From professional cricket to the FTSE 350, Halfords GC, Tim O’Gorman’s in-house legal journey is another example of diverse experience shaping legal leadership.
As General Counsel and Company Secretary at Halfords, Tim oversees legal and governance affairs for a business that’s far more than the ‘bikes and car parts’ retailer some might assume it to be. With over 600 garages, more than a million MOTs annually, and expanding SaaS operations reaching international markets, Halfords represents a complex, evolving services business requiring sophisticated legal oversight.
Tim’s transition from sportsman to lawyer began at Ashurst before he seized the opportunity to establish Carphone Warehouse’s legal department—a move that set him on an in-house trajectory he’s never regretted. His unique background combines City training with entrepreneurial spirit, having witnessed Halfords’ remarkable growth story firsthand as turnover increased by over £1bn during his tenure. Beyond corporate law, Tim’s decade-long chairmanship of the Cricket Discipline Commission, handling high-profile cases, demonstrates his ability to navigate sensitive, complex issues with integrity and expertise.
Tell us more about Halfords today – it’s not just bikes and car parts is it?
I am General Counsel and Company Secretary at Halfords which is a FTSE Listed Plc. People often say they know us because we sell bikes and car parts but that’s only partly correct. While it’s true that we do sell bikes (over a third of all bikes sold in the UK), and run the largest Cycle 2 Work scheme in the UK and also own a terrific bike business called Tredz, the second pillar of our business is garage services rather than selling car parts. We operate over 600 garages (more than KwikFit), and while we do sell and fit a lot of tyres (we bought the National Tyres business a few years ago) much of the focus in the business is on the provision of MOTs (well over a million a year) and car service, repair and maintenance. In addition, we also have significant businesses providing mobile services to consumers, Commercial Fleet Services for businesses and a growing SaaS business licencing our garage and mobile technology to operators around the world. This is mostly focussed on the USA market at this time. There’s always plenty going on.
What factors made you choose to work there and why is it a good place to work?
At its simplest, it was the opportunity to work in a business which was (and still is) being transformed into a services business. About half of the products we sell in our retail stores require a fitting or service element (for example the replacement of wiper blades, bulbs and batteries for cars) and this differentiates us from online players or traditional retailers.
The Culture here is terrific. Fundamentally our colleagues at Halfords want to help people and solve their problems. If someone has, say, a flat car battery, it is great that we can sort this out, resolve their problem, and help them on their way. As our strapline puts it we are there to ‘inspire and support a lifetime of motoring and cycling’.
How has the organisation helped you develop?
In my time here the business has grown significantly (turnover has increased by over £1bn) and it’s been great to be part of that growth story. This growth has been both organic and by acquisition. The breadth of activities with which we are now involved has increased and so the role is challenging and interesting. No two days are the same.
What motivated you to move in-house as a lawyer?
I worked in sport before qualifying and always felt that I would go back into business rather than staying in private practice in the City. I was offered the chance to set up the legal department at Carphone Warehouse. It was too good an opportunity not to take and I’ve been working in-house ever since.
Did you come up against any barriers when making that move?
There were no barriers. I was with Ashurst in the City and they allowed me to make the move quickly and smoothly. It was prudent thing for them to do because six months later they did the Carphone IPO. I don’t know if they would have been so keen if I had been moving to a competitor in private practice but they saw the prize of getting a new client.
How do you feel you have changed as a lawyer since moving in-house?
Hopefully, I’ve become a better lawyer – certainly a more experienced one anyway. We also now have quite a big team and it’s been fun seeing them gain more experience and grow their own careers.
What particular projects have you enjoyed working on most and why?
I think anyone who works in-house will tell you that the variety of work is what makes the job challenging and sustaining. It is always interesting and I said before no two days are the same. Its great being close the business and having to make commercial decisions on an almost daily basis. I’ve loved working in-house.
Why might now be a good time to join the company?
Halfords is growing and developing so it’s a great company to join generally. It’s probably worth noting thought that we don’t get too many vacancies in our Legal, Governance and Compliance Team. We are very lucky that our team is pretty stable and many have long service at Halfords. They all have great knowledge and experience and so if any vacancies do arise it’s a great team to join. You can learn a lot here and can forge an interesting and hopefully a happy career here too.
What motivated you to become a lawyer?
This might sound a bit simplistic but my first full time career after university and law school was as a professional cricketer. Careers in sport can be ephemeral of course, and can be easily de-railed if you get injured or don’t get selected (which can happen if say, you lose form or there’s a change of coach or captain) so doing law seemed a good counter balance to that.
