MSIM Fund Lawyer (Executive Director)

Position Description

There is a vacancy within the Morgan Stanley EMEA Legal and Compliance Division for a qualified lawyer to provide legal coverage for the Investment Management division (MSIM) of Morgan Stanley.

MSIM
Morgan Stanley Investment Management ("MSIM") is a global asset management business offering a full range of investment solutions across all asset classes to institutional clients.

MSIM businesses offer bespoke and pooled investment solutions to clients through segregated accounts and pooled funds. Within EMEA, MSIM manages equity, fixed income and money market strategies, and operates funds in Luxembourg, Ireland and the UK. (MSIM operates 8 pooled funds in EMEA, UCITS and non-UCITS umbrellas, domiciled in Luxembourg, Dublin, the UK and Riyadh.)

MSIM products are distributed globally to institutional clients by MSIM directly and also through a large intermediary distribution network.

MSIM's flagship UCITS product (Luxembourg SICAV) consists of approximately 50 sub-funds and is registered in 22 jurisdictions globally.

ROLE AND RESPONSIBILITIES
The successful candidate will be responsible for providing senior legal coverage to all aspects of MSIM's fund business in EMEA, including distribution, with the support of one lawyer and two paralegals (all Vice President level). The lawyer will be responsible for managing this team, reporting to the Head of Legal for Investment Management in EMEA.

Although the role primarily focuses on funds and distribution, the successful candidate will be expected to be flexible in their willingness and ability to support different areas of the investment management business as dictated by work flow and resource within the team from time to time.

The role will include the following:

• Providing legal coverage for the MSIM funds described above and in advising, structuring and executing on new fund proposals;
• Taking a lead role in working with portfolio management, product, sales, client service and fund administration teams, dealing with day to day queries regarding maintenance of the MSIM fund ranges, and legal and regulatory issues arising in respect of service providers (administrator, custodian, transfer agent) to the funds;
• Assisting with the corporate and regulatory governance of the fund platforms including board meetings;
• Assessing impact of new regulation to MSIM's fund business and contributing to advising MSIM business on structural changes and subsequent execution;
• Taking a lead role in working with client service and sales teams across EMEA and Asia to assist in new client on-boarding for funds including analysis and documentation of distributor relationships, and assisting client service teams with day to day queries regarding client investments;
• Providing regulatory advice to the MSIM business as a consequence of all the above; and
• Managing a team of one lawyer and two paralegals (all Vice President level).

The role is suitable for a candidate looking for a significant level of responsibility and front line business interaction within an innovative, busy and varied working environment. The successful candidate will need to be focussed on facilitating business growth, but within an appropriate control framework.

Skills Required

Areas of expertise in a combination (but not necessarily all) of the following areas are desirable:

• Commercial contracts with distributors, intermediaries or other agents;
• Corporate and regulatory aspects of funds and fund governance (including a knowledge of funds in general and UCITS in particular);
• Qualified lawyer with experience working in a major law firm, the ideal candidate may have 7+ years PQE within a similar role; and
• Affinity with financial services regulation.

Any candidate should possess the skills and qualities normally present in an experienced, qualified lawyer with the above background. In addition, the following qualities will be expected:

• Professional, confident, presence and initiative;
• Strong management skills;
• Good judgment and practical outlook in the application of law; and
• Aptitude for risk and controls.

Morgan Stanley is an equal opportunities employer. We work to provide a supportive and inclusive environment where all individuals can maximise their full potential.*LI-EL1

May 14, 2013 • Tags: , • Posted in: Financial

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