Associate/Senior Associate - Legal Planning

Shakespeare Martineau; Birmingham; On-site; GBP 60,000 - 90,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Agile working

Blended working

Job summary

Shakespeare Martineau is seeking an Associate or Senior Associate to join its national Legal Planning Team in Birmingham. You will lead complex planning and development matters, draft and negotiate Section 106 agreements, and advise on high‑value issues for a diverse client base including developers and authorities.

You will work with multidisciplinary planners to deliver integrated services, supervise junior staff, and contribute to growing the practice’s national reputation.

Qualifications

• Extensive experience in planning law in public, private or mixed practice.
• Experience leading planning strategy for major residential, mixed‑use or infrastructure projects.
• Strong drafting and negotiating experience on Section 106 and compulsory purchase matters.
• Excellent drafting with a commercial, solutions‑focused approach.
• Experience handling contentious matters such as appeals, inquiries, enforcement or JR.
• Proactive, collaborative approach to client management and practice growth.
• Desire to contribute to the continued evolution of a leading planning team.

Responsibilities

• Lead on complex planning, development and infrastructure matters.
• Draft, negotiate and oversee Section 106 agreements for major schemes.
• Advise developers, landowners, housebuilders and authorities on sensitive planning issues.
• Manage contentious work including enforcement, appeals and judicial review.
• Collaborate with planning, heritage and architecture teams to deliver integrated service.
• Supervise and mentor junior colleagues as the team expands.
• Contribute to business development and developing new opportunities.

Skills

Planning law experience

106 / planning agreements

Advisory & negotiation

Team leadership

Business development

Job description

We are seeking an experienced Associate or Senior Associate to join our nationally recognised Legal Planning Team. This is a key opportunity to join a growing, high‑performing national practice working on some of the most significant and complex planning matters in the sector.

Our team has expanded substantially in recent years, in response to increasing demand and the scale and complexity of our work. We advise a diverse mix of public and private‑sector clients and support them across the full spectrum of planning and development matters - including major residential schemes, strategic development sites, infrastructure projects, development consent orders, compulsory purchase and judicial review.

The team holds long‑standing rankings in both Chambers and Legal 500, with multiple individually recognised practitioners. As we continue to grow, we are looking for a talented planning specialist who wants to contribute to the development of a leading national offering.

What you will be doing:

• Lead on complex planning, development and infrastructure matters.
• Draft, negotiate and oversee Section 106 agreements and associated obligations for major development schemes.
• Advise developers, landowners, housebuilders, local authorities and national organisations on sensitive and high‑value planning matters.
• Manage contentious work, including enforcement matters, appeals and judicial review proceedings.
• Work closely with our wider multidisciplinary consultancy - including planning, heritage and architecture specialists - to deliver a seamless and integrated service.
• Supervise, mentor and support junior colleagues as the team continues to expand.
• Play an active role in business development, strengthening existing relationships and helping to develop new opportunities.

What you will need:

• Extensive experience in planning law, gained in a reputable public, private or mixed‑practice environment.
• Experience leading or advising on planning strategy for major residential, mixed‑use or infrastructure developments.
• A strong track record of drafting and negotiating complex Section 106 agreements, advising on compulsory purchase matters and guiding clients through major planning processes.
• Excellent technical and drafting skills, with a commercial, solutions‑focused approach.
• Experience handling contentious matters such as appeals, inquiries, enforcement issues or judicial review.
• A proactive, collaborative approach to client management, team development and practice growth.
• A desire to contribute to the continued evolution of a highly regarded and expanding planning team.
• You’ll be part of a supportive and ambitious team with a strong national reputation, a diverse client base and a clear growth trajectory. This is an opportunity to take meaningful responsibility, contribute to shaping the direction of the group and work on some of the most high‑profile planning and development projects in the market.

Benefits, Agile Working and Additional information

We embrace agile working and offer a blended approach to where and how we work.

We appreciate that people have different needs and preferences and we’re keen to be flexible, after all, we value what you do, not where you do it.

We have the following hubs across the UK: Birmingham, Bristol, Edinburgh, Leeds, Leicester, Lincoln, London, Manchester, Milton Keynes, Nottingham, Sheffield, Stratford upon Avon & Tunbridge Wells.

Want to find out more about our amazing benefits?

Additional information:

Please be aware, for some vacancies, where we receive high numbers of applications we may need to bring the close date forward.

Due to the nature of the work undertaken, confirmation of employment will be subject to a variety of checks which will be carried out once an offer of employment is accepted. Details of the checks can be found here.

Equal opportunities

Shakespeare Martineau is a committed equal opportunities employer. We seek to attract, develop and retain talented people from a diverse range of backgrounds and cultures. We value and respect individuality and encourage a culture within our business where people can be themselves and be valued for their strengths and experiences. Everyone who either applies to or works for the firm is treated equally, regardless of their gender, age, ethnic origin, nationality, marital status, sexual orientation or religious beliefs.

About Shakespeare Martineau

Shakespeare Martineau is part of Ampa Group, a leading house of brands in legal and professional services. Ampa Group brings together complementary firms - including Lime Solicitors, Mayo Wynne Baxter, Marrons and others - connected by shared values and a modern, people‑first culture.

As a group, we’re focused on unlocking potential. We believe in the power of &: corporate & human, purposeful & profitable, ambitious & inclusive. Ampa Group provides the shared infrastructure, development programmes, culture, values and empowered working framework that enable our brands, and our people, to thrive.

For you, that means access to award‑winning learning, flexibility built on trust, and opportunities to collaborate across a diverse network of specialists.

Shakespeare Martineau remains its own distinctive brand with its own clients and markets. Ampa Group gives our people the strength of the group and the freedom to grow their careers in the way that works for them.