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, with respect
to MPAM Mid Cap Stock Fund, MPAM National Intermediate Municipal Bond Fund and
MPAM Massachusetts Intermediate Municipal Bond Fund, 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               March 5, 2002
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David Lamere

/s/ James Windels                 Treasurer               March 5, 2002
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James Windels