Exhibit (16)(a)


                                POWER OF ATTORNEY

         The undersigned hereby constitute and appoint Mark N. Jacobs, Steven F.
Newman, Michael A. Rosenberg, Jeff Prusnofsky, Robert R. Mullery, Janette
Farragher, and John B. Hammalian, and each of them singly, with full power to
act without the other, his true and lawful attorneys-in-fact and agents, with
full power of substitution and resubstitution, for him, and in his name, place
and stead, in any and all capacities (until revoked in writing) to sign the
registration statements of MPAM Funds Trust ("Trust") on Form N-14 approved by
the Trust's Board of Trustees at the meeting held May 9, 2001, any amendments to
such registration statements and all instruments necessary or desirable in
connection therewith, and to file the same, with all exhibits thereto, and other
documents in connection therewith, with the Securities and Exchange Commission,
granting unto said attorneys-in-fact and agents, and each of them, full power
and authority to do and perform each and every act and thing ratifying and
confirming all that said attorneys-in-fact and agents or any of them, or their
or his or her substitute or substitutes, may lawfully do or cause to be done by
virtue hereof.

   Signature                                Title                      Date
   ---------                                -----                      ----

/s/ David Lamere                           President               June 21, 2001
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David Lamere


/s/ Joseph W. Connolly            Vice President and Treasurer     June 21, 2001
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Joseph W. Connolly