Need legal help? These 5 best corporate lawyers in London have you covered
When we started handling business paperwork on our own, we quickly realised something. Legal stuff gets complicated fast.
One minute, you’re drafting a simple contract. Next, you’re knee-deep in terms you’ve never heard of, wondering if you’re accidentally giving away your company. That’s when we knew it was time to call in the pros.
If you’re in the same boat, this guide is for you. Our team looked into some corporate law firms that can help. Hopefully, this list will help you too.
| How much do corporate lawyer services cost in London? Corporate lawyer services in London typically cost between £150 to £600 per hour, depending on the lawyer’s experience and the complexity of the matter. Some firms may also offer fixed fees for specific services. |
1. Johns Law Partners
Address: 124 City Rd
Phone: +44 800 002 5229
Business hours:
- Monday to Saturday: 8:30 AM – 6:30 PM
- Sunday: Closed
John Law Partners cover all the bases you’d expect from a corporate law firm. They’ve done some work on contracts, mergers and acquisitions (M&A), governance, and more.
Their M&A work seems particularly good. A few clients mentioned how helpful they were in breaking down complex deals and spotting red flags early. It’s something every business appreciates during big transactions.
We also liked how they really get to know the industry their client is in. That is very useful because legal issues often look very different depending on the industry.
Their communication style is also impressive. They keep things clear and straightforward. Clients say the lawyers are approachable, don’t overcomplicate things, and keep you in the loop throughout the process.
If you’re expanding overseas or already working across borders, you can also consider them since they’re good with international trade law. They can help you navigate foreign regulations without getting bogged down in red tape.
That said, we just have to mention that they’re a boutique firm. They might not be the best fit for companies with very high volumes of ongoing legal work, at least not as your only legal partner.
They handled my case from beginning to end
“Johns Law Partners London was a blessing. Their professionalism, caring nature, and personal attention are unsurpassed! They handled my case from beginning to end and were readily available for any questions I had at any time. Thank you John and Group for your help and support throughout my case.”
Dorothea Hattingh, Google review
Their endless dedication to my case was great!
“John and their team helped me with a really complicated legal matter and helped put this difficult matter behind me. I wholeheartedly recommend this firm. They went to bat for me and got me more than I had asked for. Their endless dedication to my case was great!”
Minh Phúc Phan Trần, Google review
2. Forest & Co
Address: 16 Berkeley St
Phone: +44 20 3383 0173
Business hours:
- Monday to Friday: 9 AM – 6 PM
- Saturday: 12 PM – 4 PM
- Sunday: Closed
Forest & Co’s support in M&A stood out during our research. Clients said the team was thorough with due diligence and really good at spotting risks before they became problems.
We appreciate that they don’t just handle paperwork. They also look at how the deal fits into the client’s goals and help structure it with growth in mind.
They seem to offer everything a business might need, from company setup to handling business sales.
What’s great is that they don’t just use templates. When they draft things like shareholder or partnership agreements, they take time to understand how the business actually runs and tailor the documents accordingly.
We also liked how they handle compliance. They offer more than basic legal advice. They help businesses understand and apply rules like the General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR) in a way that fits into daily operations.
However, some clients also mentioned that there were instances when their response times could be a bit slower. If you need super quick responses all the time, it’s something to bring up early with them.
They had a lot of patience and knowledge to answer all the questions
“I had an enjoyable experience from the first moment till the end, when my case was solved perfectly. I was impressed by Mihaela Padure and her colleague, Gabriela Barbu, they had a lot of patience and knowledge to answer all the questions and find proper solutions. I definitely recommend them.”
B Alexandra, Google review
They actually cared about our problems, considering us people, not customers
“I worked with this the law firm and we have been met with professionalism, empathy and promptness. They are wonderful people and our opinion was that they actually cared about our problems, considering us people, not customers. Our trial came to an successful ending, which is why we respectfully thank them for their service.”
Rodica Ciuchi, Google review
3. Waterfront Law
Address: 14 Weller St
Phone: +44 20 7234 0200
Business hours:
- Monday to Friday: 9 AM – 5:30 PM
- Saturday to Sunday: Closed
We really liked how Waterfront Law focuses more on the tech and digital space. A lot of law firms try to be everything to everyone; not them, though.
They’re more focused on helping businesses in IT, software, and telecoms. It’s a big plus because it means their lawyers understand the real-world challenges these companies face.
That said, they might not be the best fit if your business moves into areas they don’t usually deal with, like healthcare or finance. You might need to bring in another firm for those parts.
On the brighter side, they cover the whole life of a business. They can help you set up a company, sort out shareholder agreements, raise money, and even partner with other companies.
We were especially impressed with their experience in big, complex deals. They once helped with the sale of Realla (commercial property platform) and led a $50 million funding round for Workable.
For us, this showed they can handle high-pressure, high-stakes deals and still deliver.
They also combine corporate and intellectual property (IP) expertise. It’s huge for tech and media businesses where IP is often the most valuable part of what you own.
