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.
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 8,000 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
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.
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.
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.
Testimonials
Why choose us?
Our clients have confidence in our services. Hear about their positive experiences with us.
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
Our growth shares team
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 £239 per month, with £159 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 33% discount on our Standard Rates.
