Business Legal Services

Corporate Law

Corporate solicitors

Our corporate solicitors specialise in EMI share option schemes, mergers and acquisitions (M&A), corporate venture capital for start ups and high-growth businesses, restructuring, and buying and selling companies or their assets. Corporate law is different from, but related to, commercial law. Your business might need assistance across both areas.

Your business might also need advice about banking and finance law (like regulation, the Consumer Credit Act, due diligence, finance, debt and lending), which we can also provide, all from as little as £145 per hour, a fraction of the cost of traditional law firms. Our corporate solicitors have all worked in top 100 firms or in-house at international practices.

Get in touch


Corporate law solicitors

Regardless of transaction size, our corporate solicitors can provide you with effective and pragmatic corporate law advice within your budget and timeframe. We focus on evaluating the issues that matter to you and use these to drive your corporate transactions.

We offer a full range of corporate law services for businesses, including:

Corporate law FAQs

Is corporate law different to, or the same as, business law?

Neither – one is part of the other. In the UK, corporate law is a branch of business law. Corporate law concerns the formation, governance and maintenance of businesses as legal entities.

What’s the difference between corporate law and commercial law?

Corporate law concerns the lifecycle of a company, from formation to dissolution, and its people, such as shareholders, boards and employees. It can concern transactions in the company’s lifecycle, such as the forming of a new company through a sale, merger or acquisition, or attracting investors. Commercial law, however, is more concerned with how a business transacts with a third party, and as such deals mainly with contract laws and tort laws during the commercial cycle.

What experience do our corporate lawyers have?

All of our corporate lawyers are experienced in the field of corporate law, having spent many years specialising in their field, and honing their craft at top 100 law firms. You can find out more about our current corporate team here.

Do I really need a specialist corporate solicitor or can I use a normal solicitor?

It depends on what your business needs legal help with. Business law is fast-moving and very complex, and solicitors are obviously expensive – so it’s more cost-effective to instruct a specialist corporate lawyer who can get the job done correctly, quickly and effectively.


Who our corporate solicitors help

We act for a wide variety of individuals and organisations, ranging from high-growth companies and start-ups, to investors, entrepreneurs and medium-sized enterprises.