Not every law firm can protect both your business structure and your creative assets in one go, but Waterfront seems to handle both really well.
Guided me to the best outcome in my interests
“Jamie at Waterfront Law was clear and helpful regarding an employment settlement. He simplified terms to make them more understandable and guided me to the best outcome in my interests. He kept me up to date at every step. A good experience.”
Rich Music Source, Google review
His commitment to my best interests were evident throughout
“When facing a challenging situation at work, I was recommended to use Matthew Hodson for legal representation in achieving a settlement with my employer. This proved to be a great choice. Matthew’s efficient approach, empathetic manner, and excellent communication skills guided me through the process, resulting in a positive outcome. His professionalism and commitment to my best interests were evident throughout. I highly recommend Matthew Hodson for legal representation in any employment matters.”
Luigi D’Uva, Google review
4. RT Coopers Solicitors
Address: 63 St Mary Axe
Phone: +44 20 7488 9947
Business hours:
- Monday to Friday: 8:30 AM – 6:30 PM
- Saturday to Sunday: Closed
RT Coopers Solicitors knows their stuff when it comes to science-heavy sectors. They’re built for businesses dealing with clinical trials and agrochemicals.
It might sound niche, but for companies in those spaces, finding lawyers who actually understand both the legal and technical side is a win. Dr. Rosanna Cooper, who runs the firm, is a big reason for this.
Besides being a lawyer, she also has a PhD in medicinal chemistry and worked in the pharmaceutical industry before going into law. That gives her and her team a much deeper understanding of what companies in life science actually deal with every day.
So when they’re helping draft a licensing agreement or reviewing a product development contract, they’re not just thinking about the legal wording. They’re thinking about how it actually works in real life.
They also work with clients all over the world, even though they’re based in London. They’ve got connections in the US, Canada, and more. It’s helpful if you’re negotiating contracts or deals across multiple countries.
A lot of people also mentioned how personally involved Dr. Cooper is and how much she cares about getting the best outcome. She seems to take a hands-on, collaborative approach, which helps in complex cases.
That said, if you’re looking for standard corporate law support in industries like retail or general tech, they might not be as specialised as you need.
She genuinely wants to help you and doesn’t see you as just a client
“My experience with Dr Rosanna Cooper was amazing, she is brilliant and I am truly grateful for all the help and support that she has given me during my appeal process. I sent off my appeal and 8 days later, I was notified that my appeal was upheld, allowing me another opportunity to sit the registration exam. She genuinely wants to help you and doesn’t see you as just a client.”
Chrissy Ibe, Google review
Dr Cooper reassured me she would do everything she can to help me
“My experience with Dr Rosanna Cooper was fantastic. I came to her after I failed my 3 attempts for my pre- registration exam to become a Pharmacist. I was broken, confused and I had no hope. Dr Cooper reassured me she would do everything she can to help me. I was very anxious throughout the entire process however Dr Cooper kept me updated throughout the whole appeal. My appeal was successful and I can only thank Dr Cooper and her whole team for allowing this to happen.”
Shaymaa Hadi, Google review
5. Harper James
Address: 10 Fitzroy Square
Phone: +44 800 689 1700
Business hours:
- Monday to Friday: 9 AM – 5:30 PM
- Saturday to Sunday: Closed
Harper James really gets startups. They really aim to offer legal advice on what the business is trying to achieve.
It’s a refreshing approach, honestly, especially if you’re used to working with firms that feel overly formal or detached from commercial realities.
They help in funding rounds, share options, or getting your cap table in order. Their focus seems to be on helping businesses grow, not just staying legally safe.
They have a unique pricing structure. Instead of an hourly charge, they offer different plans based on your business size. Their “Enable” plan, which is around £219 a month, includes some credits and gives you access to discounted legal work.
This model is great if you’re starting out and want to have someone on hand without freaking out about the cost.
That said, it’s worth keeping an eye on usage. Some clients mentioned that things can add up if you go over your allowance during a busy month.
Their lawyers all seem to come from pretty strong backgrounds. They also pull in other specialists when needed, like employment or property law.
The only real downside is that while they cover a lot of ground, their sweet spot is definitely UK-focused startups. If you’re doing something super international or need deep tax structuring, you might need another firm alongside them.
They have been really flexible and accommodating with our needs
“Harper James have been a pleasure to work with. As a small business, they have been really flexible and accommodating with our needs and stage of business and been very thorough and attentive with their work. We worked with Emily Sadler on a project and she was absolutely great. Really speedy to respond and went above and beyond to provide what we needed and make sure we understood everything. Would definitely recommend!”
Simone Werzberger, Google review
Solicitors are thorough and detail-oriented
“Working with Harper James has been a breeze. Their account services team is very responsive, and their solicitors are thorough and detail-oriented. I worked with Emily & I felt informed and confident in every step of the process. Highly recommend them to anyone looking for reliable & professional legal support.”
Isabelle Harrison, Google review