ED, Alternative Investments Attorney

Morgan Stanley•Purchase, NY

3d•Onsite

About The Position

Morgan Stanley Wealth Management seeks an Executive Director level attorney to support its Alternative Investments and Private Markets platforms. The attorney will advise on the structuring, distribution, marketing, diligence and ongoing support of alternative investment and private markets products and private securities transactions. The position will be based at Wealth Management's headquarters in Purchase, NY. This is a highly visible role within a sophisticated and fast-growing area of Morgan Stanley Wealth Management. The successful candidate will advise on complex products and transactions involving alternative investment funds, feeder funds, private equity, private credit, hedge funds, co-investments, direct private securities offerings, pre-IPO companies, and other private markets opportunities. The role requires sound legal judgment, strong commercial awareness, and the ability to provide practical, risk-based guidance in a dynamic business and regulatory environment. The attorney will join a highly collaborative team of alternative investments and private markets attorneys and will report to the Managing Director responsible for legal coverage of these strategically important businesses. This role offers significant exposure to senior legal and business leadership and the opportunity to advise on some of Morgan Stanley Wealth Management's most sophisticated offerings, transactions, and initiatives. The successful candidate will also be a member of a broader group of advisory attorneys covering Morgan Stanley Wealth Management's products and services, and will work closely with legal colleagues across Wealth Management and other Morgan Stanley businesses. Why This Role Is Compelling This role offers an opportunity to work at the intersection of law, business strategy, product innovation, and evolving regulation in one of the most important growth areas in wealth management. The attorney will have meaningful exposure to senior stakeholders and will help shape how complex alternative investment and private markets products are reviewed, structured, distributed, monitored, and supported across Morgan Stanley's platform.

Requirements

J.D. required.
A minimum of 5+ years of relevant experience at a top tier law firm and/or in-house, preferably with a financial services firm (including a bank, broker-dealer, investment advisory firm, private equity, real estate or hedge fund).
Strong experience with alternative investments and/or private markets.
Experience reviewing and interpreting statutes, rules and regulations, with knowledge of U.S. securities laws (including Investment Advisers Act of 1940, Securities Act of 1933 (including Regulation D), the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, and the Investment Company Act of 1940).
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.

Nice To Haves

Experience with co-investments, direct investments and/or secondary transactions in private securities is a plus.
Experience with broker-dealer/FINRA matters is a plus, along with related experience with applicable ERISA, anti-money laundering, data protection, and tax issues.

Responsibilities

The distribution of complex fund or feeder fund offerings, including drafting and negotiating placement agent or other distribution agreements, custom fund offerings, servicing agreements, review of offering documents (e.g., Private Placement Memoranda and Limited Partnership Agreements) and ongoing fund communications.
Working on transactions involving the distribution of co-investments, secondaries and direct private securities offerings.
Advising on legal obligations arising in connection with investor relations, fund raising, distribution, marketing, and investing activities.
Provide legal advice on marketing materials and investor presentations (including track record data).
Managing outside counsel on offering launches and other projects.
Reviewing early stage transaction documents (NDAs, term sheets, agreements).
Negotiating client account documentation related to alternative investment products and services and ongoing corporate communications.
Interpreting relevant statutes, rules and regulations applicable to wealth management products and services.
Maintaining form agreements as well as working on discrete projects, regulatory inquiries, fund maintenance and other matters as appropriate.