Capital Markets / Private Markets Attorney

Morgan Stanley; Purchase (NY); On-site; USD 180,000 - 280,000; Full time

Job summary

Morgan Stanley Wealth Management's Legal and Compliance Division seeks a Vice President to provide legal coverage for Capital Markets and Private Markets. The attorney will focus on the Firm's growing private securities trading business and support other Capital Markets activities, based in Purchase, NY.

The role involves advising on complex transactions, negotiating agreements, and coordinating with Compliance, Risk, and business units. J.D.

Qualifications

• J.D. from an accredited law school.
• Minimum five years of relevant experience at a top‑quality law firm or in‑house, preferably financial services.
• Experience in capital markets and private securities law.
• Experience with broker‑dealer/FINRA matters a plus; ERISA and tax issues knowledge helpful.

Responsibilities

• Advise on private securities transactional matters for the Private Markets desk and capital markets team.
• Review and negotiate private securities transactional agreements and third‑party platform documents.
• Analyze regulatory changes and coordinate with Compliance, Risk and business units.
• Support integration of acquired/private markets affiliates and new products.
• Draft and interpret statutes, rules and regulations applicable to Wealth Management products.

Skills

Legal judgment

Negotiation

Written communication

Interpersonal skills

Teamwork

Copilot and AI apps

Education

J.D. degree

Job description

Morgan Stanley Wealth Management's Legal and Compliance Division is seeking to hire a Vice President to provide legal coverage for its Capital Markets and Private Markets businesses. Specifically, the attorney will focus on the Firm's growing Private Securities transactional business and provide other support to the Capital Markets businesses. The position will be based in Purchase, NY.

The lawyer will be part of a team of seven capital markets lawyers reporting to the head of the Capital Markets legal team. The Capital Markets business is responsible for new issue distribution of a wide range of securities products including structured products; fixed income, equity, options, OTC derivatives, FX, futures and precious metals trading in the secondary markets; and sales coverage for the Firm's financial advisors. The lawyer will have significant interaction with the various business units and will work closely with the other lawyers on the team. The team is part of a broader group of advisory attorneys covering Morgan Stanley Wealth Management's products and services, and the role will involve coordination with attorneys covering the other businesses, as well as with attorneys supporting Morgan Stanley's other divisions.

The Firm's Private Markets business operates as part of the Investment Solutions business within Wealth Management. In particular, the position is expected to involve analyzing, reviewing, negotiating, structuring and approving matters in connection with the ongoing expansion of the Firm's private securities trading businesses and will involve coordination with Equity Zen personnel, MSWM's newly acquired private markets affiliate.

In addition, the attorney will advise on various business projects, both independently and in coordination with other team members, as necessary in connection with the team's coverage of the Firm's various lines. The attorney will also work closely with Compliance, Risk and the business units.

The attorney will work closely with the Executive Director lawyer on the team who supports the Private Markets business and will also be called upon to support aspects of the broader Capital Markets business with one or more of the Executive Director or Vice President lawyers in the group.

The following is an illustrative, non-exhaustive list of the types of responsibilities that the successful candidate will be closely involved in:

• Working on transactions involving customer purchases, sales or crossing of private securities in the secondary market
• Advising on the range of services offered through the private markets trading desk, including direct share transfers, limited partnership liquidity, and SPV creation and trading, among others, as well as the operation and expansion of the desk and associated policies and procedures
• Integration of the recently acquired Equity Zen business into the Firm's Private Markets ecosystem
• Reviewing and negotiating private securities transactional agreements and third-party platform documents
• Advising on complex trading strategies by high net worth and ultra-high net worth clients
• Advising on regulatory changes, technology and operational builds, policies and procedures, audits and regulatory exams and inquiries
• Reviewing and interpreting relevant statutes, rules and regulations applicable to Wealth Management products and services
• Maintaining form agreements and disclosures, as well as working on discrete projects and other matters as appropriate
• Reviewing marketing materials and presentations
• J.D. required.
• A minimum of five (5) years relevant experience at a top-quality law firm and/or in-house experience, preferably with a financial services firm (including a bank, broker-dealer or private equity fund).
• Experience with capital markets and securities legal work, in particular private equity or other illiquid asset classes.
• Experience with co-investments, direct investments and/or secondary transactions in private securities.
• Experience reviewing and interpreting statutes, rules and regulations, with knowledge of U.S. securities laws (including Securities Act of 1933, the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, and associated FINRA rules).
• Experience on broker-dealer/FINRA matters a plus, along with related experience with applicable ERISA and tax issues.
• Candidates should have experience in complex transactions and projects and must be able to work independently when needed and also collaborate with cross functional groups.

Skills desired

• Professional maturity, confidence, presence and initiative
• Excellent judgment and analytical skills
• Excellent oral and written communication skills
• Strong interpersonal skills
• Strong management and administrative skills
• Teamwork and ability to multi-task in fast paced environment
• Fluency in Copilot and other AI applications

WHAT YOU CAN EXPECT FROM MORGAN STANLEY:

At Morgan Stanley, we raise, manage and allocate capital for our clients - helping them reach thei