Capital Markets / Private Markets Attorney

Morgan Stanley Wealth Management's Legal and Compliance Division is seeking to hire a Vice President to provide legal coverage for its Capital Markets and Private Markets businesses. Specifically, the attorney will focus on the Firm's growing Private Securities transactional business and provide other support to the Capital Markets businesses. The position will be based in Purchase, NY.

The lawyer will be part of a team of seven capital markets lawyers reporting to the head of the Capital Markets legal team. The Capital Markets business is responsible for new issue distribution of a wide range of securities products including structured products; fixed income, equity, options, OTC derivatives, FX, futures and precious metals trading in the secondary markets; and sales coverage for the Firm's financial advisors. The lawyer will have significant interaction with the various business units and will work closely with the other lawyers on the team. The team is part of a broader group of advisory attorneys covering Morgan Stanley Wealth Management's products and services, and the role will involve coordination with attorneys covering the other businesses, as well as with attorneys supporting Morgan Stanley's other divisions.

The Firm's Private Markets business operates as part of the Investment Solutions business within Wealth Management. In particular, the position is expected to involve analyzing, reviewing, negotiating, structuring and approving matters in connection with the ongoing expansion of the Firm's private securities trading businesses and will involve coordination with Equity Zen personnel, MSWM's newly acquired private markets affiliate.
In addition, the attorney will advise on various business projects, both independently and in coordination with other team members, as necessary in connection with the team's coverage of the Firm's various lines. The attorney will also work closely with Compliance, Risk and the business units.

The attorney will work closely with the Executive Director lawyer on the team who supports the Private Markets business and will also be called upon to support aspects of the broader Capital Markets business with one or more of the Executive Director or Vice President lawyers in the group. The following is an illustrative, non-exhaustive list of the types of responsibilities that the successful candidate will be closely involved in:

> Working on transactions involving customer purchases, sales or crossing of private securities in the secondary market
> Advising on the range of services offered through the private markets trading desk, including direct share transfers, limited partnership liquidity, and SPV creation and trading, among others, as well as the operation and expansion of the desk and associated policies and procedures
> Integration of the recently acquired Equity Zen business into the Firm's Private Markets ecosystem
> Reviewing and negotiating private securities transactional agreements and third-party platform documents
> Advising on complex trading strategies by high net worth and ultra-high net worth clients
> Advising on regulatory changes, technology and operational builds, policies and procedures, audits and regulatory exams and inquiries
> Reviewing and interpreting relevant statutes, rules and regulations applicable to Wealth Management products and services
> Maintaining form agreements and disclosures, as well as working on discrete projects and other matters as appropriate
> Reviewing marketing materials and presentations
> J.D. required.
> A minimum of five (5) years relevant experience at a top-quality law firm and/or in-house experience, preferably with a financial services firm (including a bank, broker-dealer or private equity fund).
> Experience with capital markets and securities legal work, in particular private equity or other illiquid asset classes.
> Experience with co-investments, direct investments and/or secondary transactions in private securities.
> Experience reviewing and interpreting statutes, rules and regulations, with knowledge of U.S. securities laws (including Securities Act of 1933, the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, and associated FINRA rules).
> Experience on broker-dealer/FINRA matters a plus, along with related experience with applicable ERISA and tax issues.
> Candidates should have experience in complex transactions and projects and must be able to work independently when needed and also collaborate with cross functional groups.

Skills desired
> Professional maturity, confidence, presence and initiative
> Excellent judgment and analytical skills
> Excellent oral and written communication skills
> Strong interpersonal skills
> Strong management and administrative skills
> Teamwork and ability to multi-task in fast paced environment
> Fluency in Copilot and other AI applications

WHAT YOU CAN EXPECT FROM MORGAN STANLEY:

At Morgan Stanley, we raise, manage and allocate capital for our clients – helping them reach their goals. We do it in a way that’s differentiated – and we’ve done that for 90 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 is an equal opportunity employer committed to building and maintaining a workforce that is diverse in experience and background. Our recruiting efforts reflect our strong commitment to a culture of inclusion, where individuals are hired, developed, and advanced based on their skills and talents.

Our workforce reflects a broad cross-section of the global communities in which we operate, bringing a variety of backgrounds, talents, perspectives, and experiences.

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