We are looking for an experienced planning lawyer to join our national team working in either London, Reading, Oxford, Southampton or Cardiff.
The team acts for a broad client base including residential and mixed use developers, a leading discount retailer, corporate occupiers, contractors, charities, investors, funders, the NHS, local authorities and Government bodies.
Your work will include providing strategic and tactical advice on securing planning permission, drafting and negotiating statutory agreements, undertaking due diligence in relation to the planning aspects of real estate, funding and corporate transactions. Advising on special protection areas, Assets of Community Value and Village Greens. You will be involved with auditing planning application documents and committee reports to assist clients with risk management, appeals, judicial review and enforcement. Your work will also cover highways advice. You should have a good knowledge of EIA, CIL and GLA planning.
You will have the opportunity to develop your own caseload as well as working closely with senior members of the Firm on a range of development related matters.
You will be expected to be involved in business development and marketing activities and encouraged to develop a network of contacts both internally and externally.
Skills / Experience Required
* Extensive experience in planning and highways law
* Experience of drafting of complex sc 106 Agreements, highway agreements, land development agreements, complex planning due diligence reports
* Experience of working on planning led regeneration projects
* Experience of advising on planning judicial review
* Experience of conducting planning appeals and presenting at planning committees
* Expert technical expertise and analytical skills
* A track record of successful practice development
* Excellent communication skills and able to explain complex matters to clients without a legal background
* Ability to establish a rapport with clients both face to face and via telephone or email, in order to ensure impeccable client service
* A team player
* Resilient, motivated and ambitious
* Track record of personal development and learning
* IT proficient
* Be able to travel as needed to support clients’ needs
* Attendance in the office for at least 3 days a week
* Committed to rigour around treating all clients fairly
* Focused on attributing dedication, determination and loyalty to colleagues, clients and communities
* Able to demonstrate continuous development and diversity in thinking
* Understands and complies with Information Security responsibilities commensurate with this advertised role including Data Protection and the duty of confidentiality
Blake Morgan is committed to adopting Smart Working practices, where appropriate in the context of business needs, and empowering colleagues to maximise their performance. Whilst we strive to ensure consistency of approach across the firm, there will inevitably be some differences in working practices across our business groups and business support functions. We consider each colleague's personal preferences, working styles and development needs when deciding the best arrangements to suit our clients and colleagues. A typical approach would be a blend of working in your usual office, working from another Blake Morgan office, working from a client's office and working from home. A Guide to getting the most out of Smart Working Policy is available for our colleagues. You will be a core part of the team and able to access the technology, support, training and resources you require. Our lawyer teams are also well supported by our Business Services, Finance, HR, IT and Risk functions.
More information about our practice can be found here.
Blake Morgan is one of the UK's leading full-service law firms, with offices in London, Wales, Thames Valley and the South Coast region. We provide our clients with practical and straightforward legal advice whatever their regional, national and international requirements. Our clients are commercial businesses, not-for-profit organisations, government agencies and private individuals.
Our business groups are:
Banking and Finance
Business Support Services
Commercial and Charities
Commercial Litigation
Commercial Recoveries and Travel
Construction
Corporate
Employment, Pensions, Benefits & Immigration
Private Client
Property Services
Regulatory
Our office locations and details of how to reach them are found here.
How to Apply
Please apply on our website through our Online Portal.
Closing Date: Within two months from date of posting but please note we are continually reviewing applications so we would recommend applying sooner rather than later.
Interviews: The interview process will start as soon as suitable candidates have been identified. We will notify you in advance if you are required to carry out a drafting exercise/skills test as part of the interview process.
If you have any questions, please email Rob Brown at rob.brown@blakemorgan.co.uk or telephone on 023 8085 7441.
Your personal data will be processed in line with our applicant privacy policy which explains how we treat your data.
Please note that we are currently only accepting CVs from direct applicants. We do not accept CVs from recruitment agencies unless terms and conditions have been agreed in advance with our Resourcing Team.
Our Culture and Environment
We pride ourselves on our Personality, which is weaved into everything we do for our colleagues, clients and communities alike. We have created an environment underpinned by our ACTS framework that places high value on being:
Astute (commercially)
Committed
Team playing
Straightforward
It's part of the way we like to do things. If you wish to work amongst colleagues with these behaviours, then you will find yourself amongst likeminded individuals at Blake Morgan.
Benefits
Some of the benefits of working at Blake Morgan include:
* 26 days' annual holiday and option to purchase 1 weeks' leave
* Birthday holiday
* My Time – one working week off for community, faith-based festivals, volunteering, or wellbeing activities
* Profit Share Scheme
* Performance related bonus scheme
* Target Plus (rolling bonus scheme)
* Private medical insurance including access to a health advice helpline
* Auto-enrolment pension scheme (5% employer pension contribution when employee contributes 3%)
* Life assurance scheme
* Critical illness cover
* Cash Plan - claim for flu jab, health screening, optical and dental plus a range of wellbeing and health services
* Employee Assistance Programme
* Professional subscriptions
* Free parking or travel season ticket loan depending on your office location
* Cycle to work scheme
* Discounts at leading retailers
* Recruitment referral scheme
* Gifts at key lifestyle and career milestones