Testimonials

What our clients say

What I’ve been most impressed with is the way Rob and Ed have dug deep, independently, into our website and made sure every base is covered. They’ve looked under the surface of the website and highlighted areas where we need to ensure we have correct terms and policies in place. That’s first-class support.
Lameece Nagib Head of Operations, Hopin
The support, advice and guidance from Harper James was absolutely vital. Shubhu, Callum and the team there were always on hand to deal with any issues that we needed help with as the deal progressed. This is an exciting new stage in the development of the business.
Sam G Bose CEO and Founder, IntelliSense.io
The flexibility of the enterprise plan works perfectly for us as a growing start-up. It’s like having your own in-house counsel without spending a fortune like other firms charge. Working with Callum Giliker on this funding round was incredibly easy and straightforward. Callum understood all our needs without us even having to voice it.
Dr. Francesco Colacino Co-Founder and CEO, Rheality
Over the years Harper James have helped us navigate complex legal issues and red tape, providing distilled options and legal consultancy that far exceeds the service levels we’ve previously experienced from more traditional law firms. The team act like our own in-house counsel so, regardless of which lawyer we work with, we feel supported and that they truly have our best interests at heart.
Michael Edwards Co-Founder, Inspire Group
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
Abby got the job done in line with expectations. No dramas! I have used Harper James with several companies and for a range of legal topics. They generally provide good service at a very reasonable price point. They have a good understanding of growing technology companies.
Matthew Dreaper Co-Founder and CFO, Helix Technologies
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
How engaged, knowledgeable and personal HJ lawyers are. They offer pragmatic and practical advise with a quick turnaround.
Barbara Opala General Counsel, Norton Motorcycle Co.
Callum has dealt with all in a professional and efficient manner. He's attentive and efficient in all I have asked.
John Bell Managing Director, Unique Packaging Solutions
It’s been excellent working with Stephen, he’s made every investment round extremely straight-forward and he understands our needs completely, while explaining the legals without the legal jargon. He’s only a phone call away which keeps us reassured. Previously, we’ve had to go through many hurdles when working with traditional law firms. You don’t get that at Harper James.
Reece Chowdhry Founder & Partner, Concept Ventures
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
Brigitta’s always there, she listens and really understands us. In terms of turning things around quickly, it’s been fantastic. Speed was something that became very critical towards the end of the investment round. Bringing funding together when you've got a number of parties involved, especially keeping them happy, can be a stressful time. Brigitta was really supportive of that. We felt like she always had our best interests protected.
Andre Turville Founder & CEO, ARX Alliance
The Enterprise 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
Ease of use, a familiar legal team supporting my business who understand my business, and provide value for money.
Daniel Lawrence CEO, Bots For That Ltd
Harper James is always professional and responsive. We've always felt we had timely feedback, at a high professional standard and at a fair price.
Matthew Carr Co-Founder & CEO , Luffy AI Limited
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
Matt’s been a pleasure to work with – we were looking for a lawyer who would be able to think outside of the box. To Matt’s credit, he understood our needs immediately. Having a legal team on our side who understands and supports us has been great.
Freddie Savundra Founder, Meet Parker
The Enterprise 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
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
Stephen is excellent! He knows us very well. He knows what to look for and he knows what is acceptable and what is not
Sonia George Associate, Ascension Ventures
Thank you very much for all your hard work to get the deal across the line. It’s been a pleasure working with you to get an outcome that I’m very happy with. I’m sure it’s one of those deals you are happy to see complete!
Julian Rust-Andrews Director, Virocom Limited
I had an excellent experience with Stephen Evans. He was thoughtful, pragmatic and extremely efficient.
Nadia Crandall Co-founder and Director, Capshore Partners
Harper James provided a high quality service at a short notice. Their representatives were professional, approachable and quick to understand our company's specific circumstances.
Marius Bausys Shareholder, Arcapay Holdings
It was a pleasure working with Tristan, Matt and James. We are very pleased with the quality of advice and your team's in depth knowledge.
Raymond Lam Executive Director, Aeramine Limited
Brilliant support and smooth completion of acquisition.
Rajiv Agrawal Shareholder, Poise Group
What I’ve been most impressed with is the way Rob and Ed have dug deep, independently, into our website and made sure every base is covered. They’ve looked under the surface of the website and highlighted areas where we need to ensure we have correct terms and policies in place. That’s first-class support.
Lameece Nagib Head of Operations, Hopin
The support, advice and guidance from Harper James was absolutely vital. Shubhu, Callum and the team there were always on hand to deal with any issues that we needed help with as the deal progressed. This is an exciting new stage in the development of the business.
Sam G Bose CEO and Founder, IntelliSense.io
The flexibility of the enterprise plan works perfectly for us as a growing start-up. It’s like having your own in-house counsel without spending a fortune like other firms charge. Working with Callum Giliker on this funding round was incredibly easy and straightforward. Callum understood all our needs without us even having to voice it.
Dr. Francesco Colacino Co-Founder and CEO, Rheality
Over the years Harper James have helped us navigate complex legal issues and red tape, providing distilled options and legal consultancy that far exceeds the service levels we’ve previously experienced from more traditional law firms. The team act like our own in-house counsel so, regardless of which lawyer we work with, we feel supported and that they truly have our best interests at heart.
Michael Edwards Co-Founder, Inspire Group
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
Abby got the job done in line with expectations. No dramas! I have used Harper James with several companies and for a range of legal topics. They generally provide good service at a very reasonable price point. They have a good understanding of growing technology companies.
Matthew Dreaper Co-Founder and CFO, Helix Technologies
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
How engaged, knowledgeable and personal HJ lawyers are. They offer pragmatic and practical advise with a quick turnaround.
Barbara Opala General Counsel, Norton Motorcycle Co.
Callum has dealt with all in a professional and efficient manner. He's attentive and efficient in all I have asked.
John Bell Managing Director, Unique Packaging Solutions
It’s been excellent working with Stephen, he’s made every investment round extremely straight-forward and he understands our needs completely, while explaining the legals without the legal jargon. He’s only a phone call away which keeps us reassured. Previously, we’ve had to go through many hurdles when working with traditional law firms. You don’t get that at Harper James.
Reece Chowdhry Founder & Partner, Concept Ventures
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
Brigitta’s always there, she listens and really understands us. In terms of turning things around quickly, it’s been fantastic. Speed was something that became very critical towards the end of the investment round. Bringing funding together when you've got a number of parties involved, especially keeping them happy, can be a stressful time. Brigitta was really supportive of that. We felt like she always had our best interests protected.
Andre Turville Founder & CEO, ARX Alliance
The Enterprise 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
Ease of use, a familiar legal team supporting my business who understand my business, and provide value for money.
Daniel Lawrence CEO, Bots For That Ltd
Harper James is always professional and responsive. We've always felt we had timely feedback, at a high professional standard and at a fair price.
Matthew Carr Co-Founder & CEO , Luffy AI Limited
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
Matt’s been a pleasure to work with – we were looking for a lawyer who would be able to think outside of the box. To Matt’s credit, he understood our needs immediately. Having a legal team on our side who understands and supports us has been great.
Freddie Savundra Founder, Meet Parker
The Enterprise 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
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
Stephen is excellent! He knows us very well. He knows what to look for and he knows what is acceptable and what is not
Sonia George Associate, Ascension Ventures
Thank you very much for all your hard work to get the deal across the line. It’s been a pleasure working with you to get an outcome that I’m very happy with. I’m sure it’s one of those deals you are happy to see complete!
Julian Rust-Andrews Director, Virocom Limited
I had an excellent experience with Stephen Evans. He was thoughtful, pragmatic and extremely efficient.
Nadia Crandall Co-founder and Director, Capshore Partners
Harper James provided a high quality service at a short notice. Their representatives were professional, approachable and quick to understand our company's specific circumstances.
Marius Bausys Shareholder, Arcapay Holdings
It was a pleasure working with Tristan, Matt and James. We are very pleased with the quality of advice and your team's in depth knowledge.
Raymond Lam Executive Director, Aeramine Limited
Brilliant support and smooth completion of acquisition.
Rajiv Agrawal Shareholder, Poise Group

