‘Rising star’ lawyers are shortlisted for Lancashire business awards

Dedicated lawyers Oliver Bagnall and Patrick Swanney have made the final cut of a prestigious award scheme for Lancashire’s young leaders and difference-makers.

Oliver, aged 33 and Patrick, also 33, from WHN Solicitors, are among the rising stars shortlisted in Lancashire Business View magazine’s Sub36 Awards.

Oliver is one of six finalists in the ‘Young Professional’ category, while Patrick is among six people in the running for the ‘Young Lancastrian of the Year’ accolade.

The awards, which culminates in a glittering prize-giving ceremony at Blackpool’s Winter Gardens on October 17, recognises the county’s most exciting business prospects aged under 36.

This year’s finalists span a wide variety of industries and backgrounds, with candidates representing professional services, digital media, engineering, health and care and manufacturing.

Oliver and Patrick must now impress the panel of judges when they are interviewed at Ewood Park in Blackburn later this month.

Michael Shroot, chief executive officer at WHN Solicitors, said: “WHN is committed to being a place where people not only enjoy to work, but are proud to work. Oliver and Patrick are great cheerleaders of the WHN brand and put hard work and dedication into everything they do, whether that’s providing expert advice to our clients or contributing to the communities we are part of.

“I wish both of them the very best in the awards.”

Oliver is head of WHN’s seven-strong commercial property department in Blackburn and was instrumental in doubling the team’s turnover to more than £500,000 in two years. He became a director of the law firm – which has more than 100 staff – before he was 33, with only five years’ post-qualification experience.  

Oliver also played an important role in helping the firm to win the ‘legal services’ accolade at the Red Rose Awards after a record year that saw WHN increase turnover by nine per cent – up to nearly £4.8m from £4.38m.

Patrick, who specialises in private client work, is heavily involved in a number of local dementia support organisations and is a Leisure in Hyndburn trustee, responsible for overseeing the borough’s £2.5m budget.

As if this was not enough, he recently set up Accrington Pals, a networking group that encourages business leaders in Hyndburn to do businesses with one another, rather than going outside the borough. He is also a first XI player at Enfield cricket club, where he donates time helping juniors, assisting training sessions and fundraising to help with the club’s £300,000 annual running costs.

Enjoyed this? Read more from Woodcocks Haworth & Nuttall Solicitors

Latest news

1

VARS Technology team up with debt resolution specialists to fight fuel theft David Nichol John Garnett Aydan Jones and Laura Tilley

VARS Technology team up with debt resolution specialists to fight fuel theft

12 Sep 2025

2

University of Lancashire unveils Preston campus installation to celebrate name change University of Lancashire new feature

University of Lancashire unveils Preston campus installation to celebrate name change

12 Sep 2025

3

PM+M welcomes ten new apprentices for 2025 intake Lucy Field, Kate Walsh, Ellie Fisher, Zainab Aswat, Reece Jones, Aisha Bibi Patel, Finley Vila, Uzair Zariwala, Richard Prest, and Charlie Harrison

PM+M welcomes ten new apprentices for 2025 intake

11 Sep 2025

4

ROCCIA strengthens commercial division with senior appointment Andrew Grove

ROCCIA strengthens commercial division with senior appointment

11 Sep 2025

5

Final call for investors: Rossendale community solar project must hit target by November Gary McEwan managing director of Interfloor

Final call for investors: Rossendale community solar project must hit target by November

10 Sep 2025

Background image for hub sign up block

LBV Hub

Leverage Lancashire Business View platforms

Post your news
Post your events
Post your offers
Build your network
Improve your SEO
Gain coverage in the magazine
Sign-up
Events
Sub36 Networking - Follow the signs
Sub36 Deaf Village Social1200
Networking
17 Sep 2025

Sub36 Networking - Follow the signs

The Deaf Village, Blackburn, BB2 5EN

10:00 - 12:00

LBV124 September/October Launch Event
MBP Arc Cinema Preston Opening 205
Networking
18 Sep 2025

LBV124 September/October Launch Event

The Arc Cinema, Preston, PR1 2BL

08:30 - 10:30

CMI Level 5 Management and Leadership Course
UCLanAerialCampus.jpg.jpg
LBV Hub Seminars
21 Feb 2025 - 21 Feb 2026

CMI Level 5 Management and Leadership Course

Preston Campus, Preston , PR1 2HE

09:00 - 17:00

CMI Level 5 Project Management Course
UCLanAerialCampus.jpg.jpg
LBV Hub Seminars
21 Feb 2025 - 21 Feb 2026

CMI Level 5 Project Management Course

Preston Campus, Preston, PR1 2HE

08:00 - 17:00

Longridge Soap Box Derby
Screenshot 2025-06-10 090035.png.png
LBV Hub Fundraisers
14 Sep 2025 - 14 Sep 2025

Longridge Soap Box Derby

Berry Lane, Longridge, PR3 3WH

10:00 - 16:30

Preston Tech Connection - The Ultimate Tech Quiz!
Preston Tech Connection Sept 25.png.png
LBV Hub Networking
16 Sep 2025 - 16 Sep 2025

Preston Tech Connection - The Ultimate Tech Quiz!

Society1, Coworking Space, Preston, PR1 3LT

18:00 - 19:00

The Business Network Central & East Lancashire
LBV Hub Networking
17 Sep 2025 - 17 Sep 2025

The Business Network Central & East Lancashire

Stanley House, Blackburn, BB2 7NP

11:30 - 14:15

Cumbria Business Expo 2025
https---cdn.evbuc.com-images-880461633-4862066883-1-original.20241022-110415.jpeg.jpg
LBV Hub Exhibitions
19 Sep 2025 - 19 Sep 2025

Cumbria Business Expo 2025

Carlisle Racecourse, Carlisle, CA2 4TS

09:00 - 15:00

Preston Freelancer Meet-Up: September
Sept Freelancer (1).png.png
LBV Hub Networking
23 Sep 2025 - 23 Sep 2025

Preston Freelancer Meet-Up: September

Society1, Coworking Space, Preston, PR1 3LT

10:00 - 11:30

Your Business, Your Region: Making sense of devolution and Local Government Reorganisation
Chorley Council breakfast event new
LBV Hub Networking
23 Sep 2025 - 23 Sep 2025

Your Business, Your Region: Making sense of devolution and Local Government Reorganisation

Worden Hall, Leyland, PR25 3DH

08:00 - 11:00

Speed Networking with BNI
2.png.png
LBV Hub Networking
24 Sep 2025 - 24 Sep 2025

Speed Networking with BNI

Chorley Football Club, Chorley, PR7 3DU

16:00 - 19:00

The Marketing Meetup IRL: Lancashire - September
TMM Lancashire
LBV Hub Networking
25 Sep 2025 - 25 Sep 2025

The Marketing Meetup IRL: Lancashire - September

Chorley, PR7 2SL

18:00 - 20:00

Advertise with us

Reaching 50,000 members, our print, digital and event platforms offer a fantastic way to raise your business profile and help you grow.

Find out more LBV 123 Online Graphic
Subscribe now

Weekly news bulletin