Senior Associate – Special Counsel | Sophisticated E&P

Environment & Planning | Brisbane or Cairns, QLD

• ​​​​Join a respected practice with deep relationships across local government and the private sector, recognised for technical depth across both planning and environmental frameworks.
• Lead sophisticated matters across urban development, renewables, waste, infrastructure, and compulsory acquisition.​ 
• Step into a strategic succession role with a national firm actively growing its Queensland presence

Multi-dimensional Planning and Environment growth opportunity

This is a rare opportunity to align with a highly regarded environment and planning partner, whose work sits at the intersection of litigation, strategy and policy influence. 

This role offers access to matters that are both complex and commercially significant across both litigation and approvals from large-scale master planning and infrastructure to regulatory frameworks and renewables project advisory – across local government, government-owned corporations, and major private entities. 

With a strong presence in Queensland including across the regions, and an embedded client base, the team has developed a reputation for navigating legal and regulatory issues at scale.  

The incoming senior lawyer will join a stable and high-performing team, stepping into a succession pathway. It is a considered opportunity for a Senior Associate or Special Counsel to take on enduring stakeholder relationships and enjoy working with one of the ‘inner circle’ in terms of E&P leadership as part of a team that offers deep sector trust. 

The broader firm continues to grow nationally, with recent strategic partner appointments across multiple offices and a clear focus on the planning and environment capability within its full-service offering.

The Role

The role spans both planning and environment, with direct exposure to matters such as: 

• Strategic advice for urban development and master-planned communities, including approvals and native title issues, to due diligence for transactions 

• Regulatory navigation and compliance for renewables and energy projects. 

• Approvals, enforcement, and compulsory acquisition across local government and private sector clients. 

• Advice on regional planning, master planning, and state planning policies. 

• Planning and Environment Court appeals, declaratory proceedings, and development offences. 

About You

• Senior Associate or Special Counsel with at least 6 years’ PQE in environment and planning law. 
• Demonstrated experience advising government bodies, infrastructure developers, or private sector clients on Queensland’s planning and environmental frameworks. 
• Strong capability managing both advisory and contentious matters independently, with a focus on precision and commercial outcomes. 
• Interest in stepping into a visible, client-facing leadership role, with support from a high-performing, well-resourced team. 
• LLB, strong academics  

If you would like to explore the finer details, please feel free to get in contact directly to discuss further. Your details and consult will be held in the strictest of confidence.  

Felicity McManus – Director 

0405 537 153 

felicity@mcmanuspartners.com.au 

linkedin.com/in/felicity-mcmanus  

McManus Partners support career moves that elevate. This is our primary purpose. Operating on a national scale, we bring over 20 years expertise consulting lawyers in their career, a deep knowledge of the legal environment, and have the ability to support all practice areas, including Corporate & Commercial, Litigation & Disputes, Property & Real Estate, Environment & Planning, Workplace, Resources and Infrastructure & Construction.