Gardner Leader acts for Oxford software specialist in sale to major British NHS healthcare IT provider

4th May 2023/Oxfordshire & Thames Valley: Leading-regional law firm, Gardner Leader, has assisted Oxford Computer Consultants (OCC) in the sale of its shares to British IT specialist, System C. 

Oxford-based IT business, OCC, specialises in integrated contracts and finance solutions for social care within local government, as well as designing and developing customised software for a wide range of public and private sector organisations. The company also provides IT consultancy services to industry, including the engineering, business services, and research sectors. 

Prior to the acquisition, OCC had worked in partnership with System C for over 20 years, providing technologies to support System C’s Liquidlogic platform, one of the UK’s leading IT solutions for the NHS, local authority social care, and education management services. 

With a shared customer base of over 100 local authorities, the acquisition by System C will enable it to fully integrate OCC’s expertise and product solutions to create a cohesive product roadmap for its customers, including local authorities and social care organisations. 

The Gardner Leader team, acting on behalf of OCC, was led by Partner, Sally Addis and her team of highly experienced consultants including Will Nash who are based in the firm’s new Oxford office.  

Nick Warner, Managing Director, OCC commented: “Selling OCC has been the biggest, most high stakes thing I have ever done. Sally and the Gardner Leader team provided experienced oversight and helpful guidance throughout the sale process. They were available when we needed them and helped to get it over the line.” 

Sally and her team joined Gardner Leader in March 2023. The firm’s team of highly experienced legal professionals now exceeds more than 180 employees, working across 12 specialist teams each dedicated to providing specific services to businesses and to individuals.  

Sally Addis added: “OCC is a well-established and growing entrepreneur-led business and we were delighted to advise and guide the shareholders throughout the share sale process to a successful conclusion.” 

Gardner Leader has offices based throughout the South-East, South-West and London, including Newbury, Thatcham, Maidenhead, Swindon, Windsor, London and Oxford. 

Ends

Editors notes

For media enquiries, please contact: 

Verity Blake/David Ferguson 

T: 07920 792183 

E: verityblake@headonpr.co.uk /davidferguson@headonpr.co.uk  

About Gardner Leader 

@GardnerLeader 

With offices in Newbury, Thatcham, Maidenhead, Windsor, Swindon, Oxford and London, Gardner Leader is a leading law firm in the Thames Valley, South West and South East, offering a wide range of legal services for businesses and individuals. 

In the Legal 500 prestigious guide for 2023 the firm was described as ‘shining above all with their approachable and friendly way of doing things’, and partners Christopher Felton, Alastair Goggins and Michelle Di Gioia were described as ‘elite leading lawyers’. Real Estate Senior Associate, Tim Blackman, was named as a ‘Rising Star’ and private client partner Niamh Minihane was highlighted for a second year as a ‘Next Generation Partner’. 

In 2018 the firm won ‘Best in Business’ and ‘Best in Customer Service’ awards in the Newbury Weekly News award, and in 2016 it also won the LawNet award for Law Firm of the Year, and the Halsbury Legal Award in Business Development. Other awards include the LawNet Excellence in Employee Engagement award (2015), Highly Commended in the Regional Conveyancing Firm of the Year category in the 2015 National Conveyancing Awards and Commended. 

The firm was first founded in 1895. It has over 180 staff. Its team of highly experienced and friendly solicitors are all specialist, specifically dedicated to their areas of expertise. Each team is driven by what matters to the client and committed to delivering results. 

Gardner Leader services to business and services to individuals include: 

• Corporate (e.g., M&As, venture capital & private equity transactions, management buyouts and shareholder agreements) 

• Commercial (including commercial contracts, IP, IT and procurement) 

• Commercial property/real estate 

• Dispute Resolution 

• Employment (for individuals and businesses) 

• Family (such as family breakdowns and divorce and pre-nuptial agreements)) 

• Residential conveyancing 

• Inheritance protection 

• Injury claims 

• Crime