Built for SMEs. Ranked Band 1 by Chambers for a second year

Last year, Harper James achieved its first Band 1 ranking in Chambers and Partners’ UK-wide SME-focused Firms category. This year, we’ve retained that ranking and secured Band 1 in the new Midlands category too.

It’s something we can be very proud of, particularly because client feedback plays a bit part in how Chambers makes its assessment. We have a clear view of the service we want to provide. Hearing that clients value what we’re doing gives us confidence that we’re getting it right.

When I founded Harper James in 2014, it was because I could see a gap. Growing businesses needed experienced lawyers, but the cost and way legal services were delivered could make it difficult to get the support they needed. I believed we could build a commercially successful firm by making that support more affordable and better suited to how SMEs work.

That still drives the decisions we make today: who we hire, how we price our services and where we invest.

We’ve now supported more than 8,000 businesses across the UK. As we grow, I want clients to continue getting the things they came to us for: experienced people, clear, practical advice, responsiveness and good value. We have to keep listening and improving to make sure that happens.

Part of that is creating a working environment where good people want to build their careers. It also means giving them the tools and support to do their jobs well. Our investment in technology, including our own AI tools, is about reducing routine work so colleagues can spend more time applying their expertise and helping clients.

Having built a business myself, I know how much can rest on a decision about investment, a new hire or an important contract. You want advice from someone who understands the commercial situation and helps you decide what to do next.

That’s the role we want to play for our clients. For businesses considering Harper James, I hope this recognition gives them further confidence in choosing us.

Thank you to all our clients for trusting us with your businesses, and to those who took the time to share their experiences with Chambers. I know you have a choice about who you work with, and I don’t take that trust for granted.

I’m also grateful to our lawyers and everyone across Harper James who supports them and our clients. This recognition reflects the work of the whole team.

There’s plenty more I want us to achieve. Making experienced legal advice affordable for growing businesses remains a clear ambition, and one we’ll keep building the firm around.