VP, Wealth Management Advisory Attorney

Background on the Team: Morgan Stanley Wealth Management is one of the largest retail broker‑dealers and investment advisers. It serves the needs of individuals and small and mid‑size institutional clients through a network of over 16,000 financial advisors located throughout the United States. The Attorney will be part of the Investment Advisory legal team currently consisting of six attorneys and will be a member of a broader group of attorneys servicing Morgan Stanley Wealth Management's products and services.

The team serves as legal advisors to Morgan Stanley's investment advisory business, which is one of the largest investment advisers in the world with more than $2.6 trillion under management. Recent growth of Wealth Management's investment advisory business has been very strong. The advisory legal team works hand‑in‑hand with the Wealth Management business on a daily basis. The Attorney will be located in Purchase, NY.

• Day‑to‑day legal support for Morgan Stanley Wealth Management's investment advisory business, including providing legal analysis and advice with respect to applicable rules, regulations and legal risk relating to the fiduciary standard of care, trading, best execution, trade allocation, operational issues, principal trading rules, investment allocations, client fee structures, conflicts of interest, and cash solicitation rules.
• Advising on matters related to the various types of clients serviced by Wealth Management, including retail natural persons, high net worth individuals, family offices, institutions, charitable organizations, and pension plans, among others.
• Drafting client agreements, account documentation and disclosure, and negotiating agreements with portfolio managers.
• Working with various areas of Morgan Stanley's Wealth Management business on new product and services development.
• Working directly with clients and their counsel on issues relating to contracts and related matters.
• Dealing with relevant regulators, especially the SEC.
• Interacting with other Legal Department areas as well as Compliance and Risk.

• 7 years or more of experience in dealing with issues arising under the Investment Advisers Act of 1940, FINRA rules and regulations as well as related federal securities laws and state fiduciary laws.
• Ability to interface effectively with investment personnel as well as Wealth Management clients and their counsel.
• Experience in drafting agreements, client communications and other disclosure documents; negotiating contracts.
• Familiarity with regulatory processes (SEC and FINRA).
• Understanding of regulatory landscape applicable to registered investment advisers.

This VP level position will be based in Purchase, Westchester or 750/NY.

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.

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).