How can we help?
To access legal support from just £145 per hour arrange your no-obligation initial consultation to discuss your business requirements.
Sectors
Creative Industry Solicitors
Creative business legal advice
We provide expert legal advice and representation in relation to all creative endeavours, including clients in advertising and marketing, television, theatre, music, art, publishing, architecture, technology, and all spheres of design.
As Harper James is a full-service commercial law firm, our creative industries solicitors can tap into the combined knowledge of our other legal specialists for a seamless and holistic legal service.
We understand the importance of protecting the reputation and interests of those we represent. Everything we do and recommend will be done so with confidentiality and your reputation in mind.
Our creative industries lawyers can offer a range of strategies to resolve any disputes. When it comes to contentious matters, we are strong advocates for alternative dispute resolution methods in the first instance, as these can lead to amicable resolutions which are realised faster, with less cost, and without long term damage to relationships.
Our offices are in Sheffield, Birmingham, Cambridge, Manchester and London if you need a meeting, but we typically work remotely to keep our overheads low which enables us to offer our innovative pricing packages.
Our services to creative businesses cover
Areas of law
What our creative sector lawyers do
At Harper James, we are proud to advise the UK’s creative industries. Our creative sector solicitors keep abreast of the latest cases, legislative changes, and industry developments, to ensure our clients receive smart, pragmatic, insightful, and tailored legal services.
Our creative industries solicitors work closely with a range of sector stakeholders in the areas of design and fashion, broadcasting, and the arts (including music, literature, film, theatre and television), on all of their legal matters. We advise and represent designers, musicians, directors, writers, performance artists, content creators, television and radio presenters, software and IT, architects, publishers and cultural institutions such as libraries, museums, galleries, theatres and exhibition venues.
Our creative industry solicitors possess specific knowledge of the matters which underpin the following areas of law:
- Advertising, influencers and marketing
- Art
- Brand merchandising
- Intellectual property protection and infringement, including intellectual property disputes and intellectual property strategy
- Creative rights management
- FMCG
- Fashion and beauty
- Product design and development
- Media, entertainment and publishing
- Finance and investment
- Commercial contracts
- Data protection & privacy
- IT & commercial technology
- Immigration law (for example, Tier 1 Exceptional Talent)
Assisting creative business growth
Legal advice for creative industries
Regardless of your legal requirements, or creative specialism, we are here to assist you. Our media and creative solicitors appreciate how much skill, time, and determination it takes to produce quality creative work. As such, we will work to protect your creative assets, mitigating the exploitation of your rights, assets, and intellectual property.
Furthermore, thanks to our experience in this sector and focus on start-ups, entrepreneurs and SMEs, we can help develop creative businesses and will support your business during its key stages of inception, funding (and funding agreements), growth, partnerships, acquisition, and sale.
And because Harper James is a full-service law firm, we can advise and represent you on all aspects of commercial law beyond the creative aspects. We can assist in relation to property, employment, disputes, reputational management, and commercial law. This is what sets Harper James apart; the advice and legal strategies we recommend are considered from all possible perspectives.
Creative industries agreements and contracts
Our team of specialist creative industries lawyers will work with you to determine your specific requirements and objectives and those of your business, making recommendations and add value wherever possible. As a creative industries law firm, our solicitors can advise and represent you in drafting and reviewing a wide range of creative law agreements, contracts, and legal documents, including:
- Management, agent & distribution agreements
- Copyright assignments and notices
- Provision of services
- Creative commissioning contracts
- Digital marketing agreements
- Finance and funding agreements
- Commission and royalty agreements
- IP assignments
- Licenses
- Publishing contracts
- Terms and conditions of business
- Trademark, patent, and design right applications (UK and international)
- Transfer of creative rights (including syndication)
Testimonials
What our clients say
We pride ourselves on delivering an excellent service for clients, but don’t just take our word for it.
Harper James provides my small growing business with a scalable, reliable, team-oriented approach to legal advice. Whenever we face a problem, I know that Harper James are there to provide helpful and cost-effective advice, to scope out the options, make clear the costs and risks, and give me the information I need to make decisions.
