Planning & Infrastructure Consenting Lawyer (Associate / Managing Associate)

This is a key strategic hire within a market-leading Planning & Infrastructure Consenting team that advises on some of the UK’s most significant infrastructure projects. The role offers exposure to high-profile clients across the development, energy, transport, utility, and public sectors, responding to sustained growth in client demand.

You will strengthen capabilities across northern offices, helping to deliver high-quality, scalable support to clients during a period of growth while investing in the team’s future leadership pipeline. This is an opportunity for an Associate or Managing Associate to take on significant responsibility, deepen client relationships, and develop into a senior role within the practice.

The team advises on a wide range of planning, infrastructure, parliamentary and public law matters, with strength in energy, transport, utilities, regeneration, and major development. It supports clients on strategically important projects, including development consent orders, Transport and Works Act orders, hybrid Bills, compulsory purchase, highways agreements, harbour and other infrastructure-related consenting regimes, and the public law framework that underpins them.

You will lead key workstreams, supervise junior team members, and play a prominent role in client development and building your external market profile. The team works nationally across offices and is distinguished by the quality and breadth of its work, the opportunity to advise on projects of national importance, and the combination of technical planning expertise with real infrastructure sector understanding.

• 4–8 years’ PQE in Planning & Infrastructure Consenting law, with significant experience in infrastructure, energy, utilities, and/or major development projects.
• Experience advising on one or more of: Development Consent Orders (DCOs), Transport and Works Act Orders (TWAOs) and other major infrastructure consenting regimes, as well as strength in town and country planning matters, highways law and infrastructure agreements, or similar areas.
• Ability to manage substantial drafting and advisory responsibilities on complex matters with an appropriate level of independence.
• Experience advising on protective provisions, asset protection agreements, access arrangements, operational matters, and regulatory interfaces affecting infrastructure operators.
• Strong understanding of local government law, statutory powers, and public authority decision-making processes.
• Proven ability to manage complex transactions and projects, delivering high-quality work within agreed deadlines.