James Ratcliffe

James qualified as a solicitor in 1998 and advises on a wide range of commercial matters, drawing on extensive experience with commercial and technology contracts. He also leads Harper James’ Data Protection and Privacy team. James works with start-ups, scale-ups, SMEs and established companies.

He began his career as a corporate lawyer at a Magic Circle firm, building a strong foundation in drafting, negotiation and deal management. He then moved in-house, joining BT’s legal team to work on major IT infrastructure deals for clients, including investment banks and the UK government. Over time, he became part of the legal leadership team, gaining deep insight into commercial strategy.

James went on to hold senior legal roles at a private equity-owned media business and at Boston Consulting Group, where he was Senior Director overseeing client contracting across Europe and the Middle East.

He has advised on everything from procuring hardware, software and services to selling large-scale IT solutions, software development, consulting and media services. His background gives him a unique understanding of business priorities and practical problem-solving.