Overview of the Investment Services (Americas) Legal Team

The Investment Services (Americas) Legal team provides strategic advice and counsel to business and control colleagues in accordance with the highest standards of judgment, integrity and ethical leadership. The team partners closely with clients and internal stakeholders to deliver practical, business-oriented legal solutions that support State Street’s global alternatives, asset manager, asset owner and insurance clients in the Americas. The team advises on a broad range of asset servicing products and services, including custody, accounting, trustee, transfer agency and fund administration, and supports client relationships, product development, operational strategy, regulatory matters, risk management, transformation initiatives and complex commercial arrangements across the Americas

Who we are looking for

We are seeking a seasoned attorney and strategic leader to serve as Managing Director, Investment Services Legal (Americas).  In this role, you will lead, manage and develop a team of attorneys and legal professionals who support the Bank’s Asset Manager and Insurance Segment clients. This client base includes registered investment companies, ETFs, mutual funds, money market funds, business development companies, investment advisers, insurance companies and related fund, adviser and insurance client complexes. You will serve as a trusted advisor to senior business partners, control functions and client-facing teams on legal, regulatory, governance, operational and risk management matters affecting Asset Manager and Insurance Segment clients and related asset servicing products and services, including custody, fund accounting, trustee, fund administration, transfer agency, ETF servicing, collateral services and related back office services. The successful candidate will be expected to combine deep knowledge of the Investment Company Act of 1940, the Investment Advisers Act of 1940 and insurance regulatory frameworks with strong business judgment, operational fluency and the ability to provide practical, risk-based legal advice in a fast-paced, high regulated environment.  

What you will be responsible for

• Lead the legal team responsible for supporting the Bank’s Asset Manager and Insurance Segment clients, including registered funds, ETFs, mutual funds, money market funds, business development companies, investment adviser relationships, insurance companies and related institutional client relationships.
• Act as a trusted legal advisor to senior business leaders on legal, regulatory, operational, commercial and reputational risks associated with servicing Asset Manager and Insurance Segment clients.
• Provide practical and expert legal advice related to clients subject to the Investment Company Act of 1940, Investment Advisers Act of 1940, Securities Act of 1933, Securities Exchange Act of 1934, SEC rules and regulations, fiduciary obligations, disclosure requirements and related regulatory expectations.
• Provide legal support for insurance client matters, including issues involving state insurance regulation, NAIC frameworks, insurer investment regulation, risk-based capital considerations, statutory accounting concepts, separate accounts, affiliated transactions, reinsurance-related considerations and regulatory expectations applicable to insurance company clients.
• Advise on custody, fund administration, fund accounting, trustee, transfer agency, ETF servicing, middle office, securities lending, cash, collateral and related asset servicing products and services provided to registered fund and insurance clients.
• Oversee the drafting, review and negotiation of complex asset servicing agreements, disclosures, client communications and related documentation.
• Partner with Compliance, Risk, Audit, Operations, Product, Technology, Procurement and other control functions to address regulatory change, remediation efforts, incident response and governance enhancements.
• Manage interactions with regulators, outside counsel, industry groups, fund boards, insurance client stakeholders and senior client representatives, as appropriate.
• Drive consistency, efficiency, risk awareness and continuous improvement across legal advice, escalation protocols, knowledge management and client support models.

Leadership Responsibilities

• Lead, manage, mentor and develop a high-performing team of attorneys and legal professionals.
• Establish legal priorities, allocate resources effectively and drive high-quality execution across a complex portfolio of client, product, regulatory and operational matters.
• Set clear expectations, provide guidance and feedback, support professional growth and develop talent and succession plans for critical legal leadership positions.
• Promote strong engagement across Legal, Risk, Compliance, Operations, Product, Technology, Procurement, Client Service and senior leadership teams.
• Foster a culture of collaboration, accountability, sound judgment, risk awareness, ethical leadership and continuous improvement.
• Drive operational excellence within the legal organization through effective delegation, prioritization, resource management and knowledge sharing.

Education & Preferred Qualifications

• Strong knowledge of the 1940 Act, the Advisers Act and other rules, regulations and guidance impacting Asset Manager Segment clients.
• Strong knowledge of insurance regulatory frameworks, including state insurance regulation, NAIC guidance and model laws and other rules, regulations and guidance impacting Insurance Segment clients.
• Strong understanding of asset servicing products and services, including custody, accounting, trustee, fund administration, transfer agency, ETF servicing and related operational and regulatory frameworks for Asset Manager and Insurance Segment clients.
• Demonstrated ability to lead legal teams, manage complex matters and provide sound judgment in high-pressure situations.
• Proven ability to advise senior executives and influence decision-making across Legal, Risk, Compliance, Operations, Product and business leadership.
• Ability to evaluate legal, financial, regulatory, operational and reputational risk and escalate to executive management as needed.
• Excellent drafting, negotiation, analytical, communication, client service and problem-solving skills, including the ability to translate complex legal issues into clear, actionable business advice.
• Strong research, time management, planning and organizational skills, with the ability to work independently while thriving in a global, dynamic and team-oriented environment.
• Juris Doctor from an accredited U.S. law school and active license to practice law in Massachusetts or another U.S. jurisdiction.
• Generally expected to have 10 - 15 years of relevant legal experience advising registered investment companies, asset servicers, custodian banks or institutional financial services clients, preferably with both law firm and in-house experience.

What we value

These skills will help you succeed in this role

The ideal candidate is a senior legal leader with deep financial services legal and regulatory expertise, strong knowledge of the asset servicing business, and the judgment to advise executive stakeholders on complex client, product, regulatory, operational and governance matters. The candidate will be a collaborative and practical problem-solver who can lead and develop a sophisticated legal team, build trusted relationships with business and control partners, and support the Bank’s Asset Manager and Insurance Segment clients with clarity, discipline and sound judgment.

Salary Range:

$170,000 - $282,500 Annual

The range quoted above applies to the role in the primary location specified. If the candidate would ultimately work outside of the primary location above, the applicable range could differ.

Employees are eligible to participate in State Street’s comprehensive benefits program, which includes: our retirement savings plan (401K) with company match; insurance coverage including basic life, medical, dental, vision, long-term disability, and other optional additional coverages; paid-time off including vacation, sick leave, short term disability, and family care responsibilities; access to our Employee Assistance Program; incentive compensation including eligibility for annual performance-based awards (excluding certain sales roles subject to sales incentive plans); and, eligibility for certain tax advantaged savings plans.

For a full overview, visit https://hrportal.ehr.com/statestreet/Home.

About State Street

Across the globe, institutional investors rely on us to help them manage risk, respond to challenges, and drive performance and profitability. We keep our clients at the heart of everything we do, and smart, engaged employees are essential to our continued success.

We are committed to fostering an environment where every employee feels valued and empowered to reach their full potential. As an essential partner in our shared success, you’ll benefit from inclusive development opportunities, flexible work-life support, paid volunteer days, and vibrant employee networks that keep you connected to what matters most. Join us in shaping the future.

As an Equal Opportunity Employer, we consider all qualified applicants for all positions without regard to race, creed, color, religion, national origin, ancestry, ethnicity, age, disability, genetic information, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, citizenship, marital status, domestic partnership or civil union status, familial status, military and veteran status, and other characteristics protected by applicable law.

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It is unlawful in Massachusetts to require or administer a lie detector test as a condition of employment or continued employment. An employer who violates this law shall be subject to criminal penalties and civil liability.