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Business Legal Services
B Corp Conversion Lawyers
We’re here to fully support you throughout your B Corp journey
If you’re planning to enhance the profile of your business by becoming a B Corporation (B Corp), then you’ve come to the right place. Our team of experienced solicitors have extensive experience in helping businesses like you achieve their goals.
B Corps are independently certified, profit-making businesses that have demonstrated they meet certain standards, such as social and environmental performance, accountability to stakeholders and transparency.
There are multiple advantages of becoming a B Corp, for example, helping you attract talent, external investment, and boosting your company’s reputation. It may also simply be a step which aligns with the goals of your business from an ethical perspective.
The process of becoming a B Corp is relatively simple, but there are certain legal formalities that have to be completed. Our corporate solicitors are experienced in guiding businesses through the application procedure, as well as drafting and filing the necessary changes to your Articles of Association and other legal documentation required to become certified.
B Corp benefits
Why should I consider becoming B Corp certified?
As the jobs marketplace becomes more competitive, recruiting top talent can be a challenge. The market for external investment is dynamic too, with a vast number of businesses chasing investors via funding rounds and pitches to potential funders.
One way to stand out from the crowd in the jobs and investment marketplace is to become a B Corp. Obtaining B Corp status is a way to demonstrate your commitment to the community, and can bring diverse benefits such as:
- Improved brand recognition by consumers, and as a result, increased sales
- Improved employee relations and ability to attract top talent
- Improved attractiveness to external investors who are increasingly focussed on corporate social responsibility or ESG (environment and social governance) factors when deciding whether to invest
What are the legal steps to B Corp certification?
As part of the process to become certified, your company will likely need to change its constitutional documents to incorporate certain B Corp language emphasising a commitment to having a material positive effect on society and the environment. The purpose of this is to entrench certain priorities and principles in your company’s governing constitution.
As a first step, you should check your Articles and related documents such as shareholders agreements to ensure there aren’t any restrictions on making amendments to them. Amending your Articles will also need a special resolution of shareholders, and you’ll have to file the amended Articles at Companies House.
Your company will also need to sign a B Corp agreement that commits it to meeting the legal requirements of the B Corp registration process.
If you’d like to know more about the legal steps that may be needed to become a B Corp, you can read our in-depth guide that provides more detail, and walks you through the steps required.
We help ambitious businesses become B Corp certified
Harper James’ expert team of business solicitors have an in-depth knowledge of the current business and investment landscape. Many of our lawyers have hands-on experience working directly for funders and venture capitalists, and we know what these investors are looking for when they choose businesses in which to invest. We can guide you through the certification process and help you prepare the documents that are necessary for B Corp accreditation.
Testimonials
What our clients say
In my experience, solicitors speak a completely different language than anybody else, which can be confusing – especially if the matter at hand is a stressful topic. Simon and the team’s advice has been invaluable. They are solution-driven and didn’t quote the law at us but took the time to deliver advice clearly and concisely, making the legal position easy to understand.
Petra Felgen
UK & Ireland’s Managing Director,
CEWE
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
First class every step of the way. You did exactly what I expected and met my deadline.
Richard William Turbutt
Director,
CorroGuard
I find Harper James to be responsive, with relevant experts to help us on the topics we are dealing with, enabling us to receive effective legal advice.
Simon Bloomfield
Head of imarket,
Polaris U.K. Limited
Harper James is always very efficient and responsive and has helped us complete projects in a timely manner. Their advice and support are always commercially astute and rooted in the practical.
Ben Furlong
Director,
EstateSure Limited
As always, the Harper James team is responsive and thorough. Always a joy to work with. In addition to your diverse and high-quality expertise, we appreciate the quality of the communication and management around dates and deliverables. It helps us manage expectations and plan accordingly. You seamlessly operate as a natural extension of our team.
Larisa Sheckler
Head of Global Operations,
Whisk at Foodient Ltd
In my experience, solicitors speak a completely different language than anybody else, which can be confusing – especially if the matter at hand is a stressful topic. Simon and the team’s advice has been invaluable. They are solution-driven and didn’t quote the law at us but took the time to deliver advice clearly and concisely, making the legal position easy to understand.
Petra Felgen
UK & Ireland’s Managing Director,
CEWE
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
First class every step of the way. You did exactly what I expected and met my deadline.
Richard William Turbutt
Director,
CorroGuard
I find Harper James to be responsive, with relevant experts to help us on the topics we are dealing with, enabling us to receive effective legal advice.
Simon Bloomfield
Head of imarket,
Polaris U.K. Limited
Harper James is always very efficient and responsive and has helped us complete projects in a timely manner. Their advice and support are always commercially astute and rooted in the practical.
Ben Furlong
Director,
EstateSure Limited
As always, the Harper James team is responsive and thorough. Always a joy to work with. In addition to your diverse and high-quality expertise, we appreciate the quality of the communication and management around dates and deliverables. It helps us manage expectations and plan accordingly. You seamlessly operate as a natural extension of our team.
Larisa Sheckler
Head of Global Operations,
Whisk at Foodient Ltd
Why choose Harper James Solicitors?
Wherever you are on your growth journey, there’s a member of our specialist team of solicitors that can help you reach your next milestone. We offer expert advice, hands-on support, and access to our network of contacts in the industry. Our team of corporate solicitors has extensive experience of helping businesses become B Corp certified, so we can guide you every step of the way.
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 £215 per month, with £145 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 34% discount on our Standard Rates.
Experts in B Corp conversions and corporate law
Our team can assist you across all areas of corporate law, including: