Senior Solicitor - Planning

Based in Manchester we are seeking a Senior Solicitor to work as part of our planning team in Real Estate. The Planning Team advises on Planning, Highways, Compulsory Purchase and Town and Village Green issues and understands how they all can interlink to both assist and hinder development

The landscape of planning is constantly changing and we offer practical advice on how to negotiate the planning system, anticipating and pre-empting problems and advising our clients on the best way forward to achieve development as quickly as possible.

We have considerable experience in dealing with all aspects of planning including advice on planning applications, (including environmental impact assessment), section 106 obligations, planning appeals and preparing and running public inquiries particularly those which attract strong and significant objections.

But we do not just offer planning advice; we also advise on how to deal with "spoiling tactics" used by objectors to a development such as applications to have land registered as a town or village green and how to make effective objections to such applications.

We have considerable experience of advising on major regeneration schemes including not only planning and highways issues but also compulsory purchase matters. We also provide advice on compensation to those who have had their properties acquired by way of compulsory purchase.

Main Duties:

1. Clearly understand client requirements and provide practical answers to problems whilst ensuring best practice and technical accuracy at all times.
2. Be accountable for individual financial performance and ensure delivery of responsibilities within required time frames and to the highest standard possible.
3. Analyse risk and use sound judgement with decisions impacting on clients/practice area and anticipate both positive and negative consequences.
4. Delegate work appropriately and manage work upwards when required to ensure that work performed meets individual performance requirements as well as those of the wider team/Firm.
5. Understand individual role and performance in the Firm as well as commercial trends affecting practice area or potential business development activity.
6. Build working relationships internally and externally in order to develop business networks and create a solid understanding of the Firm’s direction and client needs.
7. Act appropriately to business needs including an ability to initiate change and communicate new ideas effectively both internally and externally at all levels.
8. Delegate as required in order to encourage cross working where appropriate and maximise profitability.