I thought it might be a more stable, and hopefully long-term option, if you will. Thankfully it’s turned out that way too.
Actually, I’ve also always liked the academic challenge of law and remain fascinated by how legal issues can be resolved in the most commercially effective way.
I have been fortunate to have Chaired the Cricket Discipline Commission for nearly ten years and in that time we dealt with many major matters including all the racism cases at Yorkshire CCC. It was good to be able to combine two areas (cricket and law) in which I’ve gained experience over many years.
Who’s been the most influential to you in your professional life?
There are too many to mention and I’m incredibly grateful to them all.
We all need someone to take a chance on us though don’t we, and so I should mention Roger Finbow who was a partner at Ashurst. I wouldn’t have had a start without him (no one in my family had ever been a lawyer before) and he gave me an opportunity I wouldn’t have had otherwise.
What advice would you give to someone looking to join the legal profession these days?
Go for it!
Back yourself and don’t let anyone tell you that you can’t do it.
It can be tough and demanding and there are no short cuts … but it’s a great profession to be part of.
What’s the preferred working pattern at Halfords and how do you prefer to work?
We operate a hybrid arrangement at the moment. Some time at work in the office, some time at home. That works ok but I remain a bit sceptical that it’s the best way to train, to learn and to gain real on the job experience for those starting out in the profession.
What do you do to relax outside work?
The simple answer is sport, sport, sport, (currently tennis and golf but some cycling and a little bit of cricket too). It still feels odd that I retired from playing professionally sometime in the last Century! Is it really that long ago.
But also reading, watching films and going to the theatre.
If you could spend an hour with anyone in the world of business, politics or entertainment, who would it be and why?
I’ve never met her and probably never will but right now, and given everything that’s going on in the world, it would be Katya Adler. Hopefully she’d do much of the talking, (I could do the listening) and I’m sure I’d learn loads about current affairs and what’s going on politically in Europe and around the world.
Do you have a guilty pleasure and what is it?
Watching films.
What did you do before you were a lawyer?
Professional Cricketer – I was ok – good enough at it to pay the mortgage, not so good that I didn’t need a mortgage. It was great thing to be involved with. I’ve been fortunate enough to have travelled all over the world playing but more importantly that all that have life-long friendships with people in the game.
What’s the most interesting book you’ve read in the last year?
I’m currently reading a collection of short stories by Mark Haddon called the Pier Falls. Each one is different and interesting. I’m not qualified to be a literary critic in any way, but for what it’s worth would recommend that.
How did the Covid lockdown experience affect you and the company and were there any surprising things you have learned?
Isn’t it odd that Lock-down already seems a long way back in the rear view mirror. It was a really challenging time for all business though wasn’t it, and Halfords was no exception. Lots of people were cycling at that time and so we benefited from that but we also carried out about 100,000 services for Blue Light card holders who were working so hard during the pandemic. I think as a company we are right to be proud of that contribution to those working in the NHS and emergency services.
Speaking personally, and I’m sure many lawyers will say the same, workloads increased a lot, we had to deal with new issues such as the Furlough Scheme etc but one upside was not having to do the long commute to Redditch where we are based. I think productivity increased but what it did do was highlight how much we need our teams around us to chat to, to learn, and to sort out issues. The growth of calls on Teams has been a good development but there are times when there’s no substitute for meeting in person.
What record was No1 when you qualified?
It was around the time Princess Diana died so I’m guessing Candle in the Wind by Elton John.
Do you have a hidden talent?
Not sure it’s a hidden talent but I’m ok at most ball sports.
Favourite play
I took my team to see Come From Away about the aftermath of 9/11. I think it’s a terrific show.
Favourite holiday destination so far, and where next?
I played cricket in New Zealand and would like to go back there on holiday again. I also played in Argentina which is great too.
Your default tipple is…?
Probably tea — (that’s a really boring answer).
Most embarrassing moment?
All sports players have moments of humiliation or embarrassment. I’ve had plenty! However, looking on the bright side though, they do help drive you on to being better next time.
What was your first car?
I bought an old Ford Fiesta to learn to drive but was lucky having passed my test to then get a sponsored car – that was quite a big thing back in the day – I doubt it is now.
What would you do if you won the lottery?
Definitely more volunteering and charity work. I’ve done quite a lot of this but it’s not always that easy to fit it in round the day job. Hopefully, it’s something for when I retire.
Most annoying phrase you’ve heard in the workplace
Definitely being told that we need to focus on:
“the What” and “the How”!!
WTF – they aren’t nouns and never will be.
Management speak nonsense at it’s worse IMO.
