Planning Solicitor (Senior/Managing Associate)

Simpson Judge; West of England; On-site; GBP 65,000 - 95,000; Full time

Job summary

Simpson Judge is assisting a top 50 national law firm in Bristol to recruit a Planning Solicitor at Senior Associate or Managing Associate level. The role offers exposure to high-quality development and regeneration matters, with a broad practice across planning, highways and related areas.

You will handle non-contentious and contentious planning, and work closely with clients on complex, high-value projects within a growing national team.

Qualifications

• At least 3 years' PQE in planning law.
• Experience with planning, highways, and related areas.
• Strong client-facing and advisory skills.

Responsibilities

• Advise on planning and highways matters across development lifecycle.
• Draft and negotiate Section 106 and other agreements.
• Manage contentious planning matters and court challenges.

Skills

Planning law

Negotiation

Due diligence

Education

Qualified solicitor in England & Wales

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.