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To access legal support from just £149 per hour arrange your no-obligation initial consultation to discuss your business requirements.
Business Legal Services
Pre-Seed & Seed Funding Legal Support
Be investor-ready, protect your business and secure the best possible investment terms.
Embarking on your first funding round can be daunting – but we’re here to guide you through it. Whether you’re raising pre-seed from friends and family or seeking sector-savvy investors, our team will help you navigate your options, understand the risks, and make informed decisions.
We’ll ensure your business is legally sound and investor-ready from day one – all while helping you cut costs through our flexible subscription plans. As you grow your team, develop your product, and scale operations, we’ll be by your side to build the right legal foundations. Our goal is to protect you and secure the best possible investment terms for your business.
The legal partner your start-up can rely on
Protecting your business interests and reassuring investors
Raising pre-seed or seed investment is a pivotal moment for any founder. Up to now, you may have relied on personal savings, support from friends and family, or informal backing from angel investors, but bringing institutional investors on board is a different step entirely. It can feel overwhelming but getting it right from the start is key. A strong legal foundation not only protects your business but also gives investors’ confidence that you’re prepared, credible, and ready to grow.
Our team will ensure your business is legally compliant, from corporate filings to contracts and IP ownership, and investor-ready, guiding you through every stage, from choosing the right investment structure to preparing for due diligence and setting up data rooms. We’ll take care of the legal complexities, so you can stay focused on growing your business.
As part of our support, we will:
Advise how different funding options (debt, convertible loans, equity, quasi-equity) may impact your business long-term.
Explain funding stages from seed onwards, so you understand what each means for your growth and prospects.
Guide you step-by-step through the funding process.
Assist with company valuation, creating capitalisation tables, and reviewing your business plan to meet regulatory and investor requirements.
Help you evaluate whether an investor is the right fit based on sector, track record, and risks.
Advise on eligibility for tax-advantaged schemes like Enterprise Investment Schemes (EIS) and Seed Enterprise Investment Schemes (SEIS), including obtaining advanced assurance and issuing tax relief certificates.
Prepare your company for due diligence and address issues raised by potential investors.
Resolve outstanding matters with business partners, existing shareholders, or investors, such as defining founder roles, shareholders’ agreements, and formalising loans or service agreements.
Clarify intellectual property rights ownership and registrations, establishing a clear IPR strategy to demonstrate business value.
Document and resolve any third-party involvement, whether contributions, loans, or work, to ensure obligations are properly managed.
Explain how state aid or grant funding interacts with your investment to maintain qualifying criteria.
Ensure your funding is tax-efficient by facilitating discussions and advising when professional tax advice is needed.
Advise on, prepare, or update key legal documents required to complete the fundraise, including shareholders’ agreements, Articles of Association, and service contracts.
Explain the impact of employee share options on founders, investors, and stakeholders.
Understanding the investment process
What can I expect when working with Harper James?
We’ve refined our process having done it hundreds of times before, removing unnecessary stress and ensuring a smooth, fast transaction.
Here’s the steps you can expect when working with us:
- We’ll have an initial call to discuss your matter.
- We’ll help you resolve any historical matters that need to be dealt with before any new funding is received.
- We’ll prepare a term sheet setting out the material terms of the investment which the investor can sign. This then limits the negotiation of the long form documents.
- We’ll prepare your share cap table to calculate the dilution on completion of your funding round.
- We’ll make an application to HMRC for advance assurance for SEIS/EIS relief.
- We’ll prepare a document list setting out all documents required to be entered into to complete your investment round.
- We’ll draft your documents and negotiate these to final form.
- We’ll prepare ancillary documents required to complete your round.
- We’ll provide assistance with the signature process by collecting signatures electronically via DocuSign.
- We’ll assist with post completion matters, including filings at Companies House, updating register of members and HMRC notifications in respect of your shareholders claiming SEIS/EIS relief.
Why work with our specialist funding solicitors?
We keep things simple and cost-effective
We know your time is valuable and you want to stay focused on growing your business. That’s why we cut through legal complexity and offer clear, practical advice, at rates designed for start-ups and scale-ups like yours.
We understand what funders are looking for
We’ve supported hundreds of funding deals. We know what investors expect at every stage, and we’ll help you meet those expectations while protecting your business interests.
We’ll help you protect your equity early on
It’s easy to give away too much too soon. We’ll help you structure fair and future-proof arrangements so you can grow your business without losing control.
We’ll help make your business investor-ready
We know what makes a business appealing to investors. We’ll guide you on the right funding options and help you present a strong case that attracts the right backing.
