Leading legal advisers to the entrepreneurial community

"As a start-up, one of the most crucial things to get right is finding the best possible advisors to provide counsel on critical issues such as law, so we count ourselves lucky to have brought Harper Macleod on as partners from the beginning. The fact that Paula and the team have worked with us since the very start means that not only do they get what we're all about and where we're trying to get to, they also know what it has taken for us to get this far – and that is really important.

They have played a big part in the Entrepreneurial Spark story and have been an invaluable support for me as my role has changed over the years. They've also won the confidence and trust of our amazing Chiclets by sharing their knowledge in a way which makes the seemingly impossible seem possible. From supporting hundreds of thousands of pounds worth of Chiclet crowdfunding campaigns, to providing advice on basics such as legal structures and co-founding team equity options, the Harper Macleod have helped many Chiclets over the past four years.

Entrepreneurs have to be ruthless, with a smile of your face if possible, as time is your most precious commodity. One of the biggest compliments I can pay is that all of Harper Macleod's people understand what being an entrepreneur is all about and know where your time must be spent in order to establish and protect your business, and let you GoDo."

Lucy-Rose Walker, Chief Entrepreneuring Officer (CEO), Entrepreneurial Spark

"Whilst in the middle of an investment phase the advice given by Harper Macleod was always solution driven. There was always an attempt to understand the rationale of both parties before giving appropriate advice. This made the final completion meeting non confrontational and both parties ended up achieving their own goals in a stress-free environment. This refreshing style added great value to the process and the team deserved a big thank you for taking this approach."

Brian Williamson, Managing Director, Jumpstart (Scotland) Limited

"Working with Harper Macleod was a pleasure due to the fact that they brought a great deal of prior deal experience to the table. This meant that they could take a considered outlook on some of the critical business decisions that would result from the investment, as well as providing pragmatic insights to achieve a great result. We enjoy working with an integrated firm that allow us to tap into different specialities that will enhance our business as we grow post-investment."

Jamie Graves, CEO, Inquisitive Systems Ltd

When you’re starting a company your resources are horribly limited and a good legal framework can seem like one of those things that has to wait until later. It really can’t. You have to get your shareholder and options agreements solid from day one for your own protection.  Because Harper Macleod made quality advice accessible to us from the very outset of this company’s formation, we’ve been able to successfully tackle all the challenges that come with a growing company - from an early change in co-founders, to employment issues and multiple investment rounds. It is precisely because the team at Harper Macleod so completely understand the entrepreneurial mindset - especially our desire to go fast, break things and worry about the rules later - that I so value their expertise and pro-active guidance. They tell me when I really must follow the rules and when to invest in a legal safety net for the future protection of the company - and because they consistently keep that advice relevant to our stage of growth, I listen.

Vicky Brock, CEO, Clear Returns

"I was delighted with Harper Macleod’s professionalism and service in the Chromacity deal and also with their patience and advice in what turned out to be a complex and prolonged investment process involving many parties. Jo, Paula, Jamie and their team did a fantastic job for our investment group (EOS, Kelvin and Investing Women)."

Kevin Grainger, Founder and Gatekeeper, EOS Technology Investment Fund

"I’d like to thank Harper Macleod, and Paula Skinner’s team in particular, for their advice and support in helping us reach this stage so quickly. We’ve been very fortunate to work with a number of great partners from the start, and without them it just wouldn’t have been possible. Our work so far has had a positive impact on the huge upsurge in the number of new business incorporations, and better still those who go through our programmes have an 80% survival rate which is way above average. We can’t wait to take our success story to benefit a wider audience."

Jim Duffy, CEO, Entrepreneurial Spark

"We were very impressed by Harper Macleod’s sector-specific expertise and attention to detail throughout the process of completing our recent investment in Sirakoss."

Sinclair Dunlop, Managing Partner, Epidarex Capital

"Jo, Gail and Paula delivered on all fronts regarding our recent demerger. They managed all parties concerned in the demerger, keeping them to the tight deadline and achieving a favourable outcome for my company. This I would put down to the conscientious approach taken with regard to all matters to achieve my aims."

HM CLIENT

"Harper Macleod helped guide me through the ‘first round’ investment process and made sure I fully understood everything that I was signing. I would encourage all new businesses/entrepreneurs to engage with HM as they truly are helpful and all round ‘Good Guys’ which is a breath of fresh air!"

Tracy Eker, Flexiworkforce Ltd

“With the pace at which the Project Pie franchise is developing, it was important that we completed our investment deal within short timescales and this is where having Harper Macleod on our side was invaluable. They’ve become an extended part of our team, and we have benefited from both their specialist franchising knowledge and access to the firm’s strength in depth. We need everybody on board thinking commercially, and that’s what they do so well.”

John Canavan, The Canavan Co (UK) Ltd

“This was a complicated process however Paula, Jo and the rest of the people we dealt with at Harper Macleod went out of their way to make sure that it ran like clockwork. It felt like they wanted to make the deal happen just as much as we did and this level of buy-in and pro-active approach to getting things done was exceptional, and hugely appreciated.”

Alex McNutt, Bell Fire and Security Holdings