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Job Description

Planning Lawyer - London

I’m working with a top-tier planning team in London that is looking to make a key expansion hire at the 3–5 PQE level. This is a highly strategic role for the team and one they are keen to fill as soon as the right person is identified. While the search is urgent due to workload, the partners are realistic and focused on finding exceptional quality rather than rushing the process.

This is a rare opportunity to join a true powerhouse in planning law, with a reputation for work that is widely regarded as unmatched in the market.

The Team & Practice

The team is led by a highly respected planning partner and supported by a strong group of senior lawyers, associates, and trainees. Despite its size, the group operates in a very close-knit and collegiate way, with a culture that is consistently described as supportive, friendly, and collaborative. People genuinely enjoy working together, and that culture is carefully protected as the team grows.

The practice sits at the heart of the firm’s real estate offering and acts as a key support function for the real estate team, working on the planning aspects of some of the most significant development and infrastructure projects in the UK. The work is exclusively private practice-focused, with no local authority mandates, and includes a sophisticated mix of large-scale development projects and major infrastructure matters.

The quality threshold is extremely high. This is a team that sees itself at the very top of the planning market and is therefore only interested in top-tier profiles with the ability to operate at that level.

The Work

Associates in the team are involved in complex and high-profile planning matters from an early stage, working closely with partners and senior lawyers. The work spans a broad range of development and infrastructure projects, often with significant commercial, political, and technical complexity.

Because this is a relatively small and specialist practice, associates are given meaningful responsibility and are encouraged to develop strong relationships with colleagues across real estate and infrastructure. The emphasis is firmly on quality of advice rather than volume, and lawyers are trusted to manage their matters thoughtfully and commercially.

Candidate Profile

Ideally 3 PQE, with flexibility to consider up to 5 PQE Planning experience gained in top-tier private practice Strong technical planning law capability Experience advising on development and/or infrastructure projects Commercial and pragmatic approach Strong drafting and advisory skills A collaborative mindset and interest in being part of a close-knit team

Working Pattern & Compensation

The team operates a flexible hybrid working model, with an expectation of around three days per week in the office, balanced with autonomy and trust. Target hours are 1,700 per year, which is notably lower than many comparable practices in the market. Base salary at NQ level currently sits at £115,000, with a broader review of compensation underway and expected shortly, reflecting a recognition that market alignment is important. Bonus is structured across three components: hours billed, individual and team performance, and overall firm performance. Bonuses typically range from £10,000 to £25,000, with scope to reach up to £50,000 at the top end, and are unlocked once the 1,700-hour target is met, with incremental increases for every additional 100 hours billed.

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