We’re experts in SEIS and EIS tax relief
These schemes can give you and your investors a real financial advantage. We’ll show you how to qualify and make the most of the benefits.
Who we help
Founders and entrepreneurs of ambitious businesses
We specialise in supporting founders and entrepreneurs of early-stage high growth businesses who are ready to scale. Our expertise covers every step of the investment journey from navigating pre seed and seed rounds to preparing for larger venture capital investments. We work closely with key players across the investment market including banks, venture capital firms and private equity houses, ensuring you have access to the right partners and advice at every stage.
In addition, we guide founders through alternative funding options such as crowdfunding, helping you understand its potential benefits and risks for your business. Whether you are refining your pitch, structuring your deal or preparing for due diligence, our tailored legal support is designed to help ambitious founders secure the investment they need to grow confidently and sustainably.
Meet our team
Why choose us?
Unlike purely transactional online fundraising platforms, which do not provide legal guidance, we ensure your documentation is tailored from the start saving you costly mistakes. Our services are often 30 to 50 percent cheaper than those platforms offering both cost savings and peace of mind through comprehensive legal support.
By working with us you avoid the risk of paying twice for errors and gain a trusted partner dedicated to your success.
We support start-ups at a critical growth stage providing transparent pricing and expert partner level legal advice at a fraction of traditional law firm costs. We understand the importance of protecting your interests while managing cash flow, so you get legal support from a team as passionate about your business as you are.
Find out more about who you’ll be working with:
Testimonials
What our clients say
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
We were very impressed by the efficiency of the service we received. Having strong legal service support in place is vital for any business entering into a funding round.
Alexis Rog
Co-founder,
Sikoia
When we were in the process of raising funds for our business venture, we were fortunate enough to have the support of Harper James. Their advice and guidance were extremely beneficial to us, and we’ve been impressed by their responsive service.
TJ Herbert
CEO and Founder,
Itchy Fish
I can’t sing our solicitor’s praises enough: fast, efficient, sensible and supportive. A quick and fair resolution to all queries that we have worked on together and would thoroughly recommend her to any of my contacts.
Samuel B Higgs
Account Director,
Signal Media
It was delightful working with Stephen and Callum on the fundraise. As an ex-investment banker, I’ve worked with many law firms and the legal process can be quite painful. We wanted to make sure our investors were protected and there were no delays with the raise. The fundraise was executed smoothly and Stephen and Callum were both very helpful. Callum was extremely bright. They both pointed out lots of things that we had missed.
Hana Salussolia
Chief Operating Officer,
Medisonal
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
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
The team provide great support throughout the funding process, providing straightforward and clear guidance on the issues to be addressed at each stage. The team was always at hand to make sure that that we understood what needed to be done to reach a successful outcome.
Chris Evans
CEO,
Kobus Services
We rely on Harper James to provide us with support across a full range of service areas, from commercial contracts and employment issues to fundraisings and investments. The team at Harper James are always available to provide us with cost effective, pragmatic and commercially focused advice.
Nick Holzherr
CEO,
Whisk.com
Knowing you have that level of legal support enables any new business to be able to move forward with more confidence. With Harper James we have that - and more.
Julian Cook
CEO and Co-Founder,
Howamigoing
We’d like to thank Harper James for all of their support throughout the investment deal process. As well as providing vital legal advice, Adam and the team at Harper James gave us guidance on the next steps of our growth, and we look forward to working with the team on a variety of projects in the future.
Scott Clifford
Founder,
Oneskee
Jas did an excellent job in pulling together what was a complex deal, not least because it involved co-ordinating parties in America, the UK and at the British Business Bank. But her perseverance and willingness to get the job done for us shone through and we were very impressed by the standard of service we received.
Peter Gerwe
Investor,
Storyfirst
What attracted me to Harper James was the pricing model they have in place. It means we get access to top legal professionals at prices we can afford. In our most recent funding round, the support we received was vital.
Mikhil Raja
CEO,
SonicJobs
The Enable Plan has been really useful for us. We’re always watching our burn because that early money is important to us as a start-up. We get high quality legal event advice that doesn’t compromise on quality. Also, having access to a distributed team who have previously worked at some very credible firms is great. Having access to that level of experience and expertise, but not having to pay traditional firm prices is excellent.
Andre Turville
Founder & CEO,
ARX Alliance
Brigitta’s always there, she listens and really understands us. In terms of turning things around quickly, it’s been fantastic. Speed was something that became very critical towards the end of the investment round. Bringing funding together when you've got a number of parties involved, especially keeping them happy, can be a stressful time. Brigitta was really supportive of that. We felt like she always had our best interests protected.
