Planning Lawyer

JR United Kingdom; London; On-site; GBP 60,000 - 100,000; Full time

Job summary

An established industry player is seeking a Managing Associate to join its dynamic Planning & Infrastructure Consenting Team in London. This role offers the chance to work on high-profile development and infrastructure projects, providing strategic planning advice and engaging with a variety of stakeholders. With a focus on professional growth, the team supports its members through structured development programs and collaborative work environments. Ideal candidates will bring extensive experience in planning and infrastructure consenting, along with excellent legal drafting and stakeholder management skills. If you are ready to elevate your career in a high-performing team, this opportunity is for you.

Qualifications

• Senior lawyer with at least six years of experience in planning and infrastructure.
• Strong stakeholder management and legal drafting skills required.

Responsibilities

• Provide strategic planning advice and draft planning agreements.
• Review planning applications and manage public inquiries.

Skills

Stakeholder Management

Legal Drafting

Planning and Infrastructure Consenting

Client Relationship Management

Time Management

Education

Qualified Lawyer

Job description

Social network you want to login/join with:

With new and exciting client mandates, a high-performing Planning & Infrastructure Consenting Team is looking for a Managing Associate to join its expanding London real estate practice. This role offers the opportunity to work alongside national and international experts, with the support and structure needed for professional growth.

The Group and Team

Part of the broader Real Estate Group, the Planning & Infrastructure Consenting Team operates across five locations: London, Leeds, Manchester, Edinburgh, and Glasgow. The team consists of 13 lawyers (including 5 Partners), as well as paralegals and trainees.

The team handles high-quality, varied work, providing comprehensive and proactive advice on a full range of planning issues, with a particular focus on housing and urban regeneration, major London developments, energy, and transport. It also has a market-leading planning litigation practice.

Recent growth in the volume and complexity of development work has led to involvement in several high-profile projects across London and the UK. Working within the wider Real Estate division, the team collaborates on a range of high-value and complex planning and infrastructure matters for well-known organisations and listed companies.

What to Expect in This Role

This role involves working on a variety of development and infrastructure projects, including:

1. Providing strategic planning advice, such as guidance on managing Hillside issues.
2. Drafting and negotiating planning and highways agreements for urban development projects, including housing, mixed-use, office, and logistics schemes.
3. Reviewing planning applications, including environmental impact assessments.
4. Advising on town centre compulsory purchase orders and compensation matters.
5. Managing public inquiries and advising on public law issues, including vires, the exercise of powers, and administrative law principles.

The role involves working closely with partners and other senior lawyers, with significant responsibility from the outset.

Your Areas of Knowledge and Expertise

To succeed in this role, candidates should:

1. Be a senior lawyer (ideally with at least six years of relevant experience) with a strong track record in planning and infrastructure consenting matters. Experience may be focused on development planning, infrastructure consenting, or a combination of both.
2. Have excellent stakeholder management skills, with experience engaging with internal and external contacts at all levels.
3. Take a consultative and thorough approach to tasks.
4. Maintain strong diary and task management across multiple matters while delivering the high level of client service expected in a high-performing team.
5. Be confident in drafting clear and legally effective documents that align with client instructions.
6. Work effectively under pressure, maintaining a calm and optimistic approach in time-sensitive situations.
7. Be enthusiastic about developing legal skills and continuous learning.
8. Build strong relationships with clients, acting as a trusted advisor by providing timely, high-quality advice and managing expectations effectively.

This is a high-performing team with a strong reputation for professional development. The role offers structured support from HR, L&D, and delivery teams to help elevate expertise and experience.

If you are interested in this position, and you meet the requirements of the role, please click 'apply now' to forward an up-to-date copy of your CV. Alternatively, if you would like to discuss this opportunity further, please contact Samuel Doughty for a confidential discussion.