Business Legal Services
Legal services for start-ups
Turning AI answers into legal action
AI can help you identify issues, explore your options or create a first draft. We provide the experienced legal judgement needed to take that work through to completion.
We’ve helped hundreds of clients turn AI input into completed legal projects. We’ll check the legal and commercial position, explain what needs attention and help you reach a practical result.
Testimonials
What our clients say
Our clients value working with Harper James as we understand their goals, identify the issues that matter and give clear, commercially focused advice without slowing their business down.
Working with Harper James has been an absolute game-changer for our startup. As a fast-growing company, having access to top-tier corporate, commercial negotiation, and dispute resolution support under one roof has given us immense confidence.
Paulo Matos
Director,
Ageiro Ltd
Getting in touch with a law firm with diverse expertise for a gap analysis is vital - there are often areas requiring legal input that you might not anticipate. The solicitors at Harper James have taken the time to understand our business model and create specific contracts that have helped us unlock partnerships with large groups
Dr Charles Carslake
Co-founder and CEO,
Vet Vision AI
We received great support from a knowledgeable team which gave us the confidence to move forward in a way which delivered a successful conclusion. I’d highly recommend the HJ service!
Alex Hurley
Solutions Director,
Connexica
Fast and efficient communication. Easy to communicate instructions and timely turnarounds. Good value for money alongside good communication with explanation of path taken.
Daniel Lawrence
MD and Co-Founder,
Bots For That
I have worked with Harper James solicitors on a range of commercial and corporate finance assignments for our businesses over the last 10 years. We have benefitted from access to skilled lawyers with plenty of valuable experience who are well tuned in to how early-stage growing companies operate and what is important to businesses like ours.
Matthew Draper
Chief Financial Officer,
Oxford Space Systems
Working with Harper James has been an absolute game-changer for our startup. As a fast-growing company, having access to top-tier corporate, commercial negotiation, and dispute resolution support under one roof has given us immense confidence.
Paulo Matos
Director,
Ageiro Ltd
Getting in touch with a law firm with diverse expertise for a gap analysis is vital - there are often areas requiring legal input that you might not anticipate. The solicitors at Harper James have taken the time to understand our business model and create specific contracts that have helped us unlock partnerships with large groups
Dr Charles Carslake
Co-founder and CEO,
Vet Vision AI
We received great support from a knowledgeable team which gave us the confidence to move forward in a way which delivered a successful conclusion. I’d highly recommend the HJ service!
Alex Hurley
Solutions Director,
Connexica
Fast and efficient communication. Easy to communicate instructions and timely turnarounds. Good value for money alongside good communication with explanation of path taken.
Daniel Lawrence
MD and Co-Founder,
Bots For That
I have worked with Harper James solicitors on a range of commercial and corporate finance assignments for our businesses over the last 10 years. We have benefitted from access to skilled lawyers with plenty of valuable experience who are well tuned in to how early-stage growing companies operate and what is important to businesses like ours.
Matthew Draper
Chief Financial Officer,
Oxford Space Systems
From AI output to practical legal work
What legal support does your start-up need?
We’re a new breed of commercial law firm that’s helped some of the country’s most exciting new businesses grow from start-up to scale-up and beyond. The right support depends on your stage, your plans and the risk attached to the decision. These are some of the situations where experienced legal input can help you move forward.
Ownership and control
When you need to review a founder or shareholders’ agreement, so ownership, decision-making and exit provisions reflect what you have actually agreed.
Funding readiness
When you need to prepare for a funding round, so your corporate records, investment documents and intellectual property position stand up to investor scrutiny.
Commercial contracts
When you need to turn draft commercial terms into a workable contract, so pricing, delivery, liability, intellectual property and termination rights support the deal you intend to make.
Intellectual property
When you need to confirm that the business owns its intellectual property, so work created by founders, employees and contractors does not create uncertainty during investment or a future sale.
Hiring and incentives
When you need to hire or incentivise key people, so employment terms, consultancy arrangements and share incentives support growth without creating avoidable risk.
Legal priorities
When you need to prioritise several legal issues at once, so your time and budget are focused on the work that matters most at your current stage.
Your situation may involve something different or several connected issues. Tell us what you’re trying to achieve and we’ll help you identify the right starting point. Our usual process is:
- Share what you have
Send us the AI output, draft document or questions you have produced, together with a short explanation of your business and what you want to achieve. - Get an experienced legal assessment
We’ll consider the underlying situation, identify the important legal and commercial issues and explain what can be used, what should change and what may be missing. - Complete the work
Once the scope is agreed, the right specialist will take the work forward. We’ll draft, revise, negotiate or implement what is needed, while keeping you clear on decisions and risks.
Finding the right legal partner
Why work with Harper James
Choose a legal partner you can trust: we’ll help protect your goals, your business and your people so you can move forward with confidence and focus on growing your business.
Affordable, transparent and predictable pricing
Clear itemised invoices, subscription plans with up to 50% discount, and fixed fee products help you plan and manage legal spend – with no nasty surprises.
Proven track record and measurable results
We’ve supported over 8,000 businesses since 2014, with an ‘Excellent’ rating on Trustpilot and a Net Promoter Score (NPS) of 60+ from monthly client surveys.
Straight-talking, responsive advice
That means fast response times, practical expert legal advice delivered in plain English, and dedicated client service and account management support.
Risk and compliance assured
We’re an SRA regulated firm, but more importantly, we build quality, data, and compliance best practice into everything we do.
Meet our team
Why choose our start-up lawyers?
Our lawyers regularly work with AI-generated drafts, checklists, summaries and research that clients have provided. They bring together specialist experience across corporate law, funding, commercial contracts, employment, intellectual property, data protection and disputes.
Before joining Harper James, many worked in other leading law firms or within businesses themselves. That experience helps them recognise where an AI-generated starting point is useful, where important context is missing and what is needed to turn it into completed legal work.
Common questions
Using AI for legal support
AI can provide a useful starting point, but legal documents and decisions need to reflect your specific business, objectives and risk position.
What legal support does a start-up usually need?
A scaling start-up commonly needs support with ownership and governance, funding, customer and supplier contracts, intellectual property, employment and data protection. The priority depends on your current stage, upcoming decisions and the level of commercial or regulatory risk.
Can a start-up rely on a legal document created using AI?
An AI-generated document may provide a useful structure or starting point, but it may not reflect the facts, current law or commercial risks of your situation. It may also contain inconsistent or unsuitable provisions. A solicitor can assess whether the document is appropriate and identify what needs to change.
What should be checked in an AI-generated commercial contract?
The review should consider more than whether the wording looks legally complete. Important areas may include scope, payment, service levels, liability, intellectual property, confidentiality, data protection and termination. The commercial effect of those terms should also match how the arrangement will work in practice.
Could AI-generated legal documents cause problems during investment?
Investors may review whether key documents are valid, consistent and appropriate for the company. Unclear ownership rights, incomplete corporate records or unsuitable contracts can raise questions during due diligence. Reviewing these areas before a funding process can help identify points that require attention.
