Whether you’re updating company-wide software, developing a video game, or undertaking ground breaking research, we’ll take the complexity out of the related legal matters so you can get back to business. We’ll help you protect your IP rights, manage your contractual relationships, safeguard sensitive information, support innovative product development, and at all times, keep you compliant.
Our solicitors can support your business in all legal matters relating to technology and IT, including:
Finding the right legal partner
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.
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.
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.
We’re here to make things easier, not add complexity. That means fast response times, practical expert legal advice delivered in plain English, and dedicated client service and account management support.
We’re an SRA regulated firm, but more importantly, we build quality, data, and compliance best practice into everything we do.
Appointing a legal partner is a big decision. That’s why we’re open about our values, culture and model, so you can see what makes us tick. And because a productive partnership starts with understanding, we always begin with a conversation – listening to your goals, pressures and plans, then tailoring our support to fit.
We recognise that development in commercial technology and IT is rapid, so circumstances and projects can change quickly. Our IT solicitors possess the expertise and resources to anticipate and react to your needs and can offer you cost-effective advice on a variety of issues, including:
SaaS agreements
We can provide you with a comprehensive legal review of the terms of the agreement, conducting thorough due diligence of the provider to ensure you’re protected and getting the very best out of the relationship.
Cloud services agreements
We’ll carefully negotiate and draft your agreement, detailing service levels, obligations, and your right to terminate, also making sure you comply with the platform providers’ requirements while minimising risk to your business.
Software licensing and end user licensing
We’ll carefully draft your license agreements so that you successfully prevent abuses of your software, keep control over its use, limit your liabilities and, put terms in place that will protect your business and suit your future plans.
Procurement
Whatever software, hardware or systems you need to introduce to your business, we can review any boilerplate agreements you’ve been presented with by your supplier and make sure that the necessary adaptations are made to terms so that you get exactly what you require.
Technological research and development and collaboration agreements
We can produce an agreement that clearly defines each party’s obligations, limitations, and ownership so that roles are clearly defined, helping you avoid costly disputes later on.
Protecting and commercialising your intellectual property
Our intellectual property specialists will provide a clear route to protect your IP, and where appropriate, uncover the right opportunities to commercialise assets to benefit your business.
Ecommerce and Distance selling regulations
Whether it’s via phone, mail or online transactions, we’ll ensure you comply with The Consumer Rights Act and have the right terms and conditions in place to protect you.
Cyber security
By assessing potential risk to your business, we’ll help you put the right cyber resilience protocols in place, build incident response plans, and make sure you comply with the relevant legislation.
Data protection
Our specialists will ensure your processes align with current data protection law and GDPR, with comprehensive audits, staff training, and data breach prevention and management.
Outsourcing
We’ll ensure that any established outsourcing agreements are carefully reviewed and adapted and that any early stage negotiations with a new provider are fit for purpose, while also considering exit provisions, such as the right to step in, should the supplier be unable to perform.
Video game and app development
From development agreements, to intellectual property considerations, distribution agreements, and regulatory compliance, we can support you at every stage in video game or app development, so that you protect your assets, safely distribute your product, and abide by current regulations.
Fintech
We’ll guide you through the regulatory minefield that you’ll have to navigate as part of the Fintech sector, helping you manage risk effectively, taking a wider view of your business so that we can also support you with the accompanying data protection, intellectual property, and contractual considerations as you scale.
If you’re in the business of developing a product or service that is not yet seen elsewhere or will undoubtedly see commercial competition, it’s worth investing heavily in its protection. Our IP specialists will be able to advise you on the best course of action when it comes to protecting your assets, and beyond that, will also advise you on the best way to commercialise your technology, taking your business to that next level.
Relying on third party providers means putting an element of your business in their hands. Whether that’s IT systems, data storage, or working with developers, you need to ascertain obligations and levels of responsibility to protect your business. Our commercial technology experts will give you peace of mind, knowing that they have your best interests and objectives in mind throughout all commercial negotiations.
