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Oliver is a senior associate based in our London office who specialises in Dispute Resolution and Business and Human Rights.

Oliver advises multinational corporations on English law, commercial disputes and international business and human rights and ESG issues.

His broad commercial disputes practice covers strategic advice, litigation, arbitration and mediation on complex cross-border matters. He has a particular focus on energy and ESG disputes, including class actions.

He has worked on Business and Human Rights issues for a decade and his expertise has been recognised by Chambers Global 2022 and 2023, who list him as Leading Individual and by Business Today, who recognised him as one of the Top 10 Global Leaders in Business and Human Rights 2023

His business and human rights practice includes advising some of the world's largest companies across all sectors on the various United Nations, OECD, EU and UK frameworks on human rights, international human rights standards, human rights policies, the UK Modern Slavery Act, human rights due diligence and reporting, crisis management, operational-level grievance mechanisms, human rights-related supply chain issues and the emerging human rights issues relating to the development and use of artificial intelligence. 

He has advised clients navigating a range of judicial, quasi-judicial and non-judicial human rights dispute resolution mechanisms, including high court litigation, OECD National Contact Points, National Human Rights Mechanisms and the various organs of the United Nations.

Oliver has been a key member of the firm's market-leading (Chambers Band 1, 2017-2023) Business and Human Rights and ESG practices since their inceptions, working in collaboration with members of the global team, including in New York, Paris, Hong Kong, SE Asia and Australia.

Accolades

  • Oliver is listed as a Leading individual in relation to Business and Human Rights by Chambers Global 2022 and 2023. Sources say: "he is very switched on and really see the big picture" and that he is "thoughtful, insightful and highly approachable".
  • Business Today rank Oliver as amongst their Top 10 Global Leaders in Business & Human Rights Law in 2023, noting that "his expertise in modern slavery guidance is especially heralded".

Oliver also undertakes a large amount of strategic pro bono work, largely related to emerging business and human rights law reform issues. His strategic clients include Anti-slavery international, the NSPCC, Kick it Out and Justice.

Background

Oliver holds an MA in law from Cambridge University, a professional qualification in Law and International Development and a Post-Graduate Certificate in Human Rights and Development Management from the Open University. Oliver trained at Herbert Smith Freehills, qualified as a solicitor in England and Wales in 2009 and as a solicitor advocate in 2011.

Experience & expertise

Selected matters

  • an international energy company in response to allegations by an African community of breaches of human rights and environmental damage, including advice in relation to a potential class action and operational-level grievance mechanism
  • a multinational green power company on the human rights risks of, and its strategic options in relation to, a renewable energy project in Western Sahara
  • a multi-national client in connection with a complaint before the UK National Contact Point with respect to alleged human rights issues in an associated company's overseas operations
  • a multinational oil and gas company in relation to the international law and human rights implications arising in relation to the rescuing, and delivering to a “place of safety”, of migrants in distress in the Mediterranean Sea
  • a multinational energy company in response to a complaint made to the UN Working Group on Business and Human Rights arising out of the operations of a renewable energy project in Colombia
  • a technology company in relation to the human rights implications of their operations in Myanmar, including the impact of an ongoing ICJ case, as well as any potential ICC or ad hoc criminal tribunal proceedings.
  • a multi-national mining company on a strategic review of the ESG, human rights and other related risks of its global network of non-operated joint ventures
  • various clients in relation to their obligations under the UK Modern Slavery Act, their relevant policies, practices and practical steps in response
  • various clients on the design and implementation of human rights polices in accordance with the United Nations Guiding Principles on Business and Human Rights