Oliver McCann
PartnerOliver McCann is a partner within the employment and HR team, based in the firm's Blackburn office.
Oli is an employment law and HR partner, and head of the East Lancashire office in Blackburn.
Highly-experienced in employment law and HR issues, Oli possesses an astute commercial awareness and a determination to achieve his clients’ objectives and deliver solutions, making him a valuable business adviser.
Oli 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.
Oli receives regular requests from senior executives for advise in relation to their departure from their employer.
Experience
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 whistleblowing, 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.
Recent cases include:
- Ashby v JJB Sports PLC UKEAT/0114/12/JOJ, supporting the employer pre-termination of employment, ensuring that despite the unusual circumstances, the business rationale for termination was properly communicated
- Advising on and supported the employer’s appeal to the Employment Appeal Tribunal (EAT) against the Employment Tribunal finding that the claimant’s dismissal was an act of pregnancy discrimination
- Advising a senior executive in relation to his suspension and proposed disciplinary action. Through many months of correspondence and negotiation, a settlement was agreed for in excess of £250,000
- Assisting in supporting a local organisation with a national reach following the successful tender for new national contract delivery along with two other providers
- Providing advisory support to a national retailer with the closure of 25 stores across the UK and the relocation of its distribution and warehousing. With over 70 redundancies, not one claim was made for either unfair dismissal or a failure to inform and collectively consult
- Supporting an independent school with its proposal to exit the teachers’ pension scheme due to affordability issues, requiring a substantial change in the terms and conditions of employment and extensive consultation with affected employees
- Supporting a local manufacturing business facing industrial action from a small contingent of the workforce, but sufficiently large enough to cause damage to the business
- Acting for a football club in an employment tribunal claim from a scout following the termination of his contract
Affiliations
- Member of the Law Society
- Member of the Employment Lawyers Association
- Board Trustee of Training 2000 Ltd
- Governor at Westholme School, Blackburn
Related insights
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