Planning Solicitor (Senior/Managing Associate)

Simpson Judge; Bradley Stoke; On-site; GBP 70,000 - 95,000; Full time

Job summary

Simpson Judge in Bristol seeks a Planning Solicitor at Senior/Managing Associate level to join its growing planning practice. The role focuses on high-quality development and regeneration matters for a diverse client base.

The ideal candidate will have 3–8 years’ PQE with broad planning experience, confidently handling both non-contentious and contentious matters within a national team. Bristol-based role with a strong platform awaits.

Qualifications

• Qualified solicitor with 3–8 years’ PQE in planning law
• Experience handling both non-contentious and contentious planning matters
• Strong understanding of planning, highways and related development law

Responsibilities

• Drafting and negotiating Section 106 agreements
• Highways and other statutory agreements
• Advising on planning, highways and associated law
• Planning and highways aspects of property and corporate transactions including due diligence
• Contentious planning, including Planning Inquiries and hearings
• Court challenges and Judicial Reviews
• Advising on complex development and regeneration projects

Skills

Planning law

Regulatory compliance

Client management

Education

Qualified solicitor

Job description

Planning Solicitor (Senior/Managing Associate) – Bristol

Location: Bristol

Top 50 Full-Service Law Firm

Ideally 3–8 PQE

A top 50 full-service law firm is looking to appoint an experienced Planning Solicitor (Senior/Managing Associate) to join its growing Bristol office.

This is an excellent opportunity to join a highly regarded national Planning & Environment team, working on a broad range of high-quality development and regeneration matters for a diverse client base.

The Role

The team advises clients throughout the development lifecycle, providing commercially focused advice across planning, highways and associated areas of law.

The successful candidate will ideally have between 3 and 8 years' PQE and strong experience across a broad range of planning matters, including:

• Drafting and negotiating Section 106 agreements
• Highways agreements and other statutory agreements
• Advising on planning, highways and associated law
• Planning and highways aspects of property and corporate transactions, including due diligence
• Contentious planning, including Planning Inquiries and hearings
• Court challenges and Judicial Reviews
• Advising on complex development and regeneration projects

Experience of Development Consent Orders (DCOs) and/or large-scale regeneration schemes would be advantageous, although not essential.

About You

The ideal candidate will be a qualified solicitor with a minimum of 3 years' PQE and ideally no more than 8 years' PQE, with strong planning experience gained within a recognised planning team.

You will need to be confident handling both non-contentious and contentious planning matters, with a strong understanding of the wider property and development landscape.

You will be commercially minded, technically strong and comfortable working directly with clients on complex and high-value matters.

This is a growth-driven appointment within an ambitious national team, offering the opportunity to work on varied, high-quality planning matters alongside experienced specialists.

If you are a Planning Solicitor at Senior Associate or Managing Associate level looking for a new opportunity in Bristol, this role offers the chance to join a leading full-service firm with a strong national platform and an expanding planning practice.