Counsel - Wealth Management (HYBRID)

About The Role

At Equitable, we help clients secure their financial well-being so they can pursue long and fulfilling lives - a mission we’ve honed since 1859. The Equitable Law Department’s Mission is to Serve as Equitable’s trusted counsel, empowering Equitable to pursue its noble purpose by upholding the highest standards, forging collaborative relationships and delivering creative solutions. At Equitable, we have reimagined how we want to work and are guided by principles of inclusivity, flexibility, and connection. Come join us and enjoy working for a leading financial services company with an amazing and diverse culture!

What You’ll Be Doing

• Serve as the lead legal advisor to the Wealth Management business on acquisition of books of business and other transactional matters.
• Structure, draft, and negotiate a wide range of commercial agreements, including:
• Asset Purchase Agreements
• Asset Retention Agreements
• Loan Agreements
• Promissory Notes
• Other transaction-related and ancillary documentation
• Provide legal support for:
• Onboarding of financial professionals and advisor groups
• Auctions of books of business by Equitable
• Auctions of books of business by existing Equitable financial professionals
• Review and advise on restrictive covenant agreements, including non-compete and non-solicitation agreements and provisions.
• Review financial professional candidate applications and hiring letters.
• Lead and partner with outside counsel to address various legal issues including those associated with debt recovery in the event of default on debts owed by financial professionals.
• Partner closely with internal stakeholders, including Compliance and Litigation, to ensure alignment on regulatory, risk, and dispute-related matters.
• Identify legal and regulatory risks and provide practical, business-focused solutions.
• Support the development and refinement of scalable legal processes for transactional workflows.

Required Qualifications

• Juris Doctor (JD) and active bar membership in good standing.
• 5+ years of combined relevant legal experience with law firms or serving as in-house counsel, with significant experience supporting wealth management firms.
• Experience with wealth management, financial advisor platforms, or broker-dealer/RIA environments.
• Established drafting and negotiation skills with experience handling complex agreements.
• Experience advising on non-compete and non-solicitation agreements.
• Demonstrated business judgment and the ability to provide practical, solution-oriented advice.

Preferred Qualifications

• Experience working in-house at a financial services firm or supporting wealth management clients.
• Exposure to regulatory and compliance considerations applicable to financial professionals.
• Collaborative mindset with the ability to work effectively across legal, compliance, and business teams.

Skills

• Accuracy and Attention to Detail
• Communicating Complex Concepts
• Decision Making and Critical Thinking
• Influencing
• Legal Analysis
• Negotiation and Settlement

Pay and Benefits

The total targeted compensation range for this position is $220,000 - $274,000. Total compensation varies based on skills, experience, geographical location and other factors. Equitable provides compensation to reward performance with base salary increases, spot bonuses, and short-term incentive compensation opportunities. Eligibility for these programs depends on level and functional area of responsibility. For eligible employees, Equitable provides a full range of benefits. This includes medical, dental, vision, a 401(k) plan, and paid time off. For detailed descriptions of these benefits, please reference the link below. Equitable Pay and Benefits: Equitable Total Rewards Program