Principal Solicitor (Planning Highways and Licensing)

Royal Borough of Kensington and Chelsea; Greater London; On-site; GBP 90,000 - 120,000; Full time

Job summary

The Royal Borough of Kensington and Chelsea is seeking a Principal Lawyer to lead a specialist legal team advising on planning, highways and licensing matters in two central London authorities. You will oversee about ten legal professionals and handle a demanding caseload while guiding senior officers and elected members on complex decisions.

You’ll attend committee meetings, shape policy, and promote technical excellence and inclusive service delivery within a fast-moving local government

Qualifications

• Qualified Solicitor or Barrister with practising status in England and Wales.
• Strong experience leading or managing legal teams.
• Expertise in planning, highways and licensing law.

Responsibilities

• Lead a team of around ten legal professionals delivering high‑quality advice to support Council priorities.
• Manage a caseload of complex planning matters and advise senior officers and elected members.
• Attend committee meetings to provide legal, procedural and governance guidance.

Skills

Planning law

Highways law

Licensing law

Team leadership

Stakeholder management

Public sector governance

Education

Qualified Solicitor or Barrister

Job description

Job Description

Provide expert legal leadership on the planning, highways and licensing decisions that shape our borough. As a Principal Lawyer, you’ll lead a specialist legal team advising on complex planning, highways and licensing matters. Your expertise will help ensure the Council makes robust, transparent decisions that support our communities and shape the future of the borough.

Working Style

You’ll be spending the majority of your week in the Borough or in City Hall but also working in an agile way to lead the Bi-Borough team. Whether you’re working on the frontline or behind the scenes, you’ll be part of a dedicated team making a real difference to residents’ lives.

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 following 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.

For further details, please review the Job Description and Person Specification.

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.

Why join us

At RBKC, we’re all in – investing in our people, our communities and our future.

You’ll work within a respected legal service that supports two central London councils, offering exposure to complex and high-profile planning and licensing work.

• We offer a competitive salary at Grade J alongside opportunities to broaden your expertise and develop your leadership skills.
• You’ll work within a supportive environment where innovation is encouraged and professional growth is prioritised.
• Flexible working arrangements and a collaborative team culture will help you balance meaningful work with a healthy work‑life balance.

About Us

Kensington and Chelsea is home to diverse communities, thriving businesses and unique local places. Everything we do is focused on supporting our residents, strengthening our approach and creating a fairer borough.

As a competent and caring Council, we take pride in our work every day, ensuring our services are delivered with care and competence. We listen to our residents, act with integrity and work together to build a borough that is greener, safer and fairer for all.

the we’re all in mindset is central to this role. By providing expert legal leadership and supporting complex decision-making, you help ensure the borough continues to grow in a way that is fair, well-governed and responsive to the needs of our communities.

Interview Details

Interviews will be held in person week commencing 30th November 2026.

We reserve the right to extend or close this vacancy early without warning subject to the volume of suitable applicants.

We are committed to promoting equality and respecting diversity and welcome applications from all sections of the community.

We are a Disability Confident Employer – committed to ensuring that our recruitment and selection process is inclusive and accessible.