Senior Legal Counsel - UK and Ireland

About the role 

This is an excellent opportunity for an experienced legal professional to join our team as Senior Legal Counsel UK & Ireland. This is a strategic and broad commercial role acting as the primary legal business partner for the UK and Irish arm our leading multinational manufacturing business with operations encompassing Packaging, Paper, and Recycling.

The successful candidate will be a catalyst for commercial growth — moving beyond traditional legal advice to drive pragmatic solutions that enable our business objectives while rigorously managing legal risk. You will be a trusted advisor to senior leadership, providing the expert guidance and oversight required to ensure our UK business operates with excellence and integrity.

This is a Fixed Term Contract lasting between 6 - 9 months.

Key responsibilities include:

• Strategic Partnership: Acting as the primary legal partner to UK management teams across three divisions, influencing high-level strategic decision-making and business-critical initiatives
• Commercial Counsel: Lead the drafting, negotiation, and interpretation of complex commercial, sales, and procurement contracts to protect company interests
• Risk & Compliance: Identify and mitigate legal risks while overseeing UK-specific regulatory compliance, internal governance, and sensitive investigations
• Litigation & Disputes: Manage all UK dispute resolution and pre-litigation matters, including the strategic instruction and cost management of external counsel
• Team Leadership: Provide direct management and mentorship to a dedicated UK legal resource and contribute to the broader development of the EMEA legal function
• Cross-Functional Support: Deliver expert guidance on corporate governance, HSE matters, and data protection, ensuring a cohesive legal approach across the UK business.

About you  

• Qualified UK Solicitor or Barrister (or equivalent) with a solid understanding of the UK regulatory landscape
• Demonstrable experience in commercial law, with a significant background in-house supporting complex organisations, with knowledge of industrial or manufacturing environments being an added strength
• ​Proven ability to interact with and influence senior stakeholders and drive high-impact legal strategy across multiple business divisions
• ​Strong expertise in drafting and negotiating complex commercial contracts with a pragmatic, solution-oriented approach
• ​Experience in managing direct reports and leading external counsel to ensure high-quality delivery and cost-effective spend
• ​ Highly organized and capable of balancing competing priorities in a fast-paced, demanding environment

Benefits 

• Competitive salary
• Car allowance
• Private Medical Insurance
• 25 days annual holiday plus bank holidays 
• Pension scheme, life assurance and income protection
• Employee Assistance Programme
• Employee Discounts
• Cycle to work scheme

Location:  This is a hybrid role, split between the London Paddington office (3 days) and home (2 days) – however flexibility will be required at times with the need to travel to different locations around the UK.

About us

We are DS Smith, together with International Paper, we are a global leader in sustainable packaging solutions and other fibre-based products. We believe a better, more sustainable tomorrow is possible with the right people, who challenge and support one another to enact positive change. We employ more than 65,000 colleagues in North America and Europe, Middle East, and Africa (EMEA), who are experts in innovation, manufacturing, design, sales, sustainability, supply chain, and much more. Together with our customers, we make the world safer and more productive, one sustainable packaging solution at a time. Become part of a world-leading organisation and do your best work with us!

Fair recruitment at DS Smith

To fulfil our purpose of redefining packaging for a changing world, we aim to build a diverse, motivated, and engaged workforce. Our goal is to create a culture of inclusion where everyone is treated fairly, differences are valued, and everyone has an equal opportunity to succeed.

Our people come from diverse backgrounds, bring different perspectives, ideas, and experiences to generate unique solutions focused on present and future sustainability challenges. We welcome all candidates to apply, even those not meeting all criteria.

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