HarbourVest Partners Appoints New General Counsel

HarbourVest Partners, a global private markets asset manager, today announced the addition of Paula Drake as Managing Director and General Counsel. Ms. Drake will oversee all aspects of HarbourVest’s legal and compliance functions across the globe.

“As HarbourVest continues to grow and expand our solutions and investment capabilities, our primary focus remains on delivering high-quality service to our clients and partners, and this includes staying ahead of changing regulatory dynamics in the global private markets,” said John Toomey, Managing Director, HarbourVest. “We already have robust legal and compliance functions in place, as well as a strong control environment, and with the addition of Paula to the team we look forward to raising the bar even higher in these areas going forward.”

In her more than 27-year career, Ms. Drake has extensive experience in the alternative assets market, proving herself as a strong operational leader with sophisticated awareness of global legal and regulatory functions.

“In an increasingly globalized investment world, varied and changing local regulations can cause complexities for businesses, especially in the alternative asset management industry,” said Ms. Drake. “I’ve spent my career navigating these legal and regulatory waters to help firms grow and I look forward to leveraging my experience to play an important role in HarbourVest’s evolution.”

Prior to joining HarbourVest, Ms. Drake most recently served as Managing Director, Global Chief Compliance Officer and Chief Regulatory Officer for Och-Ziff Capital Management Group, where she developed and led the overall compliance strategy for the firm’s global operations. Previously, Ms. Drake was Associate Director, Chief Counsel, and Chief Compliance Officer for the US Securities and Exchange Commission’s Office of Compliance, Inspections, and Examinations (OCIE). Prior to that, she served as General Counsel and Chief Operating Officer for Oechsle International Advisors from 1996 to 2012, assuming the latter position in 2008. Ms. Drake has a B.A., M.A., and Ph.D. in English from the University of Massachusetts, and a J.D. from Harvard Law School.

ABOUT HARBOURVEST

HarbourVest is an independent, global private markets asset manager with 35 years of experience and more than $40 billion in assets under management. The Firm’s powerful global platform offers clients investment opportunities through primary fund investments, secondary investments, and direct co-investments in commingled funds or separately managed accounts. HarbourVest has more than 400 employees, including more than 100 investment professionals across Asia, Europe, and the Americas. This global team has committed more than $31 billion to newly-formed funds, completed over $15 billion in secondary purchases, and invested over $6 billion directly in operating companies. Partnering with HarbourVest, clients have access to customized solutions, longstanding relationships, actionable insights, and proven results.

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