Bryn Richards
CEO,
Aeristech
As a University spin-out getting the right team of lawyers to support our emerging business was fundamental and the team are always available to provide us with the invaluable guidance and support we require.
David Hodgson
CEO,
Amalyst
Our longstanding relationship has enabled us to get deals over the line quickly and efficiently, with minimum fuss or kickback from opposing lawyers representing the companies we’re investing in. I find the legal team at Harper James efficient, smart and personable. Speed is of the essence for early stage investing and Harper James recognises this and acts accordingly.
Kieran Hill
COO,
Ascension Ventures
The team at Harper James have demonstrated time and again that they have a deep understanding of the issues facing entrepreneurial businesses and their funding.
Charles Smith
Director,
Interpac Limited
They adopted a proactive approach to overcoming issues, and their knowledge of the sector and investors and preparedness to identify novel solutions has proved extremely beneficial.
Charles Smith
Director,
Interpac Limited
Harper James swiftly solves problems with a minimum of fuss. I strongly recommend them and they are a pleasure to work with.
Jean de Fougerolles
CEO,
Ascension Ventures
Harper James provides my small growing business with a scalable, reliable, team-oriented approach to legal advice. Whenever we face a problem, I know that Harper James are there to provide helpful and cost-effective advice, to scope out the options, make clear the costs and risks, and give me the information I need to make decisions.
Bryn Richards
CEO,
Aeristech
As a University spin-out getting the right team of lawyers to support our emerging business was fundamental and the team are always available to provide us with the invaluable guidance and support we require.
David Hodgson
CEO,
Amalyst
Our longstanding relationship has enabled us to get deals over the line quickly and efficiently, with minimum fuss or kickback from opposing lawyers representing the companies we’re investing in. I find the legal team at Harper James efficient, smart and personable. Speed is of the essence for early stage investing and Harper James recognises this and acts accordingly.
Kieran Hill
COO,
Ascension Ventures
The team at Harper James have demonstrated time and again that they have a deep understanding of the issues facing entrepreneurial businesses and their funding.
Charles Smith
Director,
Interpac Limited
They adopted a proactive approach to overcoming issues, and their knowledge of the sector and investors and preparedness to identify novel solutions has proved extremely beneficial.
Charles Smith
Director,
Interpac Limited
Harper James swiftly solves problems with a minimum of fuss. I strongly recommend them and they are a pleasure to work with.
Jean de Fougerolles
CEO,
Ascension Ventures
Creative industry solicitors experts
Creative industry solicitors with sector expertise
Our solicitors have all been recruited from top 100 law firms or international businesses, and come with a wealth of experience and expertise in all areas of the creative sector. Our team spans several legal practice areas, so whatever legal advice you need, we have a business solicitor with experience advising creative businesses and able to deal with your needs quickly and cost-effectively.
Some of their previous work within the creative/arts sector includes:
- Renegotiating a well-known children’s book illustrator’s relationship with his publishing company leading to greatly increased revenues from merchandising, theatrical and TV productions
- Consumer product personalisation and brand merchandise deals for major children’s TV characters
- Acting for a number of fashion designers throughout London Fashion Week
- Acting for high end shoe designers on cases of intellectual property infringements
Pricing and service plans
Legal support designed
to fit your business needs
Our three transparent service plans are designed to give you the widest possible access to high-quality legal advice, whatever the size and nature of your business:
Engage
Flexible access to senior solicitors at highly competitive rates
An alternative to our subscription plans, offering access to full service legal expertise on a project-by-project basis.
Enable
Purpose built legal support for start-ups and smaller businesses
Monthly subscription plan for £215 per month, with £145 monthly credit and access to all legal services at 50% discount on our Standard Rates.
Extend
Comprehensive legal partnership for established businesses
Fully account managed and scalable annual subscription plan with support from a curated team of partners and senior solicitors, with up to 34% discount on our Standard Rates.