Managing Senior Associate - Planning

Managing Senior Associate – Planning (Energy & Infrastructure)

London, Birmingham, Leeds, Manchester, Edinburgh or Glasgow

Exceptional by design. Shape major energy and infrastructure projects.

Join the UK’s largest planning team and play a key role in delivering the country’s most high-profile energy and infrastructure projects. Pinsent Masons is looking for a Senior Associate or Managing Senior Associate to join our market-leading Planning & Environment team in London, Birmingham, Leeds, Manchester, Edinburgh or Glasgow.

You’ll work predominantly within our Energy & Infrastructure consenting team, advising major clients on complex planning and consenting matters across energy, transport, water and other nationally significant infrastructure. This is an opportunity to build your profile alongside recognised specialists, take early responsibility and develop strong client relationships.

The opportunity

You will advise on major projects spanning offshore wind, utility-scale solar, carbon capture and storage, nuclear, pipelines, airports, ports, roads, water and rapid transit systems. The work is high profile, varied and closely connected to our wider Energy and Infrastructure sectors.

At Pinsent Masons, your career is exceptional by design — intentionally shaped to support high performance, meaningful development and long-term progression.

What you’ll do

Bring your planning and consenting expertise to the table and help clients deliver complex, nationally significant projects, including:

• Advising on consenting strategies under the Planning Act 2008, Transport and Works Act 1992 and Town and Country Planning Act 1990

• Supporting Development Consent Order applications and other major planning and infrastructure consents

• Advising on compulsory acquisition, environmental impact assessment and habitats regulation assessment

• Supporting clients through inquiries, examinations and judicial review

• Building trusted client relationships and your own network, contributing to growth through business development

• Working collaboratively with colleagues across our Property, Energy and Infrastructure teams

What we’re looking for

You will be an England & Wales qualified lawyer with upwards of 6 years’ post-qualification experience gained within a large regional or national practice, with strong technical expertise in planning and infrastructure consenting. You will be commercially aware, client focused and enthusiastic about business development, with the collaborative approach needed to thrive in a hard-working, friendly and dynamic team.

About the team

Our Planning & Environment team is the largest in the UK, with specialists advising on major projects across the Energy, Infrastructure and Real Estate sectors. Our Energy & Infrastructure consenting lawyers act for leading organisations including Ørsted, EDF, bp, Drax Power, National Highways, Transport for London, Heathrow Airport and Southern Water.

Recent work includes advising on the Hornsea 3 and 4 offshore wind farm Development Consent Orders, multiple utility-scale solar and battery projects, Net Zero Teesside and Northern Endurance Partnership projects, Heathrow Expansion, nuclear waste, and a portfolio of National Highways work.

Why Pinsent Masons

Our “exceptional by design” approach means we’ve deliberately shaped a firm where you can do your best work, combining high-quality matters, clear expectations and the support and flexibility to build a career that works for you. 

Why join us?

• Interesting work, real scale – the opportunity to work on complex, high-profile matters within a genuinely international firm

• A firm that backs your growth – clear expectations, structured development and real investment in helping you reach your potential

• A progressive culture – collaborative, inclusive and forward-looking, with the space to innovate and do your best work

• A clear focus on sectors and clients – giving you the chance to build deep expertise and work closely with leading organisations in your field

Our commitment

At Pinsent Masons, we are committed to recruiting and retaining the best talent and building an inclusive and fair workplace. We value the strength that comes from different experiences and strive to create an environment where everyone feels they belong. 

We welcome applications from all suitably qualified candidates and are dedicated to ensuring equitable opportunities throughout our recruitment processes. In line with local laws and cultural contexts across the jurisdictions in which we operate, we encourage people of all backgrounds, identities, and lived experiences to apply. 

If you need reasonable adjustments or accommodations to participate in our recruitment process or to perform the role, please tell us, we will work with you to identify a suitable approach.

How to apply

Applications are accepted via our recruitment portal only.

For an informal and confidential discussion about the role, please contact our Talent Acquisition Advisor, Anwen Wallington:

LinkedIn: linkedin.com/in/anwen-wallington-36177ba1