Location
Bristol office preferred, with consideration given to other locations across the Freeths LLP network of offices.

Hours
Full Time

Salary
Negotiable

About the Role
Freeths LLP Planning and Environment Group is a multi-disciplinary team of planning lawyers, environmental lawyers, and planning consultants operating across all development sectors. The Group is recognised for its depth of knowledge, breadth of experience, and for providing clear, pragmatic, and commercial advice to navigate and manage the planning process from proposal inception through to advocacy, securing optimal outcomes.

The Group offers a holistic approach including specialist advice on environmental regulation covering natural environment, biodiversity, sustainability, environmental permitting, circular economy, contaminated land, waste and water regulation, climate change, and regulatory defence. The team works closely with Freeths’ commercial, corporate, and real-estate lawyers supporting nationally recognised practices in development, clean energy, and waste sectors.

The environmental law team advises public and private companies (including manufacturers, housebuilders, commercial developers, minerals operators, and utilities), public sector organisations, local authorities, and environmental regulators. The team aims to maintain its status as one of the leading Environmental Law Teams in the UK.

To support continued growth, we are recruiting a qualified Environmental Solicitor with circa 6+ years PQE to work alongside Partner Ben Derrington, ideally in Bristol. Ben is recognised as a Recommended Lawyer and Next Generation Partner in The Legal 500 (2025 edition) and ranked as a Leading Individual in Chambers & Partners (2025 edition). He advises on waste regulation including complex end-of-waste matters, environmental permitting of waste operations (including enforcement defence), energy from waste regulation, pollution incidents, contaminated land, water resources, climate change law, environmental information, Environmental Management Systems, and crisis and risk management.

Ben also collaborates with the Regulatory Department to provide advice and training on crisis and risk management. Experience in real estate and corporate transactional support, environmental permitting, contaminated land, emissions, pollution and waste, along with associated criminal defence, compliance, and risk management, is essential.

We are looking for enthusiastic and passionate lawyers to join a friendly, supportive, and ambitious team committed to smart, bold, and collaborative working.

Experience
Qualified Environmental Solicitor with circa 6+ years PQE experience.
Proven expertise in waste regulation, environmental permitting, contaminated land, emissions, pollution, waste management, and associated criminal defence and compliance.
Experience in real estate and corporate transactional support related to environmental matters is essential.

About you
Enthusiastic, passionate, and motivated lawyer.
Ability to work collaboratively within a friendly and supportive team.
Strong communicator who cares deeply and collaborates effectively.
Committed to delivering pragmatic and commercial advice.

Qualifications
Qualified Solicitor with relevant environmental law expertise.
Recognition or experience aligned with leading industry standards is desirable.