How can we help?
To access legal support from just £149 per hour arrange your no-obligation initial consultation to discuss your business requirements.
Business Legal Services
Growth Shares
Enhance your benefits package for key employees with Growth Share plans.
We help businesses design and implement cost-effective Growth Share plans that reward key employees while maintaining flexibility. With no statutory requirements like EMI options, they offer a more straightforward way to incentivise talent.
Our expert team will provide you with clear guidance to ensure a balanced approach that aligns with your business and investor interests while managing cash flow effectively.
How we support you
Designing and setting up Growth Shares
Maximising the value of your Growth Share scheme requires careful planning and consideration of key factors such as shareholder dilution, hurdle setting, performance conditions, pricing, exit strategies, tax efficiency, and compatibility with other schemes.
If these considerations are not properly addressed, it could lead to unintended dilution of shareholder value, poorly structured hurdles that fail to motivate employees, and tax inefficiencies that reduce the benefits of the scheme.
Working with experienced lawyers ensures your Growth Share arrangement is structured effectively, minimising risk and maximising benefits for both your business and employees. A well-designed scheme can provide significant tax advantages and long-term value, making it a powerful tool for attracting and retaining top talent. Our team will:
Advise you as to which share schemes are best for your situation. By recommending the most suitable arrangements based on your business type, stage of growth, and objectives – these may be Growth Shares, Tax Advantaged or non-Tax Advantaged arrangements.
Help you design and implement your share scheme with regards to capital and dividend entitlements, voting rights, and leaver provisions.
Advise you on the employment tax and personal tax implications for the company and the participant of the implementation and operation of the Growth Shares.
Help you understand the implications of the Hurdle particularly in relation to the price your employees will pay for the Growth Shares.
Help you structure the funding by participants of the Growth Shares for example through bonuses or loans and ensure the implications are clear for the company and the participants.
Amend your articles of association to allow for the new class of shares and to include appropriate protection for the company and its existing shareholders.
Draft subscription agreements for participants which include further protection for the company and its existing shareholders and elections under section 431 of the Income Tax (Earnings & Pensions) Act 2003 where appropriate.
Amend any shareholders’ agreements as needed and/or make sure your existing shareholders provide any consents that are required.
Show you how to combine Growth Shares with other types of share schemes, both HMRC tax-advantaged and non-tax advantaged arrangements, including EMI schemes and phantom shares.
Outline the potential impacts under the SEIS or EIS schemes.
Guide you through the Board processes and shareholder resolutions required to set up your Growth Share arrangement and arrange for Companies House filings.
Advise you on HMRC compliance requirements.
Testimonials
Why choose us?
Our clients have confidence in our services. Hear about their positive experiences with us.
Harper James is a brilliant example of a company disrupting a traditional industry. Suddenly Solicitors become relevant and accessible for start-ups & small enterprises, with the best in-class knowledge of all major legal areas. I’ve used the business now for a year, and the Enable plan has been perfect for budgeting my company’s outgoings, and has given me a piece of mind when tackling key, decisive issues. Thank-you HJS!
Koral Ibrahim
Founder & MD,
The Ready House
We are a small company and the process of setting up a company share scheme was pretty daunting. Abby Watson and Harper James Solicitors provided expert advice to ensure we understood the process and drafted all relevant documentation. We were very impressed with the service received and would recommend the firm to others.
Julie Robinson
CEO,
Move It or Lose It
I can’t sing our solicitor’s praises enough: fast, efficient, sensible and supportive. A quick and fair resolution to all queries that we have worked on together and would thoroughly recommend her to any of my contacts.
Samuel B Higgs
Account Director,
Signal Media
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
Really happy- would especially single out the work of David Sant who is an exceptional and pragmatic lawyer.
Aela Callan
Co-founder,
Head Set Studio Limited
Easy to work with, quick responses, quick feedback if changes needed, gets things done. We consider the arrangement very worthwhile for Storelectric and would recommend to others.
Tallat Azad
MD,
Storelectric
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 is a brilliant example of a company disrupting a traditional industry. Suddenly Solicitors become relevant and accessible for start-ups & small enterprises, with the best in-class knowledge of all major legal areas. I’ve used the business now for a year, and the Enable plan has been perfect for budgeting my company’s outgoings, and has given me a piece of mind when tackling key, decisive issues. Thank-you HJS!
Koral Ibrahim
Founder & MD,
The Ready House
We are a small company and the process of setting up a company share scheme was pretty daunting. Abby Watson and Harper James Solicitors provided expert advice to ensure we understood the process and drafted all relevant documentation. We were very impressed with the service received and would recommend the firm to others.
Julie Robinson
CEO,
Move It or Lose It
I can’t sing our solicitor’s praises enough: fast, efficient, sensible and supportive. A quick and fair resolution to all queries that we have worked on together and would thoroughly recommend her to any of my contacts.
Samuel B Higgs
Account Director,
Signal Media
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
Really happy- would especially single out the work of David Sant who is an exceptional and pragmatic lawyer.
Aela Callan
Co-founder,
Head Set Studio Limited
Easy to work with, quick responses, quick feedback if changes needed, gets things done. We consider the arrangement very worthwhile for Storelectric and would recommend to others.
Tallat Azad
MD,
Storelectric
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
Who we help
Founders and senior leaders in ambitious businesses
We work with a diverse range of high-growth, UK-based clients who need support with employee share schemes and other arrangements to retain top talent as they scale.
For many founders, a key challenge is balancing talent retention with the expectations of other founders and investors, all while managing cash flow. It’s a delicate balancing act, which is why many founders turn to us for help. We provide the expertise needed to design and implement a Growth Share arrangement that aligns with your business goals and address any concerns that arise along the way.
Meet our team
Why choose us?
Many of us have worked at some of the UK’s most respected law firms, as well as served as in-house legal counsel or senior leaders within businesses. This diverse experience enables us to provide practical, tailored legal advice that meets your specific needs.
In addition to supporting your share plans, you can rely on our experienced team of solicitors for a broad range of business legal services, including commercial contract drafting, data protection audits, corporate governance advice, and employment policies.
Find out more about who you’ll be working with:
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 £219 per month, with £149 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 36% discount on our Standard Rates.