Planning, Managing Associate, Regional

Purpose of The Role

With new and exciting client mandates, our high performing Planning & Infrastructure Consenting Team is looking for an infrastructure consenting-focused Managing Associate / Associate to join our team, based in either our Leeds, Manchester or London offices. You\’ll become part of a wider team of named experts and will have the support and structure to develop your career.

The Group and Team

• Located within the Real Estate Group, the Planning and Infrastructure Consenting Team works nationally across 5 locations; London, Leeds, Manchester, Edinburgh and Glasgow. It is comprised of 15 lawyers (including 6 Partners), plus paralegals and trainees.
• The work of the group is of excellent quality, varied and involves the provision of comprehensive and pro‑active advice to clients on the full range of planning issues with a particular focus on our work in the infrastructure sector working for leading operators in the energy, transportation and water sectors across the UK.
• The Team has seen major growth in the volume and quality of its infrastructure consenting work and is advising on a large number of high‑profile promotions relating to electricity transmission, carbon capture, solar, battery storage and gas distribution, as well as ports, airports and light and heavy rail.
• The firm has a very strong sectoral focus in the Transport and Energy Sectors and is at the forefront of policy development in those sectors on matters such as automation and the move to non‑carbon fuel sources. The Team works collaboratively across the Firm within those Sectors on a range of high‑value and complex consenting mandates as part of an end‑to‑end infrastructure delivery practice.

What to Expect in This Role

You will work with our wider team on a wide variety of infrastructure projects. You can expect the work to include:

• Advising on Development Consent Orders in the energy, transport and water sectors for both promoters and objectors;
• Advising on Transport and Works Act Orders for promoters of rail and light rail projects.
• Advising on harbour orders, marine licences and harbour works approvals.
• Providing strategic advice on the consents needed for a project.
• Advising on optioneering, route selection and non‑statutory and statutory consultation.
• Reviewing application documents including environmental statements.
• Drafting secondary legislation.
• Supporting public inquiries and examinations.
• Advising on land assembly strategies and compensation issues.
• Advising on hybrid Bills.
• Advising on public law issues such as vires, the exercise of powers and administrative law principles.
• You will work closely with partners and other senior lawyers in the team and can expect to have significant levels of responsibility.

Your Areas of Knowledge and Expertise

• You will be a lawyer (with at least 3 years of relevant experience) with a demonstrated track record of advising on infrastructure consenting matters.
• Have an aptitude for understanding the political context in which infrastructure delivery takes place and keeping abreast of changes in planning and consenting legislation, such as BNG and natural capital.
• Have an enthusiasm for the Transport and Energy & Utility sectors and their transformative effect and importance in relation to climate change reduction and adaptation.
• Be a confident stakeholder manager, with evidenced experience of engaging with internal and external stakeholders of all levels.
• Adopt a consultative and thorough approach to tasks.
• Maintain efficient diary and task management across a range of matters, maintain the accuracy and levels of client service expected within a high performing team.
• Be confident in drafting clear and legally effective documents, which reflect the client\’s instructions.
• Remain calm and optimistic in time sensitive situations or under pressure.
• Be enthusiastic about the development of your legal skill set and continuous learning.
• Work closely with existing clients to nurture and develop relationships and acting as a trusted adviser through providing timely and quality advice whilst managing expectations.
• This is a high‑performing team with a strong reputation for people development, where you will receive support and structure from established HR, L&D, and delivery contacts to help elevate your experience to the next level.

Our Firm

Addleshaw Goddard is a place where you are valued, encouraged, and challenged to fulfil your potential in a supportive and collegiate environment. Our culture of improvement, growth and collaboration delivers results, drives innovation, and rewards ambition.

We not only provide technical excellence and experience but, crucially, demonstrate real insight into our clients and what really matters to them and as such we are natural choice for FTSE100 clients and their equivalents in other markets.

Our success has been built by people from the widest range of backgrounds, locations, and perspectives. We have a number of employee networks that provide space to discuss the differences that make us who we are and celebrate this at AG.