Planning Lawyer

With new and exciting client mandates, a high-performing Planning & Infrastructure Consenting Team is looking for a Managing Associate to join its expanding London real estate practice. This role offers the opportunity to work alongside national and international experts, with the support and structure needed for professional growth.

The Planning & Infrastructure Consenting Team operates across five locations: London, Leeds, Manchester, Edinburgh, and Glasgow. The team consists of 13 lawyers (including 5 Partners), as well as paralegals and trainees. The team handles high-quality, varied work, providing comprehensive and proactive advice on a full range of planning issues, with a particular focus on housing and urban regeneration, major London developments, energy, and transport. It also has a market-leading planning litigation practice.

Recent growth in the volume and complexity of development work has led to involvement in several high-profile projects across London and the UK. Working within the wider Real Estate division, the team collaborates on a range of high-value and complex planning and infrastructure matters for well-known organisations and listed companies.

This role involves working on a variety of development and infrastructure projects, including:

• Providing strategic planning advice, such as guidance on managing Hillside issues.
• Drafting and negotiating planning and highways agreements for urban development projects, including housing, mixed-use, office, and logistics schemes.
• Reviewing planning applications, including environmental impact assessments.
• Advising on town centre compulsory purchase orders and compensation matters.
• Managing public inquiries and advising on public law issues, including vires, the exercise of powers, and administrative law principles.

The role involves working closely with partners and other senior lawyers, with significant responsibility from the outset.

To succeed in this role, candidates should:

• Be a senior lawyer (ideally with at least six years of relevant experience) with a strong track record in planning and infrastructure consenting matters. Experience may be focused on development planning, infrastructure consenting, or a combination of both.
• Have excellent stakeholder management skills, with experience engaging with internal and external contacts at all levels.
• Take a consultative and thorough approach to tasks.
• Maintain strong diary and task management across multiple matters while delivering the high level of client service expected in a high-performing team.
• Be confident in drafting clear and legally effective documents that align with client instructions.
• Work effectively under pressure, maintaining a calm and optimistic approach in time-sensitive situations.
• Be enthusiastic about developing legal skills and continuous learning.
• Build strong relationships with clients, acting as a trusted advisor by providing timely, high-quality advice and managing expectations effectively.

This is a high-performing team with a strong reputation for professional development. The role offers structured support from HR, L&D, and delivery teams to help elevate expertise and experience.

If you are interested in this position, and you meet the requirements of the role, please click 'apply now' to forward an up-to-date copy of your CV. Alternatively, if you would like to discuss this opportunity further, please contact Samuel Doughty for a confidential discussion.