Planning Managing Associate

Job DescriptionPlanning Managing AssociateLocation: ManchesterPQE Level: 3 years PQESalary: 55000 - 80000 Bonus (dependent on location and experience)Join a High Performing Planning & Infrastructure Consenting Team as Managing AssociateAre you an ambitious infrastructure consenting lawyer looking to work on transformative high-profile projects Our client a London headquartered international full-service law firm with 250 years of heritage and a reputation for award-winning innovation is seeking a talented infrastructure consenting-focused Managing Associate / Associate to join their Planning & Infrastructure Consenting Team in Leeds Manchester or London.With new and exciting client mandates this high performing Planning & Infrastructure Consenting Team is looking for an infrastructure consenting-focused Managing Associate / Associate to join their team. Youll become part of a wider team of experts and will have the support and structure to develop your career.The firm provides first-class technical insight and training and is looking for an enthusiastic team member who wants to build their long-term career with them and become a well-rounded lawyer providing quality commercial advice for clients.The FirmOur client is a London headquartered international full-service law firm that consistently delivers high-quality outcomes for clients globally. With 250 years of heritage the firm today supports over 5000 of the worlds most respected organisations helping them in over 50 areas of business law across more than 100 countries. The firm is known for award-winning innovation and delivering impact to clients.The firm has a strong global presence with offices across Asia (Japan Singapore) Europe (England & Wales France Germany Ireland Luxembourg Poland Scotland Spain) and the Middle East (Kingdom of Saudi Arabia Oman Qatar UAE) plus regional business groups covering Africa Central & Eastern Europe India Korea Latin America Nordics North America Türkiye and Ukraine.Recent major deals include advising on the largest UK IPO of 2025 (300m market capitalisation) the 36.55bn Sizewell C nuclear power station financing (one of Europes most significant infrastructure projects) and the 275m sale of an iconic London landmark to a luxury international hotel group.The firm is a place where you are valued encouraged and challenged to fulfil your potential in a supportive and collegiate environment. The culture of improvement growth and collaboration delivers results drives innovation and rewards ambition. The firms success has been built by people from the widest range of backgrounds locations and perspectives.The TeamLocated 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 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.This is a high-performing team with a strong reputation for people development where you will receive support and structure from established HR Learning & Development and delivery contacts to help elevate your experience to the next level.The RoleAs a Managing Associate / Associate in the Planning & Infrastructure Consenting Team you will work with the wider team on a wide variety of infrastructure projects working on transformative high-profile matters for leading operators in the energy transportation and water sectors across the UK.Youll become part of a wider team of experts and will have the support and structure to develop your career.You will work closely with partners and other senior lawyers in the team and can expect to have significant levels of responsibility.Your key responsibilities will include:Infrastructure Consenting Work:Advising on Development Consent Orders in the energy transport and water sectors for both promoters and objectorsAdvising on Transport and Works Act Orders for promoters of rail and light rail projectsAdvising on harbour orders marine licences and harbour works approvalsProviding strategic advice on the consents needed for a projectAdvising on optioneering route selection and non-statutory and statutory consultationReviewing application documents including environmental statementsDrafting secondary legislationSupporting public inquiries and examinationsAdvising on land assembly strategies and compensation issuesAdvising on hybrid BillsAdvising on public law issues such as vires the exercise of powers and administrative law principlesSector Focus:Working on high-profile promotions relating to electricity transmission carbon capture solar battery storage and gas distributionAdvising on ports airports and light and heavy rail projectsWorking with leading operators in the energy transportation and water sectorsContributing to policy development on matters such as automation and the move to non-carbon fuel sourcesWorking on transformative projects with importance in relation to climate change reduction and adaptationClient Relationship Management:Working closely with existing clients to nurture and develop relationshipsActing as a trusted adviser through providing timely and quality advice whilst managing expectationsConfident stakeholder management engaging with internal and external stakeholders of all levelsUnderstanding clients their drivers and what matters to themProviding advice with quality imagination and impactTeam Collaboration:Working collaboratively across the Firm within the Transport and Energy SectorsWorking on a range of high-value and complex consenting mandates as part of an end-to-end infrastructure delivery practiceWorking closely with partners and other senior lawyers in the teamSignificant levels of responsibilityContributing to the teams success and reputationProfessional Development:Engaging with formal training programmes (whether technical or skills based)Drawing on mentoring coaching and leadership programmes availableReceiving support and structure from established HR Learning & Development and delivery contactsContinuous development and learningBuilding your skills as a well-rounded planning and infrastructure consenting lawyerElevating your experience to the next levelKey Responsibilities:Drafting clear and legally effective documents which reflect the clients instructionsMaintaining efficient diary and task management across a range of mattersEnsuring the accuracy and levels of client service expected within a high performing teamAdopting a consultative and thorough approach to tasksRemaining calm and optimistic in time sensitive situations or under pressureFinding solutions to clients legal challenges and requirementsKeeping abreast of changes in planning and consenting legislation such as BNG and natural capitalUnderstanding the political context in which infrastructure delivery takes placeAbout YouEssential Requirements:Qualified Solicitor in England and WalesAt least 3 years PQE with relevant experience in infrastructure consenting mattersDemonstrated track record of advising on infrastructure consenting mattersStrong technical knowledge of planning law and infrastructure consentingExperience advising on Development Consent Orders in