Institutional Equity Division – Director/VP, Fund Services - Documentation (New York/Purchase)

Morgan Stanley Fund Services (MSFS) is a wholly owned subsidiary of Morgan Stanley that administers over $900 billion of private fund (hedge fund, private equity, and family office) assets. Using the Firm’s proprietary, globally accessible technology platform, the business provides a full range of fund administration services, including daily accounting and financial reporting; transfer agency and investor services using an online Investor Portal; middle and back-office support; and integrated portfolio analytics. MSFS is supported by more than 1,300 professionals based in New York, London, Hong Kong, Dublin, Glasgow, Bangalore, and Mumbai.

About the role

The Documentation Team works closely with all groups within MSFS, including accounting and investor services professionals, tax, risk, and transition management. Interaction with the Morgan Stanley Legal Department, offshore counsel, and Global Financial Crimes (AML) group is common. Communication with clients and their counsel is a regular component of the job. The position involves support for the preparation, management, and maintenance of various documentation types across a wide range of clients. An ever-present element of the role is the need to keep current with evolving business needs and regulatory changes, such as new laws in the United States and offshore jurisdictions addressing how alternative funds operate, and the ongoing evolution of privacy laws globally (e.g., GDPR).

Responsibilities

• Drafting and negotiating administration/service agreements with private fund clients
• Reviewing client offering documents, organizational documents, and subscription documents and working with internal teams to provide comments back to client/client counsel
• Implementing MSFS technology initiatives (e.g., Online Forms) – daily communication and coordination with internal operational teams globally
• Managing document process workflows to ensure document updates are properly implemented, reviewed, and presented to clients with a low tolerance for drafting errors
• Direct engagement with clients (in-house and external counsel, investor relations, COO/CFOs), and investors – clients are located in the US, Europe, Australia, and Asia
• Coordinating the review and resolution of legal-related issues/questions that arise from the investor services and accounting teams (e.g., FINRA new issue, ERISA benefit plan investor status, pledges, transfers)

Requirements

• Experience in a legal role with a law firm, bank, hedge fund administrator, investment adviser, or in a legal role otherwise supporting investment management
• Experience preparing and presenting subject matter trainings related to alternative investments and developing team knowledge resources
• Comfortable speaking with clients, fund directors, and stakeholders across functions to manage issues and deliverables under time-pressure deadlines
• Experience with AML regulation of financial institutions and policy document drafting
• Familiarity with CIMA and Cayman Islands regulation over alternative funds
• ERISA knowledge a plus

Skills

• Excellent verbal, written, and organizational skills, including the ability to draft/review/negotiate contracts and prioritize multiple tasks – possess a strong sense of urgency and excellent judgment
• Collaboration-oriented – teamwork is essential, and the ability to work well with colleagues face-to-face and overseas is vital
• Very strong execution, analytical, and problem-solving abilities
• Ability to learn quickly
• Strong interpersonal and client management skills, with the ability to work well both independently and in a team environment
• High attention to detail and good judgment
• Management or supervisory experience preferred
• Facility with Excel and ability to readily learn new proprietary systems

Qualifications

• JD with experience in a corporate law environment
• Financial services and alternative investments-related experience

Personal qualities

• Professional demeanor, polite, and well-spoken
• Good written/verbal communication skills
• Attention to detail and good data processing skills

Pay

Expected base pay rates for the role will be between $90,000 and $200,000 per year at the commencement of employment. Base pay is determined on an individualized basis and is only part of the total compensation package, which may also include commission earnings, incentive compensation, discretionary bonuses, other short and long-term incentive packages, and other Morgan Stanley sponsored benefit programs.

Benefits

Morgan Stanley offers some of the most attractive and comprehensive employee benefits and perks in the industry, supporting employees and their families at every point along their work-life journey. There’s also ample opportunity to move about the business for those who show passion and grit in their work.