Attorney, Digital Assets - Executive Director

Morgan Stanley; Purchase (NY); On-site; USD 165,000 - 275,000; Full time

Job summary

Morgan Stanley is seeking an advisory lawyer to provide legal and regulatory counsel to the Wealth Management division, focusing on digital assets, including custody and trading of spot cryptocurrencies, tokenized securities, lending, and stablecoins.

The role supports online securities products and services, drafts disclosures and client-facing agreements, and collaborates across business, technology, compliance, and risk teams. Location options include Purchase, NY or Dallas, TX.

Qualifications

• J.D. from an accredited law school with superior credentials.
• At least 10 years of legal experience in financial services, with a focus on digital assets and broker-dealer regulation.
• Member in good standing of a state bar.
• Strong knowledge of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, FINRA rules, and Regulation T.

Responsibilities

• Provide legal and regulatory support on digital assets initiatives including custody, trading, lending, and related products.
• Draft, review, and revise disclosures, client agreements, and governance documents.
• Advise on development and rollout of trading products and services.
• Assist with regulatory inquiries, examinations, investigations, and disputes.

Skills

Drafting

Negotiation

Communication

Time management

Interpersonal skills

Independent problem solving

Regulatory affairs

Team collaboration

Education

J.D. degree

Undergraduate degree

Job description

Morgan Stanley is seeking an advisory lawyer to provide legal and regulatory advice and counsel to the Company's Wealth Management division. The lawyer will primarily advise on a variety of digital assets products and services, including custody and trading of spot cryptocurrencies, tokenized securities, lending, stablecoin initiatives, and related Exchange Traded Products. The ED, Legal will support the business in developing and launching new products, services, and strategies involving digital assets, advising on both existing and proposed rules and regulations, negotiating agreements with counterparties, and drafting client-facing agreements, disclosures, and internal governance documents, among other things. The ED, Legal will also support the E*TRADE business line more broadly with respect to online securities products and services, responding to regulatory inquiries, and navigating client and platform incidents. The successful candidate will have native expertise in digital assets and blockchain, a broad background in broker-dealer regulation, ideally with subject matter expertise in equities and listed options trading, and familiarity with SEC and FINRA rules, particularly margin regulations. And, the successful candidate will be expected to collaborate closely with internal business, technology, operations, compliance, litigation, regulatory affairs, and risk teams.

Location:

Purchase, NY or Dallas, TX

Responsibilities:

• Providing legal and regulatory support to business and other partners on a wide range of initiatives and issues relating to digital assets including spot cryptocurrencies, tokens, lending, stablecoins, and related Exchange Traded Products
• Providing legal and regulatory support to business and other partners on initiatives and issues relating to online trading of equities and options
• Interpreting and advising on applicable laws, rules, and regulations, as well as assisting colleagues in navigating spaces where statutory and regulatory clarity is nascent or absent
• Drafting, reviewing, and revising disclosures, DISCLAIMERS, governance documents, and educational and marketing content
• Advising on development and rollout of new trading products and services
• Assisting with regulatory inquiries, examinations, and investigations as well as client arbitration and litigation matters
• Negotiating agreements with counterparties
• Reviewing and updating client agreements, forms, and applications
• Assessing impact of new and amended industry rules and regulatory developments and contributing to the implementation and compliance with regulatory changes
• Responding to client- and platform-related issues
• Participating in internal working groups and other governance forums to provide advice and documentary support
• Performing other duties and functions, as required

Requirements:

• Undergraduate degree from a 4-year institution
• J.D. from an accredited law school, with superior academic credentials
• Member in good standing of a state bar
• At least 10 years of legal experience in the financial services industry and/or private practice, with a particular focus on digital assets and broker-dealer regulation
• Broad knowledge of and experience with substantial aspects of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, FINRA rules, and Regulation T of the Federal Reserve Board

In addition, we are looking for a motivated self-starting candidate with:

• Highly developed written and oral communication skills
• Excellent drafting and negotiation skills, and exceptional attention to detail
• Proven organizational and time management skills, including the ability to prioritize multiple assignments, work independently to solve problems, and meet deadlines
• Strong interpersonal skills to foster teamwork, influence decision-making, and maintain effective working relationships with internal colleagues and external clients and regulators
• Ability to identify issues and assist development of remedial enhancements, including with respect to form agreements, policies, procedures, and control processes
• Ability to work independently and as part of a team
• Resourcefulness and personal accountability
• Comfort working in a large organization, including with various teams across departments both in-person and in virtual settings

WHAT YOU CAN EXPECT FROM MORGAN STANLEY:

At Morgan Stanley, we raise, manage and allocate capital for our clients – helping them reach their goals. We do it in a way that’s differentiated – and we’ve done that for 90 years. Our values - putting clients first, doing the right thing, leading with exceptional ideas, committing to diversity and inclusion, and giving back - aren’t just beliefs, they guide the decisions we make every day to do what's best for our clients, communities and more than 80,000 employees in 1,200 offices across 42 countries. At Morgan Stanley, you’ll find an opportunity to work alongside the best and the brightest, in an environment where you are supported and empowered. Our teams are relentless collaborators and creative thinkers, fueled by their diverse backgrounds and experiences. We are proud to support our employees and their families at every point along their work-life journey, offering some of the most attractive and comprehensive employee benefits and perks in the industry. There’s also ample opportunity to move about the business for those who show passion and grit in their work.

To learn more about our offices across the globe, please copy and paste https://www.morganstanley.com/about-us/global-offices into your browser.

Expected base pay rates for the role will be between $165,000 and $275,000 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.

Morgan Stanley is an equal opportunity employer committed to building and maintaining a workforce that is diverse in experience and background. Our recruiting efforts reflect our strong commitment to a culture of inclusion, where individuals are hired, developed, and advanced based on their skills and talents.

Our workforce reflects a broad cross-section of the global communities in which we operate, bringing a variety of backgrounds, talents, perspectives, and experiences.

For more information, please visit: https://www.morganstanley.com/people-opportunities/eeo.