Business Legal Services
Corporate Law Firm
Experienced corporate legal support for transactions, investment, restructuring and governance.
As a corporate law firm, we support founders, leadership teams and in house counsel with the legal frameworks and commercial guidance needed to deliver complex corporate transactions.
Whether you are raising investment, acquiring a business, restructuring your group or preparing for exit, we can help you move forward with clarity and confidence.
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.
Corporate Law Experts
Legal advice for decisions that shape your company
As your business grows, the legal decisions around ownership, investment and governance become more complex. New shareholders, larger transactions and increased scrutiny mean the stakes are higher.
Our corporate lawyers will give you practical advice and structured legal support so you can move forward knowing the legal framework behind your business is sound.
When you are raising investment and you want to negotiate terms that secure the capital you need while retaining control of your business.
When you are planning to buy a company and you need experienced legal support to review the target business, assess potential risks and structure the deal properly.
When you are entering into a joint venture or strategic partnership and you need agreements in place to protect your interests while giving the relationship the best chance to succeed.
When you are preparing to sell your company and you need legal advisers who can guide you through the process, protect your position during negotiations and help you complete the transaction smoothly.
When a management team is looking to acquire the business and you want legal support to structure the transaction and negotiate terms with existing owners or investors.
When your shareholder arrangements no longer reflect how the business operates and you require clearer rules around ownership, decision making and future exits.
Corporate matters can often feel intense but we bring clarity by keeping the process controlled and commercially focused.
- Tell us about your plans
Start by outlining the situation and what your business is looking to achieve. Whether you are exploring a strategic transaction, reviewing internal arrangements or planning for the next stage of growth. - We will outline the legal options available to you
Your corporate solicitor will review the structure of the business, the relevant documentation and the commercial factors that may influence the outcome. - Carry out the legal work through to completion
From preparing documentation and coordinating with other advisers to supporting negotiations and managing completion steps, we oversee the legal aspects of the process so the transaction or agreement progresses in line with your objectives.
Top Rated Corporate Law Firm
Supporting you throughout the businesses lifecycle
We are here to help you build a legally robust business that stands up to board, investor or buyer scrutiny. You can find more detail on some of our specific services below.
Corporate law firm of choice for growing businesses
Meet our team
Corporate decisions often happen quickly, funding opportunities arise, acquisition targets appear, and the other party will often expect clear answers.
At our corporate law firm, we help you move forward by providing practical guidance that reflects the realities of running a business. You will receive clear explanations of the legal position alongside advice on how different options could affect your commercial objectives.
Where a transaction involves several legal disciplines, we coordinate the right expertise from across our firm so you have a single team working together on your behalf.
Find out more about who you will be working with:
Understanding corporate law
Common questions
Businesses often come to us with questions when they are preparing for investment, exploring acquisitions or reviewing how their company is governed. Below are some of the issues that frequently arise in those situations.
How can we prepare our business so it stands up to scrutiny?
Investors and buyers typically look closely at areas such as corporate records, ownership of intellectual property, key commercial contracts and governance arrangements. Ensuring these are well organised before a transaction begins can reduce delays during due diligence and help avoid issues affecting deal terms.
How should founders think about control as new investors come on board?
Bringing in external investment often changes how decisions are made within a company. Founders and leadership teams usually consider how board composition, voting rights and consent provisions may evolve as new shareholders join.
What happens if shareholders disagree on the future direction of the business?
Disagreements between shareholders can arise when strategic priorities change. Well structured shareholder agreements often include mechanisms for resolving disputes, managing deadlock situations or enabling shareholders to exit if agreement cannot be reached.
What legal considerations arise when integrating an acquired business?
Integration can raise questions around contracts, intellectual property ownership, employment arrangements and operational structures. Early planning can help ensure the transition is legally and operationally smooth.
What governance changes are required as a business scales?
As businesses grow, informal arrangements often need to be formalised. This can include updated articles, a shareholders’ agreement, clearer board processes and documented decision making frameworks that stand up to investor and regulatory scrutiny.
Testimonials
What our clients say
Always very happy with the service from Harper James. Timely advice we can rely on!
Andrew Jermy
Director,
Inflecto Systems Limited
The Enable plan was just the right plan for us. It’s economic and we were really pleased with the numbers. As a start-up, it was important for us to seek the right legal advice while keeping costs to a minimum. It’s given us a breadth of high-quality legal knowledge at a great price point – something we just wouldn’t get at a traditional firm.
Freddie Savundra
Founder,
Meet Parker
Choosing Harper James was the best decision we made during this process. At one point, we felt stuck and struggled with providing certain documentation. Brigitta and the team knew how to explain what was needed and suddenly the process became much clearer. The guidance we received helped us avoid unnecessary delays and expenses. It made all the difference.
