Asset Management Lawyer

Lombard Counseling and Psychological Services; London; On-site; GBP 40,000 - 60,000; Full time

Job summary

Join a leading global asset management firm as a qualified lawyer in the EMEA Legal and Compliance Division. This exciting opportunity involves providing legal support for the Investment Management division, focusing on Real Assets and Private Credit. You will advise on fund governance, regulatory compliance, and complex fund proposals, working closely with a dynamic team. The role promises a stimulating environment where your expertise will be pivotal in navigating the complexities of investment management. If you are passionate about law and finance and eager to make an impact, this position is perfect for you.

Qualifications

• Qualified lawyer with expertise in commercial contracts and fund governance.
• Experience in financial services regulation and M&A transactions is essential.

Responsibilities

• Provide legal coverage for the Investment Management division.
• Advise on fund platforms and regulatory compliance.
• Support strategic initiatives within the IM business.

Skills

Commercial contracts

Fund governance

M&A transactions

Financial services regulation

Excellent communication skills

Analytical skills

Organizational skills

Education

Qualified lawyer

Significant PQE

Job description

The EMEA Legal and Compliance Department is charged with day-to-day oversight and coordination of the Firm's compliance with core regulatory requirements covering all businesses including Institutional Sales and Trading (fixed income, commodities, equities), Investment Banking, Research Investment Management, and Private Wealth Management Business across the EMEA region.

IM is a global asset management business offering a full range of investment solutions across all asset classes to institutional clients.

The IM business offers bespoke and pooled investment solutions to clients through segregated accounts and pooled funds. Within EMEA, IM manages real asset, private credit and equity, listed equity, fixed income, multi-asset, portfolio solutions, and money market strategies, and operates pooled fund ranges in EMEA, including UCITS and AIF umbrellas, domiciled in jurisdictions including Luxembourg, Dublin, and the UK.

IM products are distributed globally to institutional clients by IM directly and to retail through a large intermediary distribution network. IM's client base primarily consists of large institutions including sovereign wealth funds, government entities, pension funds, and other corporates. As a market leader, the talent and passion of our people is critical to our success. Together, we share a common set of values rooted in integrity, excellence, and strong team ethic. Morgan Stanley can provide a superior foundation for building a professional career - a place for people to learn, to achieve and grow. A philosophy that balances personal lifestyles, perspectives, and needs is an important part of our culture.

What will you be doing?

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 (IM) of Morgan Stanley.

The role will be within the Legal team supporting the IM business and have a primary focus on providing legal coverage across the Real Assets and/or Private Credit & Equity business. In addition, the successful candidate may be expected to provide legal support to other areas of the IM business from time to time, including in relation to the implementation of regulatory and strategic initiatives.

The role will include the following:

1. Advising on the ongoing maintenance, operation, and distribution of existing fund platforms domiciled in the region, providing advisory support for the onboarding of new investors, and advising the portfolio management team on underlying transactions and all aspects of law and regulation impacting that business.
2. Advising, structuring, and executing on new fund proposals for IM, potentially ranging from complex structured retail offerings to bespoke alternative fund of one strategies, and after establishment providing day-to-day legal support regarding maintenance of those funds, and advising on legal and regulatory issues arising in respect of service providers (administrator, depositary etc) to the funds;
3. Assessing the impact of new regulation to IM's business and contributing to advising IM business on structural changes (whether corporate or regulatory) and subsequent execution;
4. Taking a lead role in working with COO office on implementing strategic initiatives from time to time.

Where will you be working?

This role is based on site at 20 Bank Street, London.

What we're looking for:

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

1. Commercial contracts with clients, distributors, intermediaries or other agents within the asset management sector, in particular knowledge of investment management agreements etc;
2. A working knowledge of funds in general and fund governance (and AIFMD in particular);
3. A working knowledge or prior experience of representing companies and private investment funds in M&A transactions, as well as minority investments and joint ventures;
4. Experience in real estate and/or infrastructure investments is helpful.
5. Affinity with financial services regulation (including understanding of current regulatory framework affecting trading and investments (e.g., MIFID, AIFMD, SFDR) and potentially US regulation such as Volcker)); and
6. Significant PQE in a major law firm and/or in-house at a sell-side or buy-side financial institution.

In addition, the following qualities will be expected:

1. Professional maturity, confidence, presence, and initiative;
2. Excellent communication and analytical skills;
3. Good judgment and practical outlook in the application of law;
4. Strong organizational skills;
5. Ability to work well in a team;
6. Aptitude for risk and controls.