Oliver McCann

Summary

Oliver is an employment law & HR partner and head of Napthens' Blackburn & East Lancashire office.

He is highly experienced in employment law and HR issues, with astute commercial awareness and a determination to achieve his clients’ objectives and deliver solutions – making him a valuable business adviser.  Oliver acts for businesses of all sizes and across all sectors; from the small owner-managed business through to large PLCs, education establishments and charities.  He advises on all aspects of HR and employment law ranging from all levels of employment contracts with or without restrictions, through to dismissal and discrimination matters.  He is also regularly requested by senior executives to advise in relation to their departure from their employer.

As head of office, Oliver plays an active role in the East Lancashire business community, leading Napthens’ East Lancs team in developing the profile of the firm locally.

Specialisms

Oliver has particular experience in advising employers in leisure, retail, domiciliary care, security, education, manufacturing, marketing, legal and the IT/software sector.

Advising on the full range of HR and employment law issues, Oliver has particular expertise in whistle-blowing, TUPE matters (including arising from insolvency and service provision changes), restructuring, exit planning and strategies, union disputes and independent contractors/self employed consultants/IR35

He is a regular, high profile speaker on employment matters throughout the North West including presentations at the ACAS Lancashire Employer Relations Forum, local CIPD events and a wide range of seminars including those held by local business coaches, accountants and universities. Oliver is also a member of Napthens’ GDPR team and was a speaker at our GDPR workshop.

Background

Oliver joined Napthens in January 2012 following 6 successful years at another law firm where he was Partner and Head of Employment.

Oliver qualified as a solicitor in 2000.  Initially having advised employees (including cases publicised in the local and national press), Oliver then successfully turned gamekeeper from poacher using his experience to successfully safeguard the interests of his employer clients.

Memberships and Awards

• Oliver is a trustee and non executive director at Training 2000 and also Westholme School and Sixth form, assisting the board of trustees with strategic planning and decisions for the organisation. These roles help him to gain a deeper understanding of everyday issues facing commercial entities, drawing on the knowledge and experience of other trustees, and using this to shape his advice and support to clients.
• He has previously featured as a “Young ‘Un” in the Lancashire Business View feature profiling the region’s “hottest young business talent”, being described as “a leader in the field of employment law and a firm favourite within the legal profession” and the legal services industry directory Legal 500 featured Oliver as “a name to note” in the employment law sector.
• He is a member of the Employment Lawyers’ Association.
• Oliver was named in Legal 500 2016 as ‘very helpful’.