the energy transport and/or water sectorsUnderstanding of infrastructure consenting processes and proceduresExperience with Transport and Works Act Orders harbour orders marine licences and/or harbour works approvalsExperience providing strategic advice on consents needed for projectsExperience advising on optioneering route selection and consultation processesExperience reviewing application documents including environmental statementsExperience drafting secondary legislation and supporting public inquiries/examinationsUnderstanding of land assembly strategies and compensation issuesKnowledge of public law issues such as vires exercise of powers and administrative law principlesAptitude for understanding the political context in which infrastructure delivery takes placeAbility to keep abreast of changes in planning and consenting legislation such as BNG and natural capitalEnthusiasm for the Transport and Energy & Utility sectors and their transformative effect and importance in relation to climate change reduction and adaptationConfident stakeholder manager with evidenced experience of engaging with internal and external stakeholders of all levelsAbility to adopt a consultative and thorough approach to tasksEfficient diary and task management skills across a range of mattersAbility to maintain the accuracy and levels of client service expected within a high performing teamConfident in drafting clear and legally effective documents which reflect the clients instructionsAbility to remain calm and optimistic in time sensitive situations or under pressureEnthusiastic about the development of your legal skill set and continuous learningStrong attention to detail and accuracyCommercially focused with good problem-solving abilitiesHighly Desirable:Experience advising both promoters and objectorsExperience with hybrid BillsExperience working on electricity transmission carbon capture solar battery storage and/or gas distribution projectsExperience with ports airports and light and heavy rail projectsExperience working with leading operators in the energy transportation and water sectorsExperience working in a large international law firm environmentExperience working on high-value complex infrastructure projectsStrong client relationship skillsUnderstanding of policy development in Transport and Energy SectorsKnowledge of automation and the move to non-carbon fuel sourcesExperience working collaboratively across multiple practice areasKey Attributes:Client-focused with commitment to exceptional service deliveryCommercially astute and business-oriented approachProactive and solutions-focusedStrong team player who thrives in a collaborative environmentExcellent communicator with strong interpersonal skillsAdaptable and flexible approach to workSelf-motivated with strong work ethicCommitted to continuous learning and developmentPassionate about planning and infrastructure consenting lawPassionate about climate change reduction and adaptationAmbitious and eager to build a long-term careerResilient and able to work under pressureQuality-focused with imagination and impact in adviceWhats On OfferOur client is committed to recognising and rewarding great work with rewards and benefits that are among the best in the business.Benefits include:Competitive salary: 55000 - 80000 Bonus (dependent on location and experience)Bonus schemeInternational full-service law firm with 250 years of heritageSupport over 5000 of the worlds most respected organisations globally50 areas of business law across 100 countriesAward-winning innovation and reputation for delivering impactPlanning and Infrastructure Consenting Team: 15 lawyers (including 6 Partners) plus paralegals and traineesTeam works nationally across 5 locations: London Leeds Manchester Edinburgh GlasgowExcellent quality varied workParticular focus on infrastructure sector working for leading operators in energy transportation and water sectors across UKMajor growth in volume and quality of infrastructure consenting workAdvising on large number of high-profile promotions relating to electricity transmission carbon capture solar battery storage gas distribution ports airports light and heavy railVery strong sectoral focus in Transport and Energy SectorsAt forefront of policy development on matters such as automation and move to non-carbon fuel sourcesHigh-performing team with strong reputation for people developmentSupport and structure from established HR Learning & Development and delivery contactsBecome part of wider team of expertsSupport and structure to develop your careerWork on wide variety of infrastructure projectsWork closely with partners and other senior lawyersSignificant levels of responsibilityWork collaboratively across the Firm within Transport and Energy SectorsWork on range of high-value and complex consenting mandates as part of end-to-end infrastructure delivery practiceWork on transformative projects with importance in relation to climate change reduction and adaptationComprehensive and pro-active advice to clients on full range of planning issuesWork closely with clients to nurture and develop relationshipsAct as trusted adviser providing timely and quality adviceFormal training programmes (technical and skills based)Mentoring coaching and leadership programmes availableClear career progression pathwayBuild long-term career with the firmBecome well-rounded lawyer providing quality commercial adviceCulture of improvement growth and collaborationSupportive and collegiate environmentWork on high-calibre matters with high-character colleaguesAccess to full-service firm resources (Corporate Finance Banking Projects Real Estate Employment Dispute Resolution IP Tax Competition Construction and more)Employee networks that provide space to discuss differences and celebrate diversityFirm that values people from the widest range of backgrounds locations and perspectivesRecent major deals: Largest UK IPO 2025 (300m) 36.55bn Sizewell C nuclear financing 275m London landmark saleGlobal offices across Asia Europe and Middle EastRegional business groups covering Africa CEE India Korea Latin America Nordics North America Türkiye UkraineNatural choice for FTSE100 clients and their equivalents in other marketsNew and exciting client mandatesLocationThis role is based in the firms Manchester office. All offices are located in the heart of the citys business district with excellent transport links and access to the citys amenities restaurants and cultural attractions.How to ApplyIf youre an ambitious Planning Managing Associate (3 years PQE) looking to work on transformative high-profile infrastructure projects with a leading international law firm wed love to hear from you. Click apply now or contact or 0Required Experience:IC Key Skills Restaurant Experience,Hospitality Experience,Interviewing,Management Experience,POS,Leadership Experience,P&L Management,Mentoring,Supervising Experience,Restaurant Management,Financial Planning,Writing Skills Employment Type : Full-Time Experience: years Vacancy: 1