Associate - Planning & Environmental
Ref: 10578
Location/s Exeter
Working Hours Full Time
About the firm
My client is an impressive international law firm which focusses on helping clients achieve their objectives by providing practical and commercially relevant advice. The firm has particular strengths in real estate, care, education, energy, leisure, finance and project work. Real Estate (and the broader focus on the built environment) is a particularly strong element, with their leading lawyers advising government bodies, local authorities, housing associations, developers, contractors, lenders, and institutional investors. Culturally, the firm is known for its professional but collegiate environment, which encourages its people to work together effectively and enjoy what they do.
About the role
The Planning & Environmental team undertakes a huge variety of both contentious and non-contentious matters, and works as a cohesive national team. Fee earners are exposed to work from across the country, regardless of which office you are affiliated with. By adopting this "one team" national approach, fee earners gain exposure to an exciting and varied range of work, and work with colleagues across all our offices.
Key responsibilities include advising on matters including but not limited to:
- Complex planning applications.
- Section106 agreements.
- Section 278 agreements.
- General planning advice in respect of major development schemes in the waste sector, the affordable housing sector, as well as the private developer sector.
- Acting for planning authorities in relation to CPO work.
- Enforcement issues, High Court litigation and public inquiry work.
- Judicial review
- Planning and environmental due diligence on commercial and corporate transactions
- Advising developers, funders and purchasers on contaminated land and remediation liability
- Advice on invasive species and protected species
- Advice in connection with the environmental impact assessment process.
In addition, you will use your skills and experience to continue building and maintaining effective client relationships through active participation in networking and marketing initiatives across the region. Supporting and developing less experienced colleagues is important to this firm’s culture and you will have the opportunity to work with and encourage team members, sharing your technical knowledge with them where appropriate.
About you
Being an Associate level role, you will have good quality post-qualification experience within Planning & Environmental law, with the ability to evidence your good technical understanding and strong client liaison skills. Our client is seeking someone who is personally highly motivated and enthusiastic about this area of practice, with good commercial awareness and an appreciation of the context within which each client is operating. You will be encouraged to innovate and think creatively about your clients aims and requirements in order to provide commercially relevant advice.
With your experience, you will already have begun establishing your reputation within Planning & Environmental law, and be known as a positive and collaborative team member. You may have initiated or participated in business development and generation activities including networks and events, and you will have a positive approach to continuing with this in order to secure new clients.
As an Associate, you will be working with a good degree of independence whilst seeking support and advice from more experienced colleagues on highly technical matters. The firm is proud of its accessible and open culture and you will benefit from effective support as you become more experienced, in order to manage your own files with full independence.
For an informal discussion about this opportunity without commitment and in confidence, please contact Charlotte Ferguson, Recruitment Manager on 07342 840879 or at cferguson@cathedralappointments.co.uk