Who we are looking for

A Senior Legal Counsel (VP) – Wealth, Custody & Clearing – Retail Brokerage is a senior legal advisor within State Street’s newly established Wealth business line. Reporting to the SVP, Head of Alpha and Wealth Services Legal, this role serves as the primary subject matter expert and strategic legal advisor for the firm’s retail brokerage activities, a core component of State Street’s Wealth strategy. The position requires a sophisticated legal executive with deep expertise in relevant regulatory frameworks, commercial arrangements, and market conduct standards. The successful candidate will exercise strong judgment and commercial acuity, and will be looking for a fast‑paced, strategically critical environment.

What you will be responsible for 

• Provide comprehensive legal support for the firm's Wealth businesses with a particular focus on the retail brokerage elements of State Street’s Wealth initiatives.
• Advise on SEC, CFTC, applicable bank regulation, and other applicable regulatory requirements applicable to retail brokerage functions in a wealth environment.
• Oversee the development of standard documentation process and disclosures and ultimately the negotiation of all relevant contracts including with RIAs, clearing brokers and other commercial parties.
• Support new product development opportunities driven by the Wealth Services business by identifying and addressing legal, commercial and regulatory considerations
• Collaborate with business, operations, and compliance teams to ensure regulatory compliance in all activities
• Monitor regulatory developments and provide strategic advice on implementation of new regulations
• Represent the firm in industry groups and regulatory discussions
• Manage relationships with external counsel on complex matters
• Provide training to business units on relevant legal and regulatory issues

What we value

These skills will help you succeed in this role:

• Results oriented with strong project management and execution skills
• Strong interpersonal, communication and customer service skills with ability to sustain strong relationships with clients, peers and senior management
• Ability to interact with multiple levels in an organization and in multiple jurisdictions
• Keen understanding of market practice impacting the business lines in the relevant jurisdictions and ability to work with business units to achieve practical solutions within applicable regulatory and risk parameters
• Strong time management, planning and organizational skills
• Ability to work independently but also thrive in a global, dynamic and team-oriented environment
• Flexibility and an eagerness to learn

Qualifications

• JD from an accredited law school; admission to at least one U.S. state bar in good standing
• 10+ years of progressive legal experience advising on retail brokerage, wealth management, custody, and clearing within a financial institution, major law firm, or regulatory agency
• Expertise in FINRA and SEC regulatory frameworks governing broker‑dealers, advisory relationships, clearing activities, and wealth platforms
• Extensive experience drafting, negotiating, and interpreting brokerage agreements, RIA documentation, platform agreements, and complex commercial contracts
• Demonstrated ability to lead commercial contracting and client negotiations, including high‑value strategic partnerships, onboarding arrangements, and multi‑party commercial structures
• Strong experience advising on registered investment advisory (RIA) business models, including fiduciary obligations, advisory disclosures, conflicts management, and dual‑registrant considerations
• Proven track record interacting with regulators on retail brokerage matters, including examinations, inquiries, rule interpretations, and implementation of new regulatory requirements
• Experience supporting new product development in wealth, custody, or brokerage environments, including regulatory analysis, risk assessment, and cross‑functional execution
• Strategic legal advisor with exceptional analytical and communication skills, translating complex and evolving regulatory frameworks into practical, commercially aligned guidance and influencing senior business leaders and non-legal stakeholders.
• Demonstrated ability to manage outside counsel, oversee complex matters, and drive efficient, risk‑aligned legal outcomes
• Ability to operate independently in a fast‑paced, global dynamic environment, while collaborating effectively across global business.

Salary Range:

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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