Business Legal Services
Commercial Law
Our commercial solicitors do things differently from others, and we’re sure you’ll find it better!
We’ve spent our careers helping business clients to achieve their goals, maximise opportunities, and navigate pitfalls and legal risks. As experts in drafting, reviewing, and negotiating a wide range of commercial agreements, you can rely on us to get the job done efficiently.
We demystify the law, providing you with clear and pragmatic advice, via timely communications, through our cost-effective price plans.
We do things differently
How our commercial solicitors can help
Each day, we help clients at all stages of growth, from start-ups and scale-ups to large established businesses.
Our lawyers have considerable expertise and wide-ranging experience, which are the foundation of everything we do. But providing best-in-class legal services is about more than this – it requires a deep understanding of the sectors you operate in and, most importantly, that we get to know you and your business. That’s part and parcel of how we work and what you can expect when working with us.
Explaining, so you can make informed decisions
You may need us to explain specific legal issues or points of law, and to advise you on their impact to your business or on what you are looking to achieve. We take complex legal points and make them easy to understand and digest.
Building strong commercial relationships
No matter what arrangements you are planning to enter into with customers, supplier and other parties, having the right terms or contract in place is key. They set out your and their rights and obligations, and control and allocate the risk between the parties.
Fixing terms so they're fit for purpose
You may not always be in a position to insist on using your own terms or contract. We can review and advise you on the terms or contracts that you are considering agreeing with customers, suppliers or other parties, and explain any issues and risks. We can also draft recommended amendments dealing with any concerns – either at the same time or as a follow-on exercise.
Crossing the finish line
Whether you’re using your own terms or contract, or having to use the other party’s, drafting or reviewing them is often just the starting point and they will then need to be negotiated. Our experience and expertise can support you through this, whether you want us ‘front and centre’ to lead the negotiations, working with you ‘behind the scenes’ – or anything in between. Tactics often comes into play here, and we can help you decide what approach is likely to be more successful.
We take you into account
Commercial legal advice your way
Unlike other law firms, we happily tailor our approach to meet our clients’ needs. In the same way that no two business are the same, neither is what they need from their lawyers. Whatever we are asked to do, we can adapt and deliver it in a way that works best for you.
We use our experience and expertise to assist you in the way that works best for you, and we’re always ready to adapt.
Getting creative
Some clients prefer traditionally-formatted agreements, whilst others are keenly aware that they add friction – either by making the agreement harder for them to complete and issue each time it is used or by making their customers feel that they need legal advice before signing. We can help reduce friction by structuring the agreement so that all of the key details that vary from one customer to another are clearly set out in a form on the first page, with the signature section beneath it. All of the terms that are required to work with those key details can then be tucked behind that – or even on your website, with just a link from the key details page.
It’s good to talk
Or email or Teams. Whatever you prefer, your communications with us can be by email, via Teams (with or without cameras on – we’re not shy, so it’s up to you) or a normal phone call. We may work remotely but we’re easy to reach and always happy for a check-in.
Have it your way
When giving our advice, we can adapt our style to what feels right for you. Prefer a formal report? No problem. Are tables your thing? Done. Do notes in the margin make it easier to relate the comment to the issue? Easy. Whatever you choose, we use our experience to make our advice digestible and easy to understand.
Testimonials
What our clients say
We make it possible for businesses to focus on doing rather than be bogged down in the legals. Our clients have peace of mind knowing that we’re not just here to tick a box or provide a one size fits all ‘solution’.
The on-demand service we get from Harper James allows us to combine their expertise with that of our own in-house counsel. It means we can get quick and trustworthy legal advice from specialists in every legal area, as and when we need it. There are no hidden extras and the service we have received has always demonstrated an awareness of our fast-moving commercial requirements.
Amelia Guilfoyle
Head of legal,
Zoopla
How engaged, knowledgeable and personal HJ lawyers are. They offer pragmatic and practical advise with a quick turnaround.
Barbara Opala
General Counsel,
Norton Motorcycle Co.
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
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
Harper James has been the ideal law firm for Paragraf because of the flexibility that’s built into the on-demand subscription package. With HJ, I have all the legal expertise and answers I need at the end of an email. We have ambitious plans to fulfil, pushing our product lines overseas and bringing graphene electronics to the masses. There’s no better partner to help us get there than Harper James.
Cathy Cranton
Financial Director,
Paragraf
Having an on-demand relationship with Harper James gives us constant access to leading legal experts across the areas of law we need to keep growing our business. I’m convinced no one delivers better service or beatable value.
Paul Hutton
CEO,
Cranfield Aerospace Solutions
Excellent service. Expert, high quality advice that I have real confidence in. Timely. Good communication and friendly/easy to work with.
Andrew Chalmers
CEO,
CiteAb Limited
I've had a very positive experience with briefs understood and support given when required. Kevin is polite, takes the time to explain things properly and happy to support if and when required.
