Team Profile

This unique role sits within the Office of the Chief Operating Officer for Morgan Stanley’s Investment Management Business (MSIM). The responsibilities of the team includes business management and documentation of investment management agreements (IMAs), and governance and conflicts management. Team-members will be responsible for documentation, negotiation and project-management matters, and will be the personnel in the first-line responsible for designing and implementing solutions to manage legal and other risks for supported business areas.

What you’ll do in the role

The Vice President will have a primary focus on providing general business support of the Separately Managed Account (SMA) business within the U.S. region, and negotiation of IMAs for the separately managed account client base. As this position sits within the Office of the COO, another key function of the role is to provide support for various projects impacting the global investment management business, including strategic and governance-related projects.

Whilst the primary focus of this individual will be on U.S., given the global nature of the IM business and of this team, team members will also be expected to support other geographical regions (including EMEA and Asia-Pacific) as required. There will also be opportunities for this individual to work on wider initiatives and documentation aspects relating to other aspects of the MSIM business.

What you’ll bring to the role

This is a dynamic position with broad responsibilities, ideal for a motivated, self-starting professional willing to help define the shape of this new role, whilst diving straight into a busy workload. Given the drafting and negotiation aspects of the role, the ideal candidate would be a qualified lawyer. Areas of expertise in a combination (but not necessarily all) of the following areas are desirable:

• Sound understanding of the asset management industry and knowledge of the client base of an institutional asset manager.
• Knowledge of investment management agreements and ancillary agreements and other commercial contracts with clients, distributors, intermediaries, or other agents within the asset management sector.
• Working knowledge of investment funds in general.
• Basic understanding or prior experience of derivative trading documentation (e.g. ISDA/ CSA, clearing agreements, futures documentation), repo and stocklending arrangements) is beneficial but not essential.
• Affinity with financial services regulation, including understanding of current regulatory framework relating to asset management.
• Minimum of 4-7 years experience in a major law firm and/or in-house at a sell-side or buy-side financial institution.

Candidates should possess the skills and qualities normally present in lawyers with at least 4-7 years experience with the above background. As this role sits within a business function, it is particularly suited for lawyers who are looking for a move into an exciting and evolving business role. The following qualities will be expected:

• Professional maturity, confidence, presence and initiative
• Good judgment and practical outlook; commercially-minded
• Solid drafting and negotiation skills
• Strong organizational skills
• Good written and oral communication skills
• Aptitude for risk and controls
• Strong ability to influence outcomes and stakeholders

Expected base pay rates for the role will be between $150,000 and $225,000 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.