Through careful consideration of your current processes, risk assessment, and application of legislation, we can ensure that you comply with regulations in your sector. From refining your data storage procedures, to limiting your liability as part of commercial negotiations, and helping you protect innovative products – our aim is to reduce the risk of sanctions that could disrupt your business.
The last thing you want slowing you down is having to decipher your obligations when it comes to regulatory and legislative compliance. We have the experience to make sure you comply with the regulations that apply to your business, so that you can spend more time successfully managing it.
We can also help with the drafting and reviewing of all commercial contracts required for your tech business to progress:
We work with software companies, video game developers, ISPs, fintech, biotech companies, and leading international tech businesses. Our team of commercial technology lawyers are expert legal advisers to growing technology companies and have particular experience in the fields of IT, telecommunications, energy and utilities, and e-commerce, with a large number of our clients operating in these sectors.
Harper James are our trusted legal adviser and having them by our side at key moments in our business growth, knowing we are protected, is immensely reassuring.
Chris Mason CEO, Namos Solutions
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
For us, the support of Harper James Solicitors has been a gift. The collaboration we have had has been of tremendous importance. The service has been superb value for money.
Iraklis Bourantas COO, Novoville
We often need legal advice quickly, especially during sales with new customers, and Rob is very responsive and always available for meetings. When I was looking for a law firm, I wanted that full range of services, as I knew we’d need advice outside of the tech remit. The flexibility has been really positive.
Ivan Harding CEO and Co-Founder, Applaud
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
Harper James removes the stress for us. I know that we can get advice quickly, without some sort of golden clock being turned on when you pick up the phone. This means we can focus on running the business.
Tom Davenport Co-Founder, TalentPool
Harper James solicitors don’t speak in the legalese which I have heard too many times from other solicitors and which is totally unhelpful. What I’m after is focused, considered advice about the specific situations that I face. By which I mean, do you think this is a good idea? Their response might be ‘Yes’ or ‘No’. One word is often all I’m looking for! My solicitor gives a view and I really value that.
Tom Davenport MD & Co-Founder, Alvius
We initially turned to Harper James for help in one part of our business but quickly realised we could benefit from their support in other areas too. The level of service has been impressive. What I like about Harper James is they seem to take a proactive approach to legal services provision. They’ve looked at our business and made suggestions as to areas where they can best focus their support and expertise. It is reassuring to have a legal services provider like that working alongside you.
Heidi Ayton Chief of Compliance, Croud
Sarah was incredibly responsive to my e-mails and was accurate with rough timelines for completion. She was also very approachable and down to earth on an agreement that contains a lot of jargon and isn't that user friendly for people from a non legal background. She also took the time to get to know the purpose the document will be used for to make it accurate and legally binding.
Steph Darrah Business Development Manager, Playtonic Limited
Harper James has been invaluable. They drafted the relevant agreements and gave us sound legal advice in an area that we did not have prior experience in. As a start-up, having advice and feedback from an organisation that specialises in early-stage enterprises was instrumental in us having the confidence to push forward with our product
Dean Bryan Co-Founder, Yyoma
It's been fantastic - I've worked with 3 lawyers to date (commercial, incentive, employment) and all three have been very competent in their areas. The value for money is unbeatable - I have already recommended it to another start up who plans to reach out shortly.
Colin Blakely Head of Finance, Qargo Tech Limited
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
Fast, efficient and pragmatic advise! Excellent advise delivered quickly, over the weekend when needed such as with the recent SVB debacle.
Anna Fraser-Harris CFO, MyDidimo UK
Often we challenge the Harper James team with tough questions around commercial relationships and evolving law in deep technology, generative AI, and the like. We always receive thoughtful perspective and partnership in navigating our growth and protecting our business.
Veronica Orvalho Founder and CEO, Didimo
We love Dave Sant. He’s super efficient, clear and understands our business.
Aela Callan Co-founder, Head Set Immersive Ltd
Super efficient service and June was a delight to work with.
