional talent to help us support our clients and reach our ambitions for growth. Leah reflects on the firm’s remarkable growth from 20 to 100+ team members since she joined in 2017. She also dispels common misconceptions and talks about the benefits of flexibility, remote working, quality of team collaboration, and the opportunities to achieve a genuine work-life balance.

Nikki is a Senior Corporate Solicitor, who joined Harper James in 2022. She is a specialist M&A lawyer who supports her clients on a variety of corporate transactions. Nikki was formerly at top 50 law firms and here she shares the story of her journey to Cornwall and Harper James in looking to slow down the pace – and how she’s now enjoying a diverse range of clients and deals and she’s working with a highly supportive team in a remote set up.

Helen is a Senior Commercial Property Solicitor with over 15 years’ experience of having worked in-house and at large international law firms. Helen shares why she was looking to change from the traditional corporate law firm environment and how she’s found a better work-life balance, friendly colleagues, and relief from administrative tasks at Harper James.

Having previously worked at a Top 50 law firm, Sally is a Employment Partner who advises clients on a broad range of employment matters, with a particular strength in employment litigation. Sally shares her initial reservations about remote working and how she found that Harper James’ team ethos, collaboration, and support for progression went beyond her expectations.

As you’ve heard from our people, Harper James is more than just a law firm; it’s a place where your career can truly flourish. We believe in the potential of every individual to contribute to our shared vision of empowering entrepreneurial and ambitious businesses to thrive. If you’re ready to be part of a dynamic and innovative legal team, we invite you to take a look at our current vacancies. Join us in shaping the future of law at Harper James.