Nikki Reid

Nikki is a specialist M&A lawyer who helps ambitious businesses, founders and investors navigate complex corporate transactions with clarity and confidence.

Her work spans company and business sales and acquisitions, venture capital and private equity investments, management buy-outs and buy-ins, group reorganisations and share restructures. She also advises on shareholder exits, including Employee Ownership Trusts (EOTs), EMI share schemes, shareholder agreements, cross-option arrangements, company share buy-backs and wider corporate governance matters.

Nikki combines technical expertise with a highly commercial and collaborative approach. Having spent 12 years in marketing at Aviva before becoming a lawyer, she understands first-hand the commercial realities her clients face and focuses on delivering practical, solution-driven advice that works for the business as well as the transaction.

She works with clients ranging from start-up entrepreneurs to sophisticated corporate investment firms, with particular experience across technology, green energy, waste and recycling, food and drink, veterinary and healthcare.

Nikki qualified as a corporate solicitor with Birketts in 2014 before joining Mills & Reeve as a Senior Associate in 2018. She joined Harper James as a Senior Corporate Solicitor in November 2022 and was promoted to Corporate Partner a year later.

Her experience includes:

• Advising businesses and shareholders on company and business sales and acquisitions.
• Supporting founders and investors through venture capital and private equity transactions.
• Advising management teams on buy-outs and buy-ins.
• Helping businesses restructure through group reorganisations and share restructures.
• Supporting shareholder exits, including EOT transactions and company share buy-backs.
• Advising businesses on EMI share schemes, shareholder arrangements and corporate governance.

The Legal 500 has described Nikki as ‘a real asset to the firm – excellent to work with, efficient and knowledgeable.’

Nikki lives in Cornwall and is a keen pescatarian foodie. Outside work, she enjoys making the most of Cornwall’s food scene, trail running and exercising her Eurasier.

"My clients often say they know I genuinely care about them. I’ve always got their back and will do what I can to get the job done. My approach is open and collaborative: I’m focused on delivering excellent legal advice, while also building strong day-to-day relationships with my clients and their teams."

Once more, many thanks for your help & support – if ever you need an old client as an advocate as to how you helped, we’d be happy to sing out loud & clear.

Robert Livie, Project Sapphire

Thanks Nikki. Your help with this business deal has been excellent. I’m really pleased we had you acting for us. I know you put a lot of hours into this and we do appreciate that. You are a great asset.

Steve Youngs, Project Steel