Why choose our corporate lawyers?

Above all else, we can provide you with clear and practical advice for all of your corporate transactions. Our corporate lawyers have worked at some of the top law firms in the UK, as well as provided in-house counsel for large, international firms.

This experience means that our corporate lawyers can spot the signs when there is potential for negotiation and can offer expert advice for when there isn’t. This comes from having acted on different sides of corporate transactions for multiple clients.


Pricing plans

Legal support designed
to fit your business needs

Our three transparent pricing packages are designed to give you the widest possible access to high-quality legal advice, whatever the size and nature of your business:

City

Straightforward access to senior solicitors at a competitive rate.

An affordable solution for businesses needing one-off legal support. Receive ‘City’ partner-level expertise at a fraction of ‘City’ prices.

On-Demand

Providing you with priority access to a dedicated panel of highly experienced solicitors.

Fully account managed quarterly subscription service for businesses with more complex legal needs.




What next?

Get expert legal advice from our team of corporate specialists. Call us on 0800 689 1700, email us at enquiries@harperjames.co.uk, or fill out the short form below with your enquiry. We aim to respond to all messages received within 24 hours.

Your data will only be used by Harper James Solicitors. We will never sell your data and promise to keep it secure. You can find further information in our Privacy Policy.

Our offices

A national law firm

A national law firm

Our commercial lawyers are based in or close to major cities across the UK, providing expert legal advice to clients both locally and nationally.

We mainly work remotely, so we can work with you wherever you are. But we can arrange face-to-face meeting at our offices or a location of your choosing.

Floor 5, Cavendish House, 39-41 Waterloo Street, Birmingham, B2 5PP
Stirling House, Cambridge Innovation Park, Denny End Road, Waterbeach, Cambridge, CB25 9QE
13th Floor, Piccadilly Plaza, Manchester, M1 4BT
10 Fitzroy Square, London, W1T 5HP
Harwell Innovation Centre, 173 Curie Avenue, Harwell, Oxfordshire, OX11 0QG
1st Floor, Dearing House, 1 Young St, Sheffield, S1 4UP
A national law firm

To access legal support from just £145 per hour arrange your no-obligation initial consultation to discuss your business requirements.

Make an enquiry