Steve Carrod
Co-Founder,
DMPG
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
Harper James is the right fit for us, I was attracted to the firm by the experience and reputation of their large team of specialist solicitors. And best of all, I have this support at a price point that’s very competitive compared to their competition.
Andrew Worsley
Chairman,
Harbour Healthcare
Matt and Paul understand the brief, and they understand our business. Their attention to detail and joined-up approach is excellent. They’re able to understand exactly what we need and the vision of the group going forward. Growing at this rate presents some risk, so having a legal team that appreciates this and supports us with the legal advice we need to take on every challenge in our mission to scale is key.
Alex Newey
Chairman,
Greosn
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 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
The team are responsive to my requests for support and the feedback and help that I have received from the legal team has always been well presented and thought through. The quality of support and the flexibility with which it is provided (monthly payments), is perfect for my business.
Peter Denton
Director,
Enso Equestrian
It’s been great working with Adam. He’s approachable and very friendly. When initially contacting Harper James, I wanted an experienced advisor that knew how to maneuver the acquisition landscape. Adam certainly knew how to do this, and his timing and responsiveness was second to none.
Mohammed Elmasry
CEO,
Tactful AI
On behalf of Emerald, I wanted to say thank you for your tremendous work on this deal. You have been always available and with the correct legal advice. You are by miles the best lawyer (technically and morally) we have ever worked with.
Arian Zandi
Co-Founder,
Emerald Hospitality Group
For any small business looking for the right law firm to guide you through an acquisition I would highly recommend Harper James. My personal experience was with Matt Shakesheff who looked after my sale and passed me over to their team who looked over my new contract of employment as I was staying with my buyer for a 2 year handover. They delivered on budget and on time.
Richard William Turbutt
Director,
CorroGuard
Thorough, insightful and practical, glad I've got Jas and Wajiha on my team. I got the support and guidance I needed, when I needed it, without fuss or time wasting!
Shaun Robertson
CEO,
MiDx Ltd
Always very happy with the service from Harper James. Timely advice we can rely on!
Andrew Jermy
Director,
Inflecto Systems Limited
The Enable plan was just the right plan for us. It’s economic and we were really pleased with the numbers. As a start-up, it was important for us to seek the right legal advice while keeping costs to a minimum. It’s given us a breadth of high-quality legal knowledge at a great price point – something we just wouldn’t get at a traditional firm.
Freddie Savundra
Founder,
Meet Parker
Choosing Harper James was the best decision we made during this process. At one point, we felt stuck and struggled with providing certain documentation. Brigitta and the team knew how to explain what was needed and suddenly the process became much clearer. The guidance we received helped us avoid unnecessary delays and expenses. It made all the difference.
Steve Carrod
Co-Founder,
DMPG
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
Harper James is the right fit for us, I was attracted to the firm by the experience and reputation of their large team of specialist solicitors. And best of all, I have this support at a price point that’s very competitive compared to their competition.
Andrew Worsley
Chairman,
Harbour Healthcare
Matt and Paul understand the brief, and they understand our business. Their attention to detail and joined-up approach is excellent. They’re able to understand exactly what we need and the vision of the group going forward. Growing at this rate presents some risk, so having a legal team that appreciates this and supports us with the legal advice we need to take on every challenge in our mission to scale is key.
Alex Newey
Chairman,
Greosn
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 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
The team are responsive to my requests for support and the feedback and help that I have received from the legal team has always been well presented and thought through. The quality of support and the flexibility with which it is provided (monthly payments), is perfect for my business.
Peter Denton
Director,
Enso Equestrian
It’s been great working with Adam. He’s approachable and very friendly. When initially contacting Harper James, I wanted an experienced advisor that knew how to maneuver the acquisition landscape. Adam certainly knew how to do this, and his timing and responsiveness was second to none.
Mohammed Elmasry
CEO,
Tactful AI
On behalf of Emerald, I wanted to say thank you for your tremendous work on this deal. You have been always available and with the correct legal advice. You are by miles the best lawyer (technically and morally) we have ever worked with.
Arian Zandi
Co-Founder,
Emerald Hospitality Group
For any small business looking for the right law firm to guide you through an acquisition I would highly recommend Harper James. My personal experience was with Matt Shakesheff who looked after my sale and passed me over to their team who looked over my new contract of employment as I was staying with my buyer for a 2 year handover. They delivered on budget and on time.
Richard William Turbutt
Director,
CorroGuard
Thorough, insightful and practical, glad I've got Jas and Wajiha on my team. I got the support and guidance I needed, when I needed it, without fuss or time wasting!
Shaun Robertson
CEO,
MiDx Ltd
