FID, SPG, FID Secured Lending, Structure and Execution Lawyer (CRE) - ED/VP

Morgan Stanley•New York, NY

About The Position

The FID Secured Lending Group (“FSL”) is currently seeking a Structure and Execution Management lawyer in the business to work on all aspects of executing secured financing transactions involving commercial real estate mortgage loans. This will include working with bankers/originators, syndication and asset management teams, internal constituents in credit, legal, compliance, tax and accounting policy divisions and supervising outside counsel to help structure and execute transactions.

Requirements

8+ years of experience in corporate, banking, structured finance, or capital markets law at a major law firm and/or large financial institution.
Strong background in structured finance, warehouse lending, or repurchase facilities, ideally with exposure to commercial real estate finance including in lien perfection, and real estate collateral enforcement.
Proven ability to identify and manage legal, regulatory, policy, commercial, and reputational risks in complex transactions.
Exceptional drafting, negotiation, and analytical skills, with ability to provide clear, business-focused legal advice.
Effective communicator capable of interacting confidently with senior management and cross-functional teams.
Demonstrated leadership, sound judgment, and organizational skills, with the ability to manage competing priorities in a dynamic environment.
Commercially minded and comfortable operating in a business-facing, fast-paced deal environment.

Responsibilities

Manage legal, documentation, and structural issues arising in connection with financing and structured lending transactions.
Assist in the structuring, negotiation, and drafting of credit agreements, security agreements, intercreditor agreements, repurchase facility documents, and ancillary documentation in close coordination with internal and external counsel.
Draft, review, and negotiate term sheets for new lines of credit.
Advise on legal issues affecting transaction structures, including security, perfection, enforcement, bankruptcy, regulatory, tax, and risk considerations.
Coordinate KYC/AML processes and Level 1 due-diligence searches for new facilities in compliance with firm policies.
Prepare and present materials for internal committees, management, auditors, and regulators related to facility structures, legal risks, and transaction oversight.
Foster collaborative relationships across legal, business, and operational functions to enhance efficiency and consistency in transaction execution.
Manage the process of collateral pledge deal flow while conducting collateral loan due diligence, including review of underlying mortgage loan files, title, insurance, environmental and zoning reports, borrower and guarantor structures, property-level documentation, and related participation materials for securitizations.
Coordinate with internal constituents and external counsel to assess collateral eligibility, documentation deficiencies, and required remediation, lien perfection, and enforceability of security interests.
Partner with asset management on loan modifications, extensions, substitutions, and collateral adjustments to ensure legal consistency and risk mitigation.
Oversee ongoing documentation processes including servicing, custodial, and deposit account agreements (DACAs), ensuring compliance with legal and operational requirements.
Manage custodial trust receipt reviews, audits, remittance reporting, and annual file reviews to ensure data integrity and regulatory compliance.
Demonstrate strong leadership, problem-solving, and project management capabilities, managing multiple workstreams under tight deadlines.
Preparing material for and presenting to internal committees, FSL senior management, internal audit and regulators
Maintaining documentation precedents and templates
Maintaining best practices and internal policies and procedures