Senior Planning Lawyer

Womble Bond Dickinson; City of Edinburgh; On-site; GBP 65,000 - 85,000; Full time

Job summary

A leading law firm in Edinburgh is seeking a Senior Planning Lawyer to join their expanding Planning team. The role involves working on high-profile projects within the residential, commercial, and infrastructure sectors. Candidates should possess a legal qualification, over 7 years of experience, and a strong background in planning and environmental work. This position promises significant professional growth alongside experienced colleagues, allowing one to tackle a wide variety of planning challenges while contributing to notable legal developments in Scotland.

Qualifications

• Minimum of 7+ years post-admission experience in a planning team.
• Ability to lead on complex planning agreements and highway agreements.
• Experience handling inquiries and judicial reviews.

Responsibilities

• Work on large-scale development consent orders.
• Provide strategic planning advice for various projects.
• Assist with project management and support national real estate practice.

Skills

Legal qualification

Planning experience

Knowledge of Town and Country Planning Act 1990

Complex planning agreements

Environmental Impact Assessments (EIA)

Judicial reviews

Job description

Join our highly regarded Planning team in the heart of Edinburgh and play a key role in the continued growth of Womble Bond Dickinson's presence in Scotland. Our Edinburgh office offers the best of both worlds: the energy and ambition of a rapidly expanding hub, combined with the culture, collaboration and high‑calibre work you'd expect from an international firm.

Womble Bond Dickinson is one of the leading law firms in Edinburgh, with 10 years of experience in Scotland. Having invested vast knowledge and resources supporting Scottish‑based businesses, helping them to succeed and grow, our Edinburgh office is well‑positioned to support a wide variety of clients across all key sectors. The office itself, based in the heart of the city rich in history and impressive architecture, is home to a talented team of solicitors whose primary focus is to ensure all clients receive in‑depth, comprehensive and effective legal support and we are now looking for a Senior Planning Lawyer to join them.

As the firm's newest office, it is an exciting opportunity to be part of a growing team, and to be a part of the rising profile of the office within the firm, and of WBD in Scotland. The quality of the team in Scotland is already delivering fantastic opportunities in our key sectors, and with the energetic Edinburgh team behind it, the office is going from strength to strength.

Our Real Estate Planning team are widely regarded as one of the best in the UK advising on some of the most iconic developments. Whether it is off shore wind farms located 40 kilometres out to sea, major residential schemes including garden villages and regeneration, new rail and road projects, airport developments, or waste and mineral projects; we are instructed on all of them.

What will you be doing?

Our national team offers clients a full‑spectrum of expertise and handles a range of complex mandates in the residential, commercial and infrastructure and environmental and waste sectors, as well as contentious work in Judicial Review and Lands Chamber proceedings.

What does the ideal candidate look like?

Due to the growth in our work, as well as the variety and complexity of the projects we are working on, this role needs strong experience in planning, infrastructure and environmental work as well as a genuine enthusiasm to develop our great team. This role will see you working on large scale development consent orders, compulsory acquisitions, giving strategic planning advice, reviewing environmental statements, assisting with project management and supporting our national real estate practice. The role offers an unrivalled opportunity to work on a wide range of premium level planning work outside of the City.

We've seen a significant increase in the work we undertake for major infrastructure providers and would like to hear from you if you have both the passion and expertise in this area. There are great opportunities to work with truly talented lawyers at the top of their field across our offices.

To be successful in this role you'll need as a minimum:

• A legal qualification with 7+ years post admission experience gained within a planning team.
• Knowledge of the Town and Country Planning Act 1990, and some knowledge or the Planning Act 2008 is desirable.
• Experience of and able to lead on complex planning agreements
• Experience of highway agreements
• Ability to handle inquiries/examinations and judicial reviews relating to planning matters.
• Experiencing managing & supervising more junior members of the team
• Knowledge and experience of Environmental Impact Assessments (EIA)
• Whilst not required, experience of compulsory acquisition is also desirable