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
Intellectual Property Audits
Unlock more value from your ideas
Every innovative business rests on intellectual property – and understanding what you own is key to unlocking its value. Our IP audit service is designed for founders and growing businesses who want clear, jargon-free insight into their patents, trade marks, copyright, and know-how. Whether you’re preparing for investment, planning an exit, or simply want clarity over your assets, we provide tailored, practical advice that’s cost-effective and focused on your goals. We also guide you in accessing grant funding, making your audit even more affordable and impactful.
Who we work with
Innovative businesses from a variety of industries
Every business creates intellectual property, and an IP audit offers value no matter your stage of growth. We work with UK companies across innovative sectors – from creative, technology and manufacturing, to emerging areas like AI – helping everyone from spinouts and startups to SMEs and established brands. Our integrated approach means you get accessible legal advice in context, so your IP strategy supports your broader commercial goals as you scale and grow.
What is it and what do you get?
What’s an IP audit? Why does it matter?
When you choose an IP audit with us, you’re getting more than just a tick-box review. We offer a personalised, founder-friendly experience from start to finish – focusing on the practical steps, real risks, and commercial opportunities that matter to you. Here’s what’s included:
Clarity on what IP you own (and don’t)
We systematically review all your assets – brands, trade marks, patents, designs, software, confidential know-how, domain names, and more – to map what you have, what’s in use, and what’s missing.
Protection check and practical fixes
We assess where your rights are secure and where gaps or risks exist, and recommend concrete actions – like registrations, renewals, or policy updates – to future-proof your IP. Applications and renewals at the UKIPO and internationally are supported where needed.
Review of key commercial contracts
We check your terms, licences, agreements with staff, freelancers, or group companies, and help draft or update documents to make sure your business truly owns and controls its assets. Special advice is provided for intra-group sharing or expansion.
Risk highlights and commercial opportunities
We identify “red flags” (like potential disputes or ownership defects) and also point out licensing, sale, or collaboration opportunities to maximise your IP’s value.
Investment, exit, and funding-readiness
If you’re preparing for investment or sale, we help ensure you’re ‘due diligence ready’ and provide clear materials for investors or acquirers. We also give practical support on grant applications for IP audit funding.
Long-term strategy guidance
We can help you build or refresh your IP strategy, with practical policies that grow with your business.
What do you get with your IP audit?
A short call to scope your goals
We start by understanding where you are – your aims for the business, upcoming transactions or deals, and any IP questions or concerns you have. This helps us focus the audit on what matters to you.
Review of your IP (registered/unregistered rights, branding, code, contracts etc.)
We take a thorough yet efficient look at your brand assets, software, product designs, contracts with staff and freelancers, plus anything else that forms your competitive edge – identifying what needs protecting and what’s vulnerable.
Plain English report: risks, fixes, to-dos, and next steps
You receive a clear, action-focused review spelling out what’s strong, what needs attention, and the fixes or registrations to consider – no legal waffle or pages of jargon.
Support with follow-up (if you need registrations, contracts, or clean-up)
If the audit highlights areas to fix—such as registering a trade mark, tightening up contracts, or resolving ownership issues – we offer practical next steps and can handle those processes for you if you’d like.
Guidance and second pair-of-eyes help on grant funding applications
If a funding option is available, we can review your application, help produce supporting documents and offer tips and templates – so applying for grant support isn’t a barrier.
What other support is available?
IP audit funding
We know every penny counts for early-stage and growing businesses. The good news: there are several grant schemes to help UK SMEs fund IP audits. While eligibility criteria can vary and funding isn’t automatic, we’ll help signpost the right routes and give you the supporting documents you’ll need to apply.
Key funding options to explore:
- Innovate UK & UK IPO’s IP Advance scheme
SMEs may be eligible for £2,500 towards the cost of a professional IP audit, co-funded by Innovate UK and the Intellectual Property Office.
See our briefing on IP Advance or CIPA’s explainer. - Business Wales – Innovation Support
If you’re based in Wales, SMART Flexible Innovation Support (FIS) can contribute towards an IP audit as part of a wider innovation grant.
Business Wales IP support. - Other regional/local grants
Look out for other relevant regional programmes in your area, or if upcoming new rounds of grant funding are announced.
It’s important to know: eligibility checks, submission, and payment processes are handled by the scheme providers, not us – but we are happy to support and de-mystify them for you.
How can we help?
Expert intellectual property lawyers
Our team can assist you across all areas of intellectual property audits, including:
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 6,500 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
What our clients say
Very responsive. Rapid initial account setup and activation.
Iain Miller
CEO and Director,
Iain David Miller
Fast and efficient communication. Easy to communicate instructions and timely turnarounds. Good value for money alongside good communication with explanation of path taken.
Daniel Lawrence
MD and Co-Founder,
Bots For That
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
Thank you for all your support, guidance, and great advice through our EOT, and especially being up for the pressure of the year-end deadline race. It’s business as usual for you, but it’s been a real learning curve for us, and now it marks the start of a new chapter. It’s been a pleasure for us working with you.
Pete Knight
Director,
Zircom Data Communications
I have worked with HJ for the past five years primarily on employment matters, including immigration/visas. The employment team are always readily available and responsive and have worked with us on some very challenging matters through to conclusion. Myself and my team always appreciate Simon, Ella and Shaun's pragmatic approach to situations that align with the best strategic outcomes. A sense of humour is always very welcomed given the demanding nature that specific situations can generate.
Siobhan Wright
Chief People Officer,
Trust Payments
We have worked with Harper James for a number of years now and it works really well for us as a business in that we can access their diverse team easily depending on our requirement at that time. They are a great team and good to work with.
Sarah Booth
Commercial Director,
Caterers Choice
Very responsive. Rapid initial account setup and activation.
Iain Miller
CEO and Director,
Iain David Miller
Fast and efficient communication. Easy to communicate instructions and timely turnarounds. Good value for money alongside good communication with explanation of path taken.
Daniel Lawrence
MD and Co-Founder,
Bots For That
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
Thank you for all your support, guidance, and great advice through our EOT, and especially being up for the pressure of the year-end deadline race. It’s business as usual for you, but it’s been a real learning curve for us, and now it marks the start of a new chapter. It’s been a pleasure for us working with you.
Pete Knight
Director,
Zircom Data Communications
I have worked with HJ for the past five years primarily on employment matters, including immigration/visas. The employment team are always readily available and responsive and have worked with us on some very challenging matters through to conclusion. Myself and my team always appreciate Simon, Ella and Shaun's pragmatic approach to situations that align with the best strategic outcomes. A sense of humour is always very welcomed given the demanding nature that specific situations can generate.
Siobhan Wright
Chief People Officer,
Trust Payments
We have worked with Harper James for a number of years now and it works really well for us as a business in that we can access their diverse team easily depending on our requirement at that time. They are a great team and good to work with.
Sarah Booth
Commercial Director,
Caterers Choice
Why choose Harper James solicitors?
Our intellectual property solicitors have a wealth of experience and extensive knowledge across the whole spectrum of IP issues, from registrations to exploitation and dispute resolution, meaning we’re perfectly placed to conduct IP audits and support you in developing your IP strategy.
Our unique remote-working business model means that you can access high quality legal advice from partner-level solicitors at a fraction of the cost of traditional law firms. All our lawyers are recruited from top 100 UK law firms or from large international businesses and have advised clients both as external advisors and as in-house IP/brand management counsel.
Find out more about the team here:
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.