Principal Associate - Planning

Lincoln Cornhill; Birmingham; Hybrid; GBP 70,000 - 110,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Hybrid working

Private medical insurance

Generous pension scheme

Enhanced annual leave

Life assurance

Sabbatical opportunities

Health & wellbeing support

Training and professional development

Job summary

Lincoln Cornhill in Birmingham is seeking a Principal Associate to join its nationally recognized Planning Team. You will handle complex planning work across major development schemes, advising clients and guiding strategy with a collaborative, multi-disciplinary group.

The role offers involvement in planning applications, agreements, and infrastructure projects, with opportunities for training and thought leadership in a supportive hybrid environment.

Qualifications

• Be a qualified Solicitor (England & Wales).
• Experience in planning law or a related real estate discipline.
• Be confident managing your own caseload and working to tight deadlines.
• Have strong commercial awareness and excellent attention to detail.
• Communicate clearly and advise clients in a practical, solutions-focused way.
• Collaborate within multi-disciplinary teams.

Responsibilities

• Advising on major planning applications and development strategies.
• Drafting and negotiating planning agreements and related documentation.
• Supporting infrastructure projects, including Development Consent Orders.
• Advising on compulsory purchase and compensation matters.
• Supporting planning appeals, inquiries, and judicial reviews.
• Working on highways and transport-related planning matters.
• Contributing to large-scale residential, commercial, and mixed-use schemes.
• Engaging in client training, presentations, and thought leadership activities.

Skills

Planning law

Commercial awareness

Attention to detail

Client advisory

Caseload management

Team collaboration

Education

Solicitor qualification (England & Wales)

Job description

A leading UK law firm is seeking a Principal Associate to join its highly regarded Planning Team based in Birmingham.

This is an outstanding opportunity to work within one of the country's top planning practices, advising on nationally significant development and infrastructure projects across both public and private sectors.

The Opportunity

You'll join a nationally recognised team working on some of the most complex and high-profile development schemes in the UK.

The team advises across the full spectrum of planning law, highways, compulsory purchase, compensation, and infrastructure consenting. You'll be involved in shaping major developments that have real strategic and economic impact.

The Role

You will be involved in a broad range of planning work, including:

• Advising on major planning applications and development strategies

• Drafting and negotiating planning agreements and related documentation

• Supporting infrastructure projects, including Development Consent Orders

• Advising on compulsory purchase and compensation matters

• Supporting planning appeals, inquiries, and judicial reviews

• Working on highways and transport-related planning matters

• Contributing to large-scale residential, commercial, and mixed-use schemes

• Engaging in client training, presentations, and thought leadership activities

You will work on high-profile projects alongside leading experts in the field.

About You

You will:

• Be a qualified Solicitor (England & Wales)

• Have experience in planning law or a related real estate discipline

• Be confident managing your own caseload and working to tight deadlines

• Have strong commercial awareness and excellent attention to detail

• Be able to communicate clearly and advise clients in a practical, solutions-focused way

• Be comfortable working collaboratively within multi-disciplinary teams

Experience in drafting planning agreements, infrastructure projects, compulsory purchase, or planning litigation would be advantageous, but is not essential.

What's on Offer

• Work on some of the UK's most significant development and infrastructure projects

• Exposure to a leading national planning practice

• Clear career development and progression opportunities

• A collaborative and supportive team environment

• Hybrid working model

• Competitive salary and benefits package, including:

• • Private medical insurance
  • Generous pension scheme
  • Enhanced annual leave (with buy-back option)
  • Life assurance
  • Sabbatical opportunities
  • Health & wellbeing support
  • Training and professional development