Commercial/Procurement Lawyer

We are seeking an experienced Planning & Environmental Lawyer to provide expert legal advice on a broad range of planning, environmental, public law, and infrastructure matters. This is a varied and high-profile role supporting major projects, policy development, legislative initiatives, and complex decision-making processes. The successful candidate will work closely with senior stakeholders, policy teams, and decision-makers, providing pragmatic, risk-based legal advice within a fast-paced and politically sensitive environment.

Key Responsibilities

• Provide high-quality legal advice on planning, environmental, and public law matters.
• Advise on planning applications, appeals, development proposals, and associated legal frameworks.
• Support major infrastructure, regeneration, transport, energy, and development projects.
• Advise on legal risk, governance, and potential challenges arising from planning and policy decisions.
• Provide guidance on judicial review risks, litigation strategy, and public law compliance.
• Support the development and implementation of planning policy and legislative reform initiatives.
• Draft, review, and advise on secondary legislation, statutory instruments, and related legal documentation.
• Work collaboratively with policy, programme, and operational teams to deliver practical legal solutions.
• Analyse complex legal issues and communicate advice clearly to both legal and non-legal stakeholders.
• Support decision-making processes by identifying legal risks, opportunities, and mitigation strategies.
• Monitor developments in planning, environmental, and public law to ensure advice remains current and effective.

Essential Skills and Experience

• Qualified Solicitor, Barrister, or equivalent legal professional with significant post-qualification experience.
• Strong expertise in planning law gained within private practice, public sector, consultancy, or an equivalent environment.
• Experience advising on infrastructure, major development, regeneration, or large-scale planning projects.
• Knowledge of environmental law, environmental impact assessment (EIA), and associated regulatory frameworks.
• Experience advising on public law issues and judicial review matters.
• Demonstrable ability to provide pragmatic, commercially aware, and risk-based legal advice.
• Excellent analytical, drafting, and problem-solving skills.
• Strong written and verbal communication skills with the ability to explain complex legal issues clearly.
• Experience managing competing priorities and delivering advice within demanding timescales.

Highly Desirable Experience

• Experience advising on Section 106 agreements, planning obligations, and Community Infrastructure Levy (CIL) matters.
• Knowledge of Development Consent Orders (DCOs) and nationally significant infrastructure projects.
• Experience drafting legislation, statutory instruments, or related legal frameworks.
• Previous experience advising government departments, public bodies, regulators, or local authorities.
• Experience supporting policy development and legislative reform programmes.

Personal Attributes

• Strong legal judgement and attention to detail.
• Ability to work effectively in a high-profile and fast-moving environment.
• Collaborative approach with excellent stakeholder management skills.
• Confident communicator capable of influencing and advising senior decision-makers.
• Solutions-focused mindset with the ability to balance legal risk against operational and strategic objectives.

This role offers the opportunity to work on nationally significant planning, infrastructure, environmental, and policy matters. Candidates should be comfortable operating within a complex stakeholder environment and managing sensitive legal issues.