Junior M&A Advisory Attorney

We’re seeking someone to join our team as a Junior M&A Advisory Attorney in Legal and Compliance with a primary focus on coverage of the Mergers & Acquisitions and ancillary coverage of other related capital markets products and services.

In the Legal & Compliance division, we assist the Firm in achieving its business objectives by facilitating and overseeing the Firm’s management of legal, regulatory and franchise risk. This is a Vice President level position within the business of the Investment Banking Division (IBD) for North America.

Since 1935, Morgan Stanley is known as a global leader in financial services, always evolving and innovating to better serve our clients and our communities in more than 40 countries around the world.

What you'll do in the role:

• Advice to IBD including the M&A group and the industry coverage groups regarding deal structures, U.S. securities laws, state corporation laws, bankruptcy law and any other legal questions relating to M&A transactions, including sellside, buyside, merger, joint venture, Reverse Morris Trust, restructuring, SPAC transactions and continuation funds;
• Review of all documentation executed by IBD in connection with M&A transactions including engagement letters, indemnity agreements, confidentiality agreements and fairness opinions;
• Assist with litigation and regulatory inquiries relating to IBD;
• Assist the M&A Assignments Associate and the Global Conflicts Office with analyzing conflicts within IBD and interdivisional conflicts;
• Drafting and formulating Firm policies, such as the staple financing policy and procedures for fairness committees;
• Drafting and maintaining standard form templates for M&A documentation;
• Attending committee meetings, including fairness and valuation committees, hostile committees, staple committees, restructuring committees and capital commitment committees;
• Participating in various training sessions for new associates, the M&A group and the industry coverage groups;
• Reviewing recent developments in case law and M&A industry trends; and
• Managing relationships with outside counsel.

What you'll bring to the role: 

• We would expect the attorney to have 2-5 years' experience covering M&A at a major law firm and/or in-house experience covering M&A matters.
• This position will require in-depth familiarity with legal and compliance issues relating to the origination and execution of M&A transactions, including developments in U.S. securities laws, Delaware case law and other best practice developments in M&A.
• This attorney will also be required to liaise frequently with other colleagues covering M&A/IBD globally.
• This attorney will be required to utilize on a day-to-day basis certain proprietary systems, processes and procedures of Morgan Stanley such as the Conflict Management System, document retention policies and databases, and policies relating to the Firm's fairness opinion practice, staple financing, and other products provided by IBD in connection with its M&A financial advisory practice.
• At least 6 years' relevant experience would generally be expected to find the skills required for this role

WHAT YOU CAN EXPECT FROM MORGAN STANLEY:

We are committed to maintaining the first-class service and high standard of excellence that have defined Morgan Stanley for over 89 years. Our values - putting clients first, doing the right thing, leading with exceptional ideas, committing to diversity and inclusion, and giving back - aren’t just beliefs, they guide the decisions we make every day to do what's best for our clients, communities and more than 80,000 employees in 1,200 offices across 42 countries. At Morgan Stanley, you’ll find an opportunity to work alongside the best and the brightest, in an environment where you are supported and empowered. Our teams are relentless collaborators and creative thinkers, fueled by their diverse backgrounds and experiences. We are proud to support our employees and their families at every point along their work-life journey, offering some of the most attractive and comprehensive employee benefits and perks in the industry. There’s also ample opportunity to move about the business for those who show passion and grit in their work.

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Expected base pay rates for the role will be between $120,000 and $205,000 per year at the commencement of employment. However, base pay if hired will be determined on an individualized basis and is only part of the total compensation package, which, depending on the position, may also include commission earnings, incentive compensation, discretionary bonuses, other short and long-term incentive packages, and other Morgan Stanley sponsored benefit programs.

Morgan Stanley's goal is to build and maintain a workforce that is diverse in experience and background but uniform in reflecting our standards of integrity and excellence. Consequently, our recruiting efforts reflect our desire to attract and retain the best and brightest from all talent pools. We want to be the first choice for prospective employees.

It is the policy of the Firm to ensure equal employment opportunity without discrimination or harassment on the basis of race, color, religion, creed, age, sex, sex stereotype, gender, gender identity or expression, transgender, sexual orientation, national origin, citizenship, disability, marital and civil partnership/union status, pregnancy, veteran or military service status, genetic information, or any other characteristic protected by law.

Morgan Stanley is an equal opportunity employer committed to diversifying its workforce (M/F/Disability/Vet).