Investment Management Agreements Specialist - Vice President

Morgan Stanley is a leading global financial services firm providing a wide range of investment banking, securities, investment management and wealth management services. The Firm's employees serve clients worldwide including corporations, governments and individuals from more than 1,200 offices in 43 countries.

As a market leader, the talent and passion of our people is critical to our success. Together, we share a common set of values rooted in integrity, excellence and strong team ethic.  Morgan Stanley can provide a superior foundation for building a professional career - a place for people to learn, to achieve and grow. A philosophy that balances personal lifestyles, perspectives and needs is an important part of our culture.

Morgan Stanley Investment Management (“MSIM”), together with its investment advisory affiliates, operates in 26 countries with $1.9 Tn in assets under management or supervision as of March 31, 2026. MSIM strives to provide outstanding long-term investment performance, service and a comprehensive suite of investment management solutions to a diverse client base, which includes governments, institutions, corporations and individuals worldwide.

Team Profile

This unique role sits within the Office of the Chief Operating Officer for Morgan Stanley’s Investment Management Business (MSIM). The responsibilities of the team includes business management and documentation of investment management agreements (IMAs), and governance and conflicts management. Team-members will be responsible for documentation, negotiation and project-management matters, and will be the personnel in the first-line responsible for designing and implementing solutions to manage legal and other risks for supported business areas.

What you’ll do in the role

The Vice President will have a primary focus on providing general business support of the Separately Managed Account (SMA) business within the U.S. region, and negotiation of IMAs for the separately managed account client base. As this position sits within the Office of the COO, another key function of the role is to provide support for various projects impacting the global investment management business, including strategic and governance-related projects.

Whilst the primary focus of this individual will be on U.S., given the global nature of the IM business and of this team, team members will also be expected to support other geographical regions (including EMEA and Asia-Pacific) as required. There will also be opportunities for this individual to work on wider initiatives and documentation aspects relating to other aspects of the MSIM business.

What you’ll bring to the role

This is a dynamic position with broad responsibilities, ideal for a motivated, self-starting professional willing to help define the shape of this new role, whilst diving straight into a busy workload. Given the drafting and negotiation aspects of the role, the ideal candidate would be a qualified lawyer. Areas of expertise in a combination (but not necessarily all) of the following areas are desirable:

• Sound understanding of the asset management industry and knowledge of the client base of an institutional asset manager.
• Knowledge of investment management agreements and ancillary agreements and other commercial contracts with clients, distributors, intermediaries, or other agents within the asset management sector.
• Working knowledge of investment funds in general.
• Basic understanding or prior experience of derivative trading documentation (e.g. ISDA/ CSA, clearing agreements, futures documentation), repo and stocklending arrangements) is beneficial but not essential.
• Affinity with financial services regulation, including understanding of current regulatory framework relating to asset management.
• Minimum of 4-7 years experience in a major law firm and/or in-house at a sell-side or buy-side financial institution.

Candidates should possess the skills and qualities normally present in lawyers with at least 4-7 years experience with the above background. As this role sits within a business function, it is particularly suited for lawyers who are looking for a move into an exciting and evolving business role. The following qualities will be expected:

• Professional maturity, confidence, presence and initiative
• Good judgment and practical outlook; commercially-minded
• Solid drafting and negotiation skills
• Strong organizational skills
• Good written and oral communication skills
• Aptitude for risk and controls
• Strong ability to influence outcomes and stakeholders

WHAT YOU CAN EXPECT FROM MORGAN STANLEY:

At Morgan Stanley, we raise, manage and allocate capital for our clients – helping them reach their goals. We do it in a way that’s differentiated – and we’ve done that for 90 years.  Our values - putting clients first, doing the right thing, leading with exceptional ideas, committing to diversity and inclusion, and giving back - aren’t just beliefs, they guide the decisions we make every day to do what's best for our clients, communities and more than 80,000 employees in 1,200 offices across 42 countries. At Morgan Stanley, you’ll find an opportunity to work alongside the best and the brightest, in an environment where you are supported and empowered. Our teams are relentless collaborators and creative thinkers, fueled by their diverse backgrounds and experiences. We are proud to support our employees and their families at every point along their work-life journey, offering some of the most attractive and comprehensive employee benefits and perks in the industry. There’s also ample opportunity to move about the business for those who show passion and grit in their work.

To learn more about our offices across the globe, please copy and paste https://www.morganstanley.com/about-us/global-offices​ into your browser.

Expected base pay rates for the role will be between $150,000 and $225,000 per year at the commencement of employment. However, base pay if hired will be determined on an individualized basis and is only part of the total compensation package, which, depending on the position, may also include commission earnings, incentive compensation, discretionary bonuses, other short and long-term incentive packages, and other Morgan Stanley sponsored benefit programs.

Morgan Stanley is an equal opportunity employer committed to building and maintaining a workforce that is diverse in experience and background.  Our recruiting efforts reflect our strong commitment to a culture of inclusion, where individuals are hired, developed, and advanced based on their skills and talents.

Our workforce reflects a broad cross-section of the global communities in which we operate, bringing a variety of backgrounds, talents, perspectives, and experiences.

For more information, please visit: https://www.morganstanley.com/people-opportunities/eeo.