Business Legal Services
Non Disclosure Agreements
Enter into business discussions knowing that your confidential information is protected
Our solicitors will help you to draft, review and negotiate confidentiality and non disclosure agreements so you can collaborate, negotiate and explore opportunities without putting your business information at risk.
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 7,000 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.
How we can help
When you need an NDA or confidentiality agreement
If you’re sharing sensitive information, you need to know where you stand. We help you put the right protections in place without slowing down the deal. We commonly help when you need to:
Share sensitive information with investors, when pitching your product, technology or business model while protecting your competitive advantage.
Work with suppliers, manufacturers or contractors, when sharing designs, product specifications or technical information.
Explore a potential acquisition, investment or joint venture, when financial or strategic information will be disclosed during early discussions.
Review or negotiate an NDA sent by another party, making sure the terms are fair, workable and aligned with your commercial objectives.
When you need to protect intellectual property during research, development or prototyping collaborations, particularly where multiple parties will contribute ideas or data.
When you want to make sure your NDA is enforceable and properly drafted under English and Welsh law, particularly where the other party is based overseas.
Non disclosure agreements don’t need to be complicated. We keep the process clear and commercially focused.
- Share an outline of your plans
Tell us what information is being shared, who is involved, and whether you need a new NDA drafted or an existing one reviewed. - We will review the risks and your options
We’ll identify the main issues, explain the legal work involved, and flag any points around scope, duration, disclosure, or wider IP and data considerations. - We manage the process from preparation to completion
We’ll draft, review, or negotiate the agreement in plain English, keep things moving, and make sure you understand the practical implications before you sign.
Related legal services
Supporting the wider deal
A confidentiality agreements or NDA is often only one part of the picture. If your matter is part of a larger project, these related services may help.
Best in class legal advice
Why choose our non disclosure agreement solicitors?
Our commercial solicitors advise on NDAs as part of wider work across commercial contracts, data protection, intellectual property, technology, investment, and transactions. That matters because confidentiality issues often sit inside a bigger commercial picture, not as a standalone document. You need solicitors who can spot the wider risks, keep the drafting practical, and help you move forward with confidence.
Find out more about the team here:
Understanding NDA law
Common questions
Non disclosure agreements (NDAs) are widely used in commercial relationships. Here are some of the main legal and commercial issues an NDA should deal with.
When should we use an NDA instead of relying on trust or informal discussions?
If commercially sensitive information will be shared, such as financial performance, product development plans, technical processes or strategic partnerships, it’s usually sensible to have an NDA in place before discussions begin.
An agreement sets clear expectations about how the information can be used and who can access it. It also creates a legal framework that may help if information is misused later. The right approach will depend on the nature of the discussions and the sensitivity of the information being shared.
What terms should businesses look for when reviewing an NDA?
Important provisions typically include how confidential information is defined, what the information can be used for, who the receiving party can share it with, and how long the confidentiality obligations last.
Businesses should also check any limitations on liability, ownership of information, return or destruction obligations, and whether the agreement allows information to be used for purposes beyond the intended discussion.
How long should confidentiality obligations last in an NDA?
The appropriate duration depends on the type of information involved and the commercial context. For example, technical or strategic information may remain sensitive for several years, while other information may lose value more quickly.
The agreement should strike a balance between protecting the disclosing party and remaining commercially workable for the receiving party.
Should we use a one way or mutual NDA?
A one way NDA is often used when only one party will be sharing confidential information, such as during investment discussions or supplier negotiations.
A mutual NDA may be more appropriate where both parties expect to share sensitive information, for example when exploring a joint venture or strategic collaboration.
Do NDAs still matter if intellectual property rights already exist?
Intellectual property rights protect specific assets such as patents, trade marks or copyright, but they may not cover all commercially sensitive information.
An NDA can help protect broader confidential material such as business strategies, financial data, product roadmaps or technical know how that may not be formally registered as intellectual property.
Testimonials
What our clients say
Clients come to us for clear, commercially focused advice that protects sensitive information without turning a straightforward NDA into a drawn-out negotiation.
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
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
Stephen was very helpful, pragmatic and where appropriate, entertaining. We were grateful for the way Stephen advised us in layman’s terms, showing patience to ensure we understood the transaction and were able to move to completion. I value the relationship we have developed with Harper James over the last few years and would recommend them to others.
Jon Arcos
Founder & CEO,
Axis Spine Technologies
Harper James has been the ideal law firm for Paragraf because of the flexibility that’s built into the extend 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
When you’re a start-up, you have to find creative ways to do everything you need to do. And you need to find people who can help you. Harper James can advise us on contracts just as well as a blue-chip London or New York law firm, but at a much lower hourly rate.
Jeff Kofman
CEO and Founder,
Trint
It's very cost efficient and fast. I have enjoyed talking to everyone in the company as they are not only knowledgeable but can also relate to the situations that I need assistance with. Very happy!
Kerem Sozugecer
Founder & CEO,
LeftBrain Technology
Having the Extend plan 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
Knowing that we have Harper James to help us through complex situations and difficult negotiations is very reassuring. Sarah knows our business inside out and we can rely on her to provide clear and timely commercial advice.
And on the odd occasion that we’ve needed help through a dispute, Ian Carson has always stepped in and dealt with the situation before it gets out of hand.
Nick Thompson
CEO,
One Beyond
I'll sum it up in three words: Expertise, versatility and experience
Sarah Enuwhure
Account Manager,
Curva Digital Ltd
Julia Ellis reacted very quickly to our urgent request despite having a busy schedule already. Within 1-2 weeks we had a bespoke agreement to send to our client which has helped us to secure a great deal for the business. We’re happy with the subscription plan we have access to at Harper James and look forward to continuing to work with you.
Charlie Whyman
Managing Director,
Coopatex
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
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
Stephen was very helpful, pragmatic and where appropriate, entertaining. We were grateful for the way Stephen advised us in layman’s terms, showing patience to ensure we understood the transaction and were able to move to completion. I value the relationship we have developed with Harper James over the last few years and would recommend them to others.
Jon Arcos
Founder & CEO,
Axis Spine Technologies
Harper James has been the ideal law firm for Paragraf because of the flexibility that’s built into the extend 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
When you’re a start-up, you have to find creative ways to do everything you need to do. And you need to find people who can help you. Harper James can advise us on contracts just as well as a blue-chip London or New York law firm, but at a much lower hourly rate.
Jeff Kofman
CEO and Founder,
Trint
It's very cost efficient and fast. I have enjoyed talking to everyone in the company as they are not only knowledgeable but can also relate to the situations that I need assistance with. Very happy!
Kerem Sozugecer
Founder & CEO,
LeftBrain Technology
Having the Extend plan 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
Knowing that we have Harper James to help us through complex situations and difficult negotiations is very reassuring. Sarah knows our business inside out and we can rely on her to provide clear and timely commercial advice.
And on the odd occasion that we’ve needed help through a dispute, Ian Carson has always stepped in and dealt with the situation before it gets out of hand.
Nick Thompson
CEO,
One Beyond
I'll sum it up in three words: Expertise, versatility and experience
Sarah Enuwhure
Account Manager,
Curva Digital Ltd
Julia Ellis reacted very quickly to our urgent request despite having a busy schedule already. Within 1-2 weeks we had a bespoke agreement to send to our client which has helped us to secure a great deal for the business. We’re happy with the subscription plan we have access to at Harper James and look forward to continuing to work with you.
Charlie Whyman
Managing Director,
Coopatex
