Our founder and CEO, Toby Harper, has been named a Midlands regional finalist in the EY Entrepreneur of the Year 2026 UK programme, which recognises 110 finalists across five UK regions: London, South, Midlands, North and Scotland.
Toby founded Harper James in 2014 with a clear aim: to make high-quality legal support more accessible, practical and affordable for ambitious businesses. That idea has shaped how we’ve grown ever since. We were built around the needs of growing SMEs, with senior legal expertise, transparent pricing and the flexibility to support clients as their businesses evolve.
Over the last decade, that model has taken Harper James from a start-up to a commercial law firm with revenues of over £15m, supporting thousands of growth-focused businesses along the way. More recently, our partnership with LDC has given us the backing to invest further in our people, our technology and the experience we offer clients.
Commenting on the nomination, Toby says:
It's a privilege to be recognised among such a strong group of Midlands entrepreneurs, but the credit really sits with the team at Harper James and the clients who've trusted us to support them as they grow. Our work only matters because of what they're building and being part of that is the most rewarding part of the job.
The regional finalists will now be assessed by an independent judging panel, with 10 entrepreneurs selected to progress to the UK final. The overall UK winner will be announced at a celebration dinner in November and will go on to represent the UK at EY World Entrepreneur of the Year in 2027.
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