Andre Turville
Founder & CEO,
ARX Alliance
Jenni Ferguson advised us in relation to our investment and on various agreements. She was brilliant, gave very practical advice, and was excellent at helping us achieve our objectives with the relevant investment. Jenni was very responsive, turned work around quickly, was approachable, and she was able to summarise and articulate complex legal issues very well and clearly, providing practical and commercial advice.
Eamon McCarthy-Keen
Angel Investor,
Investible Limited
We worked with Baljit Chohan on review of documents for closing a seed funding round for my company. Baljit was fantastic throughout the process, easy to reach when we needed him and provided clear, concise, and confident advice at every step. Would thoroughly recommend him and Harper James.
Luke Burke
Founder,
Corryn Biotechnologies Ltd
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
We were very impressed by the efficiency of the service we received. Having strong legal service support in place is vital for any business entering into a funding round.
Alexis Rog
Co-founder,
Sikoia
When we were in the process of raising funds for our business venture, we were fortunate enough to have the support of Harper James. Their advice and guidance were extremely beneficial to us, and we’ve been impressed by their responsive service.
TJ Herbert
CEO and Founder,
Itchy Fish
I can’t sing our solicitor’s praises enough: fast, efficient, sensible and supportive. A quick and fair resolution to all queries that we have worked on together and would thoroughly recommend her to any of my contacts.
Samuel B Higgs
Account Director,
Signal Media
It was delightful working with Stephen and Callum on the fundraise. As an ex-investment banker, I’ve worked with many law firms and the legal process can be quite painful. We wanted to make sure our investors were protected and there were no delays with the raise. The fundraise was executed smoothly and Stephen and Callum were both very helpful. Callum was extremely bright. They both pointed out lots of things that we had missed.
Hana Salussolia
Chief Operating Officer,
Medisonal
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
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
The team provide great support throughout the funding process, providing straightforward and clear guidance on the issues to be addressed at each stage. The team was always at hand to make sure that that we understood what needed to be done to reach a successful outcome.
Chris Evans
CEO,
Kobus Services
We rely on Harper James to provide us with support across a full range of service areas, from commercial contracts and employment issues to fundraisings and investments. The team at Harper James are always available to provide us with cost effective, pragmatic and commercially focused advice.
Nick Holzherr
CEO,
Whisk.com
Knowing you have that level of legal support enables any new business to be able to move forward with more confidence. With Harper James we have that - and more.
Julian Cook
CEO and Co-Founder,
Howamigoing
We’d like to thank Harper James for all of their support throughout the investment deal process. As well as providing vital legal advice, Adam and the team at Harper James gave us guidance on the next steps of our growth, and we look forward to working with the team on a variety of projects in the future.
Scott Clifford
Founder,
Oneskee
Jas did an excellent job in pulling together what was a complex deal, not least because it involved co-ordinating parties in America, the UK and at the British Business Bank. But her perseverance and willingness to get the job done for us shone through and we were very impressed by the standard of service we received.
Peter Gerwe
Investor,
Storyfirst
What attracted me to Harper James was the pricing model they have in place. It means we get access to top legal professionals at prices we can afford. In our most recent funding round, the support we received was vital.
Mikhil Raja
CEO,
SonicJobs
The Enable Plan has been really useful for us. We’re always watching our burn because that early money is important to us as a start-up. We get high quality legal event advice that doesn’t compromise on quality. Also, having access to a distributed team who have previously worked at some very credible firms is great. Having access to that level of experience and expertise, but not having to pay traditional firm prices is excellent.
Andre Turville
Founder & CEO,
ARX Alliance
Brigitta’s always there, she listens and really understands us. In terms of turning things around quickly, it’s been fantastic. Speed was something that became very critical towards the end of the investment round. Bringing funding together when you've got a number of parties involved, especially keeping them happy, can be a stressful time. Brigitta was really supportive of that. We felt like she always had our best interests protected.
Andre Turville
Founder & CEO,
ARX Alliance
Jenni Ferguson advised us in relation to our investment and on various agreements. She was brilliant, gave very practical advice, and was excellent at helping us achieve our objectives with the relevant investment. Jenni was very responsive, turned work around quickly, was approachable, and she was able to summarise and articulate complex legal issues very well and clearly, providing practical and commercial advice.
Eamon McCarthy-Keen
Angel Investor,
Investible Limited
We worked with Baljit Chohan on review of documents for closing a seed funding round for my company. Baljit was fantastic throughout the process, easy to reach when we needed him and provided clear, concise, and confident advice at every step. Would thoroughly recommend him and Harper James.
Luke Burke
Founder,
Corryn Biotechnologies Ltd
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 £219 per month, with £149 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 36% discount on our Standard Rates.