Operations & Strategic Advisory Counsel
Department Profile
Professionals within Legal and Compliance provide a wide range of services to our business units. They might help to structure a complex and sensitive cross-border transaction; advise on a new product introduction; develop a training program or defuse an investor dispute. They preserve the firm's invaluable reputation for integrity and protect the firm from sanctions with policies and procedures that meet regulatory requirements around the world. They also strive to maintain cooperative relationships with governmental policy makers and the regulatory and self-regulatory agencies that govern the firm's businesses.
The Global Operations Department provides necessary operational support to all business lines, with processes that including trade clearing and settlement, securities custody and segregation, cash clearing and management, statements and confirmations.
About the Team
The Global Operations Legal Advisory team advises the Firm's Global Operations organization and business units on legal and regulatory matters affecting the processing, safeguarding, movement, and servicing of financial assets and transactions.
The team works closely with Operations, Compliance, Risk, Technology, and business stakeholders on a wide variety of strategic initiatives involving financial market infrastructure, customer asset protection, custody and asset servicing, payments, digital assets, and emerging operational frameworks.
This is a highly collaborative practice that combines regulatory advisory work, strategic counseling, and selected transactional support. Attorneys on the team regularly engage with colleagues across the Americas, EMEA, and Asia-Pacific regions, providing exposure to a broad range of global financial services issues.
The Role
This attorney will provide practical legal advice to Operations stakeholders, management committees, and business partners on regulatory requirements, legal risk, governance matters, and business initiatives.
The successful candidate will work across a variety of legal and regulatory topics affecting financial operations, including customer asset protection, securities processing and settlements, payments, corporate actions, financial market infrastructure, digital assets, and related areas. Prior experience with all of these subjects is not expected.
The attorney will also support selected transactional matters, including the review, drafting, and negotiation of agreements supporting Morgan Stanley's operational infrastructure and services.
This role offers significant opportunity to develop subject matter expertise, work directly with senior stakeholders, and become a trusted advisor on complex business and regulatory matters.
Responsibilities
> Advise Operations management and business stakeholders on legal and regulatory issues affecting financial operations.
> Analyze, interpret, and communicate laws, regulations, and regulatory developments impacting the firm's activities.
> Partner with Compliance, Risk, Technology, and business colleagues to support strategic initiatives and new products.
> Provide practical, risk-based legal advice to governance forums and decision-makers.
> Support global projects involving operational, regulatory, and infrastructure considerations.
> Draft, review, and negotiate commercial and financial services agreements.
> Develop expertise in one or more substantive areas and serve as a resource to internal stakeholders.
> Collaborate with colleagues across regions and practice groups.
What We're Looking For
We are seeking an attorney who is intellectually curious, practical, collaborative, and interested in helping complex businesses navigate evolving legal and regulatory environments.
Successful candidates will typically demonstrate:
> Strong legal analysis, research, and problem-solving skills.
> Excellent written and verbal communication skills.
> Ability to explain complex legal concepts to non-lawyers and senior stakeholders.
> Sound judgment and a practical, business-oriented approach.
> Strong relationship-building and stakeholder-management skills.
> Initiative, ownership, and a willingness to learn new subject matter areas.
> Ability to manage multiple matters in a fast-paced environment.
> Interest in financial services, financial regulation, technology, and operational processes.
Preferred Experience
Experience in one or more of the following areas is helpful but not required:
> Financial services regulation, such as banking, broker-dealer, investment adviser, or investment management regulation.
> Regulatory, compliance, or enforcement matters.
> Corporate, commercial, or transactional legal work.
> Payments, fintech, custody, securities processing, capital markets, or financial market infrastructure.
> Technology, digital assets, or emerging financial products.
> In-house legal, government, regulatory agency, law firm, or financial institution experience.
Qualifications
> J.D. and admission to practice in at least one U.S. jurisdiction.
> 5+ years of legal experience.
> Candidates with fewer years of traditional legal experience may be considered when paired with meaningful financial services, compliance, regulatory, operational, or industry experience.
Why This Role
This position provides a unique opportunity to work at the intersection of law, regulation, operations, technology, and business strategy at a leading global financial institution. Attorneys in this role gain broad exposure to senior management, complex regulatory issues, and transformative initiatives shaping the future of financial services.
