Harper James is a UK full-service commercial law firm advising start-ups, scale-ups and established businesses on the laws of England and Wales. Its business insights focus on practical legal issues that affect commercial decisions, including funding, contracts, employment, intellectual property, data protection, property and disputes.
A recurring theme is the connection between legal structure and business objectives. Guidance on fundraising addresses matters such as term sheets, SEIS and EIS considerations, advance subscription agreements, shareholder agreements and cap tables. Commercial contract guidance explains how businesses allocate responsibility through warranties, indemnities, liability limits, payment terms and termination rights. Property articles examine mechanisms such as lease break clauses, rent reviews and dilapidations.
The firm’s service plans reflect different patterns of legal demand. Engage is designed for project-based or ad hoc instruction. Enable combines a 12-month subscription with a monthly credit and discounted hourly rates for start-ups and smaller businesses. Extend provides dedicated account management and a curated team for organisations that require an outsourced legal function or support alongside an in-house team. Fixed-fee services include data protection health checks, HR compliance audits, share plan management and trade mark monitoring.
The insights also address the processes behind effective legal management. These include maintaining Companies House records, documenting intellectual property assignments, preparing for due diligence, handling subject access requests, managing employment consultations and responding to trade mark oppositions. The emphasis is on identifying the relevant legal mechanism, assessing cost, timing and risk, and recording decisions in documents that support the business.