Associate​/Senior Associate - Planning & Environmental

Why Michelmores?

Michelmores is the destination law firm for the ambitious, the imaginative and the distinctive. We help enterprises and individuals navigate change to find a positive future.

We are a flexible, friendly and inclusive organisation with as clear a focus on fresh thinking as we have on growth and success. We value and nurture our people’s potential and inspiration and give them a creative, open and collaborative environment in which to develop a career and succeed.

We believe that whatever your legal experience, you’ll find Michelmores different. From day one we encourage our people to forge relationships and expand their understanding and knowledge of areas that interest them – developing an understanding of commercial challenges and opportunities, rather than just knowing the law. We nurture creative and commercial thinking to help in your long‑term career success – it mirrors our approach to ensuring the very best outcomes for our clients too.

At Michelmores, we believe in empowering our people to thrive. That’s why we’ve launched Michelmores Academy – our innovative skills development framework designed to support your career progression at every stage.

Through a blend of core programmes and elective sessions, the Academy helps you build the skills, knowledge, and mindset needed to deliver exceptional client service and drive sustainable growth. Whether you’re attending live workshops or exploring our digital learning resources – including e‑learning, podcasts, and best practice guides – you’ll have the tools to grow professionally and personally.

Aligned with our strategic vision, the Academy focuses on key pillars that will deliver our strategic aims. You’ll also have the opportunity to connect with peers across the Firm, expand your network, and benefit from mentoring relationships that support your long‑term success.

We are seeking a talented and motivated Planning and Environmental Lawyer to join our team. This role could be at Associate or Senior Associate level and will be ideal for someone with a strong interest in planning law and environmental matters. It can be based from either our Bristol, Cheltenham or Exeter offices.

Working alongside Partners Helen Hutton and Fergus Charlton your primary focus will be to deliver a diverse range of Planning projects across the development, natural capital, energy, house builder and landed estates/agricultural sectors, providing high‑quality advice to clients on complex legal planning law issues.

This position offers an opportunity to broaden your knowledge and progress your career in a supportive team environment.

• Advising on planning and infrastructure agreements, including Section 106 agreements and related obligations for development matters, many of which are significant strategic land projects.
• Drafting and negotiating Section 106s, conservation covenants and other environmental agreements to deliver landscape recovery, BNG and nutrient neutrality.
• Acting on historic building matters.
• Interpreting and advising on planning permissions and associated conditions.
• Providing clear, concise and commercially focused advice to clients.
• Preparing high‑quality written work, including reports, agreements and client communications.
• Supporting senior lawyers on major projects and manage smaller matters independently.
• Liaising with local authorities, developers and stakeholders to facilitate project delivery.
• Delivering prompt advice on environmental offences and other environmental issues and identifying potential risks in the course of your other work. You may also support in the defence of clients in enforcement action (including assisting with PACE interviews under caution and beyond).
• Preparing for and submitting all types of appeal and both judicial reviews and statutory challenges. For Inquiries and Court challenges, working with barristers and often the wider internal team in taking the matter through the appeal or Court process.

We take a flexible, agile approach to working patterns. As a team we agree together on the best working arrangements that will enable each of…