Interim Lead, Legal & Data Protection

Grant Thornton Ireland; Dublin; On-site; EUR 150,000 - 250,000; Full time

Job summary

Grant Thornton Ireland is seeking an Interim Head of Legal & Data Protection (Maternity Cover) to provide senior leadership across the firm's Legal and Data Protection functions in Dublin. You will oversee live litigation, complaints, and the Data Protection team, while engaging senior stakeholders across Risk and external bodies.

The role requires a 10+ PQE Irish-qualified solicitor with strong litigation, data protection, and contracts literacy, plus proven leadership of multidisciplinary

Qualifications

• Senior solicitor with 10+ PQE and Irish qualification.
• Strong litigation and complaints experience in regulated professional services.
• Extensive data protection experience essential.
• Commercial contracts literacy to support the contracts team.
• Proven leadership across multidisciplinary teams.
• Senior stakeholder gravitas and independent decision-making.

Responsibilities

• Litigation & Complaints: Own and progress live litigation matters and firm complaints, including settlement strategy; manage engagement with professional bodies and regulatory correspondence; instruct and manage external litigation panel firms; provide judgment-based advice to the Head of Risk on high-stakes disputes.
• Data Protection & Governance: Provide day-to-day leadership and direction to the Data Protection team; oversee DPIAs, transfer assessments, and integration-related DP workstreams; continue the firm's EU AI Act readiness programme and AI literacy training oversight; represent the DP function at senior leadership and Risk forums.
• Team Leadership & Development: Lead, support, and develop the Legal and Data Protection team members; maintain team cohesion, workload balance, and wellbeing; provide coaching and technical guidance to junior team members, particularly within DP.
• Senior Stakeholder Engagement & Cross-Risk Coordination: Act as trusted advisor to the Head of Risk and senior firm leadership; coordinate cross-team projects to maintain progress and collaboration across the Risk function; manage relationships with external counsel, regulators, and professional bodies.

Skills

Litigation management

Data protection

Team leadership

Stakeholder engagement

Regulatory affairs

Education

Irish-qualified solicitor

Job description

Grant Thornton Ireland is seeking an Interim Head of Legal & Data Protection (Maternity Cover) to provide senior leadership across the firm's Legal and Data Protection functions in Dublin. You will oversee live litigation, complaints, and the Data Protection team, while engaging senior stakeholders across Risk and external bodies.

The role requires a 10+ PQE Irish-qualified solicitor with strong litigation, data protection, and contracts literacy, plus proven leadership of multidisciplinary