Senior Legal Counsel Central EMEA (m/f/d)

Senior Legal Counsel, Central EMEA (m/f/d)

As Senior Legal Counsel for Central EMEA, you will play a key role in advising our Packaging, Paper and Recycling businesses within D-A-CH and Benelux markets. You will combine legal expertise with sound commercial judgement to deliver pragmatic advice and solutions in an international business environment. You will be part of a wider Central EMEA Legal team, working closely with regional colleagues and Group Legal to provide joined-up, practical legal support across the business.

Your Responsibilities

• Support and advise Managing Directors and senior management across Central EMEA on strategic and operational legal and business matters.
• Draft, review and negotiate complex agreements with customers, suppliers and other business partners, including tender and technology agreements.
• Make use of existing Group Legal templates and training materials to develop standardised approach to contracting with suppliers and, where possible, customers, including consistent application of legal standards, contract templates, guidelines playbooks, policies and training programmes with Legal teams across different jurisdictions.
• Identify and assess material legal, regulatory and compliance risks {with the support of Group policies and procedures) and develop appropriate mitigation measures.
• Advise on corporate law, corporate governance, intra-group arrangements, reorganisations and regulatory requirements.
• Manage disputes and regulatory proceedings within Central EMEA and engage coordinate external law firms and advisers where required.
• Provide legal support for international business, integration and transformation projects as well as M&A transactions involving Central EMEA.
• Work closely with Group Legal and relevant business functions to incorporate AI and technology -enabled platforms into such business and legal functions and contribute to an efficient, technology-enabled Legal function.

What You Bring

• A completed legal education and admission to practise in Germany, Austria, Belgium or the Netherlands, or an equivalent legal qualification.
• At least eight years of relevant professional experience, ideally gained within an international company and/or a leading commercial law firm.
• Strong knowledge of contract, commercial, business and corporate law as well as corporate governance and compliance.
• Proven experience with complex commercial agreements, cross-border matters, disputes and transactions.
• Strong commercial judgement and the ability to translate complex legal matters into clear and actionable recommendations.
• Confident stakeholder management and strong communication, negotiation and influencing skills at senior management level.
• Business-fluent English combined with strong German or Dutch language skills; additional languages are advantageous.
• An autonomous, solution-focused and integrity-driven approach, with willingness to travel regularly across Central EMEA.

What You Can Expect

You will work in an international environment with direct exposure to senior management and a broad range of business functions.

Your Benefits At DS Smith

• 30 days of vacation
• Company pension plan
• Employee discounts
• Employee Support Program
• Benefits that build wealth
• Opportunities for continuing education

Equal opportunity and self-determined participation are important to us. That’s why we welcome applications from people with disabilities and those considered equivalent.

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