Counsel – Broker-Dealer Regulatory

At MFS, you will find a culture that supports you in doing what you do best. Our employees work together to reach better outcomes, favoring the strongest idea over the strongest individual. We put people first and demonstrate care and compassion for our community and each other. Because what we do matters – to us as valued professionals and to the millions of people and institutions who rely on us to help them build more secure and prosperous futures.

THE ROLE

MFS Investment Management is seeking a broker-dealer attorney to join its Legal Department. The attorney’s primary responsibilities will include providing advice to compliance and business units regarding federal securities laws and regulations (principally under the Investment Company Act, Exchange Act, and FINRA rules), assisting in drafting and negotiating distribution and service agreements with intermediaries, assisting in providing legal support to the firm’s registered transfer agent, and updating the firm’s Forms BD and BR.

WHAT YOU WILL DO

• Provides advice on matters related to global distribution of domestic and offshore mutual funds by applying knowledge of U.S. and international securities laws and regulations including the 1940 Act, Exchange Act, Investment Advisers Act, and FINRA rules.

• Provides advice and counsel to MFS’s limited-purpose broker-dealer on compliance with FINRA rules and other regulatory matters.

• Drafts and negotiates distribution and service agreements with domestic and international intermediaries including broker-dealers, banks, retirement plan recordkeepers, etc.

• Provides advice and counsel to MFS’s registered transfer agent on related shareholder servicing and recordkeeping matters.

• Assists with the preparation of broker-dealer filings, primarily Forms BD and BR.

• Reviews and interprets statutes, rules and policies which are relevant to the regulatory functions of MFS, its corporate subsidiaries, clients and fund complexes and works with internal clients to meet their business objectives within the regulatory environment.

• Maintains awareness of best practices and evolving issues within the scope of the position, relates same to other departments within MFS, suggesting changes and modifications in practices and processes as necessary, and planning the implementation of same.

• Assumes additional responsibilities as requested.

WHAT WE ARE LOOKING FOR

• Bachelor’s Degree and Juris Doctorate Degree required. Must have at least 6-8 years of experience practicing law, preferably at a national law firm and/or comparable in-house position. Experience working in a global business in the legal specialty is preferred.

• Significant experience with domestic and offshore retail fund distribution matters and broker-dealer and transfer agent operations is highly preferred. 

• Should have excellent written and verbal communication, have strong problem-solving skills, have a client-service orientation, and be highly organized and detail-oriented. Must be able to draft and write effectively, and present research, analysis, and conclusions in a persuasive manner.

• Proven ability to develop and foster strong interpersonal relationships and to collaborate with cross-functional teams throughout the organization.

• Must be a member in good standing of a state bar, such as the Massachusetts Board of Bar Overseers and maintain good standing for all necessary license(s) and/or professional qualifications.

#LI-JN1

At MFS, we believe in fair and transparent compensation. For that reason, we’re including the salary range for this position. This range reflects our good-faith expectation for what we’ll pay depending on the candidate’s experience, training and education. In addition to the salary, we also offer significant and competitive incentive compensation based on both individual and company performance. Other components of our Total Rewards Package include:

• MFS contributes an amount equal to 15% of your base salary to your retirement account that is separate from the company -sponsored 401(k) 

• Education Assistance: MFS contributes $100 monthly up to $10,000 lifetime maximum directly to loan provider

• Education Assistance: Tuition reimbursement up to $8,000 annually 

• Education Assistance: Access to discounted tutors and college coaches

• Generous time off and fully paid leaves including 20-weeks for maternity, 12-weeks for parental and caregiver leaves

• Choice of medical and dental plans and an and an employer contribution into the Health Savings Account

• Tax deferred commuter benefits & flexible spending accounts (medical & dependent care)

• Wellness Programs: Robust wellness webinars, employee assistance program with a focus on mental health, subsidized fitness benefit via Wellhub (formerly Gympass), where you can workout at gyms, studios and boutique fitness locations near you, join virtual personal training sessions and access a wide variety of well-being apps

Our compensation philosophy is to pay competitively for talent while ensuring equity across employees performing comparable work. We are committed to transparency – if you have questions about how we arrived at this range or what additional benefits and bonus opportunities come with the role, we’ll be happy to discuss them

#LI-HYBRID

At MFS, we are dedicated to building a diverse, inclusive and authentic workplace. If you are excited about this role but your past experience doesn't align perfectly, we encourage you to apply - you might be just the right candidate for this role or others.

MFS is a hybrid work environment (remote/onsite) unless otherwise stated in the job posting.

If any applicant is unable to complete an application or respond to a job opening because of a disability, please contact MFS at 617-954-5000 or email talent_acquisition@mfs.com for assistance. 

MFS is an Equal Opportunity Employer and it is our policy to not discriminate against any employee or applicant for employment because of race, color, religion, sex, national origin, age, marital status, sexual orientation, gender identity, genetic information, disability, veteran status, or any other status protected by federal, state or local laws. Employees and applicants of MFS will not be subject to harassment on the basis of their status. Additionally, retaliation, including intimidation, threats, or coercion, because an employee or applicant has objected to discrimination, engaged or may engage in filing a complaint, assisted in a review, investigation, or hearing or have otherwise sought to obtain their legal rights under any Federal, State, or local EEO law is prohibited. Please see the Know Your Rights: Workplace Discrimination is Illegal document, linked for your reference.