Principal Lawyer, Planning Highways and Licensing

Lawyers In Local Government; Horsham; On-site; GBP 75,000 - 110,000; Full time

Job summary

Kensington and Chelsea Council, Westminster City Council is seeking a senior legal lead to direct a team of around ten solicitors and paralegals. You will manage high-profile planning matters, with expertise in highways or licensing, advising senior officers and elected members.

You will regularly attend committee meetings, providing governance-backed legal advice and contributing to policy development within a bi-borough legal service across two central London authorities.

Qualifications

• You will be a qualified Solicitor or Barrister entitled to practise in England and Wales.
• Strong experience in planning and also highways or licensing law.
• Proven track record of leading or managing legal teams with clear advisory capabilities.

Responsibilities

• Lead a team of around ten legal professionals delivering high-quality legal advice.
• Personally handle a caseload of complex planning matters and highways or licensing law.
• Attend committee meetings to provide governance and legal advice on decisions.
• Support bi-borough service across two central London authorities and shape policy.

Skills

Team leadership

Planning law

Highways law

Licensing law

Stakeholder management

Legal advisory

Education

Qualified Solicitor/Barrister

Job description

This is an advertisement for a vacancy at Kensington and Chelsea Council, Westminster City Council. LLG is advertising this vacancy on behalf of Kensington and Chelsea Council, Westminster City Council.

What You’ll Be Doing

You will lead a team of around ten legal professionals, including solicitors and paralegals, ensuring the delivery of high-quality legal advice that supports the Council’s priorities.

Alongside managing and developing your team, you will personally handle a caseload of complex and high-profile planning matters and also be knowledgeable in one or both of the followings areas; highways and licensing. Your work will involve advising senior officers and elected members on significant decisions affecting the borough.

You will regularly attend committee meetings, providing legal, procedural and governance advice to ensure decisions are legally sound and transparent.

This role operates across two central London authorities as part of a bi-borough legal service. This offers the opportunity to work on some of the most high-profile planning and licensing matters in the country.

Working closely with Monitoring Officers and senior colleagues, you will help shape policy, guide decision-making and contribute to the ongoing development of the service. You’ll also foster a culture of technical excellence, collaboration and professional growth within your team.

What You’ll Bring

You will be a qualified Solicitor or Barrister entitled to practise in England and Wales, with strong experience in planning and also highways or licensing law.

You’ll bring a proven track record of leading or managing legal teams, alongside the ability to provide clear and confident legal advice on complex matters.

Strong stakeholder management skills are essential. You’ll be comfortable advising senior officers and elected members, communicating complex legal issues in a clear and practical way.

You will also bring strong judgement, political awareness and the ability to operate effectively in a fast-moving local government environment. A commitment to professional standards, equality and inclusive service delivery will be central to how you work.

Experience or interest in wider areas of local government law will also help you thrive in this collaborative legal service.