Carol Evans Director, Harwood Brittain Technology
Perfect balance of a wide range of SMEs but consistency of approach if we want to just go back to the same person again and again. Everyone we've dealt with has been knowledgeable, pragmatic and friendly. David Sant in particular has been incredible on our journey from start up to now.
Sally Merritt CEO, Evotra Ltd
It was really helpful having someone with legal expertise that also had the software engineering experience. Because when we're talking about the intricacies of how our platform works, David understood exactly what we meant.
Benedict Heaver CEO, Streets Heaver
Our commercial technology lawyers’ expertise spans several legal practice areas, so whatever legal advice you need, we have a solicitor with experience advising technology businesses, able to deal with your needs quickly and cost-effectively.
We advise on protecting and commercialising technology innovations and taking action against online and offline infringements around the world. And we specialise in supporting start-ups and scale-ups. Our aim is to partner with ambitious businesses that would normally find legal support inaccessible and provide them with the legal guidance they need to advance. Our integrated services also mean that you won’t just have the technology team to guide you. With our unique subscription pricing model, you’ll also be able to access our other legal services when you need them.
Find out more about the commercial technology team here:
Partner - Commercial
Before joining Harper James, Rob worked for Santander bank as an IP/brand management lawyer and also at Shakespeare Martineau.
Quality and Compliance Director & Commercial Partner
As a previous partner at DLA Piper, Sarah comes with a rich pedigree in providing expert commercial services for her clients.
Senior Solicitor - Commercial Technology & Data Protection
David is a senior commercial solicitor, specialising in technology and data protection. He joins us having worked as in-house counsel for the BBC and OUP.
Senior Solicitor - Commercial
Ed specialises in IT, IP and general technology-related contracts, but he also advises more broadly on commercial matters.
Senior Solicitor - Data Protection & Privacy
Becky is a highly knowledgeable commercial lawyer, specialising in Data Protection and Privacy Law. She can add value to a business by drawing on nearly 20 years of in-house experience.
Director of Legal Strategy and Operations & Head of Commercial
With over 24 years’ experience advising on commercial matters, Stephen brings a wealth of technology expertise having previously worked in-house as senior counsel to BT before joining private practice.
Partner - Commercial
Kevin has over 20 years’ experience of commercial matters having spent the majority of his career at top 50 law firm Blake Morgan. He has particular expertise in the supply of goods or services along with general IT and technology agreements.
Senior Solicitor - Commercial
Mairead is a Senior Commercial Solicitor with over 12 years’ post qualification experience in general commercial law gained both in private practice and working as an in-house counsel.
Senior Solicitor - Commercial
With over 15 years' experience, Emily advises clients on a wide range of commercial contracts. She has specialist experience in franchising and has worked with notable franchises.
Senior Solicitor - Commercial
Emilia is a versatile commercial solicitor, advising on a variety of agreements and matters. With both private practice and in-house experience, she is able to adapt to the nature/size/industry of the business she is supporting.
Solicitor - Commercial
Luke has spent the majority of his career-to-date supporting brand partnerships, licensing, marketing and digital activities, with spells working in start-up and scale-up environments in the technology, media production and subscription platform sectors.
Senior Solicitior - Commercial
Hannah is a highly experienced commercial, IP and technology lawyer. She trained at Magic Circle firm Freshfields Bruckhaus Deringer, where she spent 12 years advising on a broad range of commercial, intellectual property, technology and corporate matters.
Senior Solicitor - Commercial
Pete is a commercial solicitor with a strong background in IP and corporate law. Pete works with businesses of different sizes and stages of growth, providing practical advice that is focused on their commercial objectives.
Pricing and service plans
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:
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.
Purpose built legal support for start-ups and smaller businesses
Monthly subscription plan for £259 per month, with £174 monthly credit and access to all legal services at 50% discount on our Standard Rates.
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 33% discount on our Standard Rates.
Learn more about our service plans
Legal updates
29 April 2025
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Client stories
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Spotlight on our people
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Legal updates
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Thoughts and opinions
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