Who we are

On July 1, 2025, IPL Plastics merged with Schoeller Allibert to form IPL Schoeller (the ‘company’). The Company’s operations are split across North America (11 manufacturing plants) and Europe (16 manufacturing plants). The company is headquartered in Dublin, Ireland.

IPL Schoeller is a leading manufacturer of sustainable rigid packaging solutions across a range of end market segments including returnable transit packaging, consumer and industrial packaging, environmental containers and agricultural packaging. The company employs c.4,100 employees across North America (1,600 employees) and Europe (2,500 employees).

Sustainability is essential to the long-term success of our business. As a packaging company that develops plastic-based solutions for our customers, it is imperative that we meet the customer needs while being mindful of our operational impacts and the need to preserve our planet. We are committed to running our business responsibly and in ways that drive environmental, social and economic value for our stakeholders, including shareholders, customers, employees and local communities.

The role

The Senior Legal Counsel will serve as the lead legal advisor on employment law, litigation & dispute resolution, data protection, and compliance & investigations across the recently merged Group. This role is pivotal in managing complex employment-related issues, overseeing contentious matters, and ensuring legal compliance across multiple jurisdictions. The Senior Legal Counsel will be based at the Group HQ in Dublin, Ireland and will report to the CLO there and work closely with senior leadership, HR, other legal team members, and local external counsel to mitigate legal risk, align governance frameworks, and support strategic business objectives.

• Provide expert legal advice on employment law, labour restructurings, collective dismissals, workplace disputes, and HR-related matters across the Group’s operations in Ireland, the UK, continental Europe, and North America.
• Lead and manage employment-related litigation, including claims relating to unfair and wrongful dismissal, discrimination, whistleblowing, and redundancy.
• Oversee commercial and regulatory disputes, including contract litigation and data protection claims (including data subject access requests).
• Collaborate with HR and senior management on internal investigations, disciplinary actions, and grievance procedures.
• Draft, review, and negotiate settlement agreements and litigation-related documentation.
• Manage external counsel relationships, ensuring alignment with internal legal strategy and cost efficiency.
• Monitor legal developments in employment, data protection law and compliance, advising stakeholders on the implications for the Group and compliance strategies.
• Support the development and implementation of internal policies, training, and governance frameworks related to employment and dispute management.
• Contribute to legal risk assessments and mitigation strategies across the business.
• Participate in cross-functional projects, including post-merger integration and policy harmonization.
• Lead legal support for post-merger integration and restructuring activities, litigation and disputes, and for the development and implementation of global legal policies and governance frameworks.
• Identify and mitigate legal risks in business operations and strategic initiatives.
• Collaborate cross-functionally with internal stakeholders including HR, Finance, and Risk to support business objectives.

Qualifications and Experience

• Qualified lawyer in Ireland or an EU jurisdiction, the UK or another common law jurisdiction.
• 6+ years PQE with a strong focus on employment law and litigation, ideally gained in both private practice and in-house roles. Irish employment law experience is essential.
• Demonstrated experience managing complex employment disputes and commercial litigation.
• Familiarity with cross-border legal issues and multi-jurisdictional dispute resolution.
• Experience in managing external counsel and legal budgets.
• Strong interpersonal and stakeholder management skills with the ability to influence at all levels.
• Law degree from a recognised institution; admission to practice in at least one major jurisdiction.
• Strong understanding of employment frameworks and legal risk management.
• Excellent drafting, negotiation, and communication skills. 
• Ability to work effectively across cultures, time zones, and legal systems

If you have the above experience and are looking for a role where you can make a real difference, apply today to find out more!