Nadia Ashley
Client Services Manager,
Sillence Hurn Building Consultancy Ltd
Having very senior solicitors on calls, who are acting for Celerity akin to in-house resource, allows us to punch above our weight legally and provides great credibility throughout the contracting process.
Craig Aston
COO,
Celerity Limited
Working with Sarah Gunton has become a vital and very important addition to our commercial activities at Celerity. Her efforts, skills and communication are excellent, along with her drive and flexibility in a constant fast moving commercial world.
Mark Chadwick
Commercial Executive,
Celerity Limited
Being able to lean on the team at Harper James as backup or a sounding board is great. They understand the need for commerciality and help provide another perspective – which again keeps us moving forward.
Ella Russell
Legal Counsel and Climbing Coach,
Lattice Training
I'll sum it up in three words: Expertise, versatility and experience
Sarah Enuwhure
Account Manager,
Curva Digital Ltd
Kevin was great at understanding what my needs were and responded in a timely manner every time. It was great to talk to someone who understood our situation and made the transaction seamless between the old and new contracts
Simon Cox
Director,
Rothley Ltd
The on-demand service we get from Harper James allows us to combine their expertise with that of our own in-house counsel. It means we can get quick and trustworthy legal advice from specialists in every legal area, as and when we need it. There are no hidden extras and the service we have received has always demonstrated an awareness of our fast-moving commercial requirements.
Amelia Guilfoyle
Head of legal,
Zoopla
How engaged, knowledgeable and personal HJ lawyers are. They offer pragmatic and practical advise with a quick turnaround.
Barbara Opala
General Counsel,
Norton Motorcycle Co.
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
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
Harper James has been the ideal law firm for Paragraf because of the flexibility that’s built into the on-demand subscription package. With HJ, I have all the legal expertise and answers I need at the end of an email. We have ambitious plans to fulfil, pushing our product lines overseas and bringing graphene electronics to the masses. There’s no better partner to help us get there than Harper James.
Cathy Cranton
Financial Director,
Paragraf
Having an on-demand relationship with Harper James gives us constant access to leading legal experts across the areas of law we need to keep growing our business. I’m convinced no one delivers better service or beatable value.
Paul Hutton
CEO,
Cranfield Aerospace Solutions
Excellent service. Expert, high quality advice that I have real confidence in. Timely. Good communication and friendly/easy to work with.
Andrew Chalmers
CEO,
CiteAb Limited
I've had a very positive experience with briefs understood and support given when required. Kevin is polite, takes the time to explain things properly and happy to support if and when required.
Nadia Ashley
Client Services Manager,
Sillence Hurn Building Consultancy Ltd
Having very senior solicitors on calls, who are acting for Celerity akin to in-house resource, allows us to punch above our weight legally and provides great credibility throughout the contracting process.
Craig Aston
COO,
Celerity Limited
Working with Sarah Gunton has become a vital and very important addition to our commercial activities at Celerity. Her efforts, skills and communication are excellent, along with her drive and flexibility in a constant fast moving commercial world.
Mark Chadwick
Commercial Executive,
Celerity Limited
Being able to lean on the team at Harper James as backup or a sounding board is great. They understand the need for commerciality and help provide another perspective – which again keeps us moving forward.
Ella Russell
Legal Counsel and Climbing Coach,
Lattice Training
I'll sum it up in three words: Expertise, versatility and experience
Sarah Enuwhure
Account Manager,
Curva Digital Ltd
Kevin was great at understanding what my needs were and responded in a timely manner every time. It was great to talk to someone who understood our situation and made the transaction seamless between the old and new contracts
Simon Cox
Director,
Rothley Ltd
Experts in commercial contracts
Helping your business to run and make money
Our commercial solicitors can advise on all the contracts and agreements needed to manage your business relationships. There’s too many to list but to give you a feel for our approach and breadth of experience we have highlighted a few in detail across the following pages:
Best-in-class legal advice
Why choose our commercial solicitors?
Our team of commercial solicitors are a competitive bunch – we want to be the best at what we do; helping businesses to navigate challenges and grow. It’s this drive that has got us to where we are today – Harper James, a law firm designed to provide customer focused high-quality legal support to businesses who wouldn’t usually be able to access it.
For many of us, the journey here not only includes working for some of the most highly regarded law firms in the UK, but also working in businesses, usually as legal counsel but sometimes as senior leaders.
Let’s introduce you to our amazing team:
Pricing plans
Legal support designed
to fit your business needs
Our three transparent pricing packages are designed to give you the widest possible access to high-quality legal advice, whatever the size and nature of your business:
City
Straightforward access to senior solicitors at a competitive rate.
An affordable solution for businesses needing one-off legal support. Receive ‘City’ partner-level expertise at a fraction of ‘City’ prices.
Enterprise
Have legal peace of mind for £209 per month with additional support from £140 per hour.
A monthly subscription legal support package specifically designed for start-ups and smaller businesses.
On-Demand
Providing you with priority access to a dedicated panel of highly experienced solicitors.
Fully account managed quarterly subscription service for businesses with more complex legal needs.
Examples of our work
News and insights
