Environmental Solicitor

Weightmans Llp; Leeds; On-site; GBP 50,000 - 70,000; Full time

Job summary

Weightmans LLP's Environmental team in the UK is seeking a solicitor with 3+ years' PQE to join our leading practice. You will work closely with partners and senior lawyers on a broad range of environmental matters, including compliance, regulatory investigations, permitting, and due diligence for corporate transactions and real estate projects.

You will advise major clients across energy, utilities, waste and infrastructure, build strong client relationships, contribute to business development,

Qualifications

• Qualified solicitor with 3+ years' PQE.
• Experience in environmental, regulatory, or public law matters.
• Excellent drafting, analytical and problem-solving skills.
• Strong organisational and time management skills.
• Commercial awareness and interest in environmental law and sustainability.
• Excellent communication and client relationship skills.
• Collaborative approach and contribution to market-leading practice.

Responsibilities

• Advise clients on environmental compliance and regulatory obligations.
• Support investigations and enforcement actions by authorities.
• Manage environmental incidents and permit breaches.
• Advise on permitting, waste, water and land matters.
• Assist with due diligence and risk management for transactions.
• Prepare appeals, regulatory challenges and litigation.
• Draft legal advice, submissions and training materials.
• Develop client relationships and contribute to BD.
• Manage a caseload and assist with reporting and budgeting.

Skills

Drafting

Analytical thinking

Problem solving

Organisational skills

Commercial awareness

Client relations

Collaboration

Education

Solicitor qualification with 3+ PQE

Tools

None

Job description

You will work closely with partners and senior lawyers on a broad range of environmental matters, including:

• Advising clients on environmental compliance and regulatory obligations
• Supporting clients in relation to Environment Agency, Natural Resources Wales, SEPA and local authority investigations and enforcement action
• Managing environmental incidents, including pollution events, waste-related matters, emissions issues and permit breaches
• Advising on environmental permitting, waste and resource regulation, contaminated land and water-related matters
• Assisting with environmental due diligence and risk management for corporate transactions, projects and real estate matters
• Preparing appeals, regulatory challenges and litigation matters
• Drafting legal advice, submissions and client training materials
• Developing strong client relationships and contributing to business development initiatives
• Managing a caseload of matters and assisting with client reporting, budgeting and financial performance

Why Join Us? This role offers the opportunity to:

• Work with highly regarded environmental specialists recognised by Chambers & Partners and Legal 500
• Advise on some of the most significant environmental incidents, enforcement matters and infrastructure projects in the UK
• Develop expertise across environmental compliance, litigation, permitting, sustainability and ESG-related matters
• Work with clients ranging from major corporates and utilities through to public sector bodies and emerging businesses
• Benefit from a supportive and collaborative national team environment
• Build your profile through client training, thought leadership, sector engagement and business development activity
• Be part of a team at the forefront of developments in environmental law, the circular economy, sustainability and the energy transition

We are looking for candidates who have:

• Qualified solicitor status with 3+ years' PQE
• Experience of environmental, regulatory, or public law matters
• Excellent drafting, analytical and problem-solving skills
• Strong organisational and time management skills
• Commercial awareness and a genuine interest in environmental law and sustainability issues
• Excellent communication and client relationship skills
• A collaborative approach and a desire to contribute to a growing market-leading practice

Desirable

• Experience of environmental permitting and compliance matters
• Experience of regulatory investigations, enforcement action or environmental litigation
• Experience advising clients in the energy, utilities, waste and resources, manufacturing or infrastructure sectors

If you are looking to build your career within a leading environmental practice and work on some of the most interesting and challenging environmental matters in the market, we would be delighted to hear from you. PLEASE NOTE: Candidates are encouraged to reach out directly. For inquiries or more details, feel free to contact us. Our recruitment team members are here to assist.

Our Environmental team is recognised as one of the UK's leading specialist environmental law practices. Ranked by Chambers & Partners and Legal 500, we advise many of the country's best-known businesses, public bodies, utilities, investors and infrastructure providers on complex environmental, sustainability and regulatory issues. We are looking for an ambitious environmental solicitor to join our growing national team. This is an exciting opportunity to work alongside market-leading environmental lawyers on a wide range of contentious, regulatory, advisory and project-based work. The role offers exposure to high-profile environmental matters across sectors including energy and utilities, waste and resources, manufacturing, infrastructure, transport and logistics, local government and real estate. Our team is known for combining technical excellence with commercially focused advice. We work at the forefront of environmental regulation, helping clients manage environmental risk, respond to incidents, navigate regulatory change and support major projects and transactions., Weightmans is a Leading national law firm, with strong international capabilities. Weightmans has been recognised as a leading employer for the 19th consecutive year at Britain's Top Employers awards, and ranking top 10 in the list, the firm has also secured top positions in Chambers UK.