Lynne Rathbone

Lynne qualified as a solicitor in 2005 and joined Harper James as a Corporate Partner in September 2024. 

Lynne has extensive experience advising businesses and business owners at a regional, national and international level on all aspects of corporate and commercial work, including company acquisitions and disposals, private equity investment, strategic projects, succession planning and reorganisations, joint ventures and collaborations, partnerships and complex contracts.

I pride myself on taking a pragmatic, no-nonsense, commercial approach to all aspects of my work; taking the time to really get to know my clients’ business and understand their objectives allows me in turn to provide bespoke advice tailored to their needs and guide them through the corporate maze to a successful outcome.

Throughout her career, Lynne has worked for national and international top 50 law firms including Weightmans, Browne Jacobson and, most recently, Trowers & Hamlins where she was a partner and head of corporate for the South-West.  

Lynne also has significant experience providing corporate advice to public sector and health bodies. As a former Partner in Browne Jacobson’s Government & Infrastructure team, she specialised in corporate structures, public/private partnerships, framework agreements and outsourcing of services. She has particular expertise advising doctors' practices on partnership agreements, mergers, and contracts, as well as leading the sale of several care home businesses. 

I have found my public sector expertise to also be extremely useful to my private sector clients looking to partner with public sector bodies or gain access frameworks or provider panels. Understanding the language, working environment and challenges faced by both sides can be invaluable in reaching a successful outcome for my clients.

Lynne has gained a considerable amount of experience working with high growth innovation and technology businesses through her love of investment work. She has also worked extensively with landowners and developers of various levels on land diversification, regeneration and development projects.   

Prior to becoming a lawyer, Lynne’s love of the law saw her join the police force in Liverpool at a young age. An invaluable life lesson, although she quickly realised that wasn’t the right legal career path for her. It was her next role, an area manager for Coca Cola & Schweppes, that ignited her passion for the business world. Shortly thereafter, Lynne returned to law qualifying as a corporate lawyer.