Planning and Environment Solicitor – Leadership level

Abacus Professional Recruitment Ltd; Belfast; On-site; GBP 60,000 - 80,000; Full time

Job summary

A leading law firm in Northern Ireland is looking for a Planning and Environment Solicitor to lead their new practice area. This senior role involves providing expert legal advice and mentoring a growing team. The ideal candidate should have 3–10 years of experience in planning law and a strong client engagement track record. The firm offers a competitive salary, benefits, and excellent career progression opportunities.

Benefits

Competitive salary and benefits

Career progression opportunities

Access to high-profile legal work

Qualifications

• Minimum 3–10 years of experience in planning and environmental law.
• Significant experience advising on planning applications and statutory compliance.
• Strong track record in handling complex matters.

Responsibilities

• Lead the development of a new Planning & Environmental practice.
• Provide expert advice on planning law and environmental regulations.
• Mentor and support junior lawyers in the firm.

Skills

Expert advice on planning law

Client engagement skills

Leadership capabilities

Understanding of environmental regulation

Education

Qualified solicitor in NI

3–10 years’ PQE

Job description

Overview

LEADERSHIP ROLE – PLANNING AND ENVIRONMENT SOLICITOR

We are working with one of Northern Ireland’s most innovative and progressive corporate and commercial law firms. They offer a long standing reputation for delivering high-value and complex legal solutions across sectors such as energy, real estate, construction and corporate finance. They have a portfolio of clients including developers, financial institutions, public bodies, and international businesses. Based on a sustained period of growth and commercial aspirations, the firm continues to invest in strategic growth areas and is now looking to build a market-leading Planning & Environmental function. This is a senior-level appointment with significant opportunity to shape direction, build a team, and engage in some of the most complex and high-profile projects across the region.

Responsibilities

• Lead the development and delivery of a new Planning & Environmental practice within the firm.
• Provide expert advice on planning law, environmental regulation, impact assessments, planning appeals, enforcement, and permitting issues.
• Act as primary advisor to developers, energy companies, local authorities, and commercial clients.
• Represent clients at public inquiries and planning hearings.
• Collaborate with colleagues across real estate, construction, corporate, and energy teams.
• Mentor and support junior lawyers as the team grows.

Essential Experience

• Qualified solicitor in NI and ideally ROI/E&W (welcomed bonus).
• Minimum of 3–10 years’ PQE with a specialist background in planning and environmental law.
• Significant experience advising on planning applications, environmental permitting, statutory compliance, EIA, and enforcement issues.
• Strong track record of handling complex matters involving both public and private sector clients.
• Demonstrated leadership capabilities and experience managing teams or leading initiatives.
• Excellent communication and client-handling skills.

Key Attributes

• Strategic thinker with a commercial mindset.
• Confident leading client engagements and managing high-stakes legal matters.
• Able to work collaboratively with cross-functional teams.
• Entrepreneurial spirit with a drive to build a new area of practice.

What We Offer

• A senior leadership opportunity in a dynamic and respected law firm.
• Competitive salary and benefits, including performance-based rewards.
• Real opportunity to influence and shape a new practice area.
• Supportive, collegiate environment with excellent career progression prospects.
• Access to high-profile and technically challenging work across NI, ROI, and GB markets.

If this role sounds right for you, then send an updated CV through the link or contact Alan Braithwaite for an honest and confidential discussion. Visit AbacusCareers for other opportunities and view the 2025 Salary Guide. Abacus has been hiring the best legal talent for 20 years, from Partner to Paralegal across Practice & In-House. We have helped shape the careers of 1000s of legal and finance professionals since 2003 and helped 100s relocate back to Northern Ireland.