Counsel Sr

Graphic Packaging Careers•Sandy Springs, GA

About The Position

Graphic Packaging International (NYSE: GPK) is one of the largest manufacturers of paperboard and fiber-based packaging for some of the world’s most recognized brands of food, beverage, foodservice, household, and personal care products. With $8.8B in worldwide sales in 2024, Graphic Packaging manufactures 40% of all folding cartons in North America and 30% of all paper cups in the US. Headquartered in Atlanta, Georgia, it has a team of collaborative, innovative, and passionate individuals who are committed to providing consumer packaging that makes a world of difference. With over 24,000 employees working in more than 130 locations in North and South America, EMEA and the Pacific Rim, Graphic Packaging strives to be an environmentally responsible leader in its industry and in the communities in which it operates. Committed to workplace diversity, Graphic Packaging offers compensation and benefits programs that are among the industry’s best to reward the talented people who make the Company successful. Learn more about Graphic Packaging at The Graphic Packaging Legal Department is a fully engaged partner to the Company’s global business teams and provides counsel across broad subject matters, including intellectual property, securities law, compliance, environmental regulations, data privacy, marketing, labor and employment, and competition law. The department’s transactional practice includes mergers and acquisitions, commercial financing, supply chain agreements, sales and purchase agreements, licensing, and real estate agreements. The US legal team is comprised of eight attorneys, five paraprofessionals and an administrative assistant. The Company also has six attorneys and a paraprofessional in the EU. This is an exceptional opportunity to join a publicly traded Fortune 500 global organization with a history of growth and a nimble and tight-knit legal team with little attrition and plenty of opportunities for advancement. The Counsel, General Corporate and Commercial will report to Graphic Packaging’s Assistant General Counsel and will be responsible for providing legal support to assigned business clients. Counsel will primarily be responsible for drafting various commercial agreements and providing general corporate and commercial law advice and counsel to business clients, but will also have other various responsibilities, including overseeing litigation matters affecting the assigned business, identifying other legal issues as they arise, and arranging for and overseeing the appropriate legal resources for such other legal issues.

Requirements

4-7 years of legal experience in a law firm or in house with an emphasis on general corporate and commercial matters, including contract creation
Juris Doctor from accredited law school with strong academic credentials
Licensed to practice law and in good standing in the State of Georgia
Ability to work in a fast-paced, ever-evolving work environment
Ability to balance legal and business risks
Must be open to working outside of comfort zone, learning new areas of the law, and embracing new challenges
Excellent written, oral, and interpersonal communication skills with the ability to clearly convey practical legal advice to internal business stakeholders at all levels
Ability to build strong relationships with internal and external stakeholders
Strong drafting skills
Positive attitude

Nice To Haves

Environmental law and/or Sustainability regulations experience not required, but is a plus

Responsibilities

Must work within and adhere to the company’s core values of Integrity, Respect, Accountability, Relationships and Teamwork
Draft and assist business in negotiation of various commercial agreements
Provide timely advice on a broad range of general corporate and commercial law matters
Assist with various general corporate matters
Oversee and manage dispute resolution including commercial claims and litigation
Oversee and manage various legal resources as needed to address identified issues
Work independently, organize, and accurately prioritize work, be detail-oriented, understand when urgency is required and use good judgment in varied situations
Take direction and accept supervision with a willingness to be flexible with time and adjust to a changing work environment
Demonstrate a willingness to expand legal responsibilities into other areas of law, and take on additional administrative responsibilities and assignments
Other duties as assigned