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In just three-and-a-half years, Laura Frattaroli played a key role in the expansion of General Atlantic’s headcount from 300 to more than 1,000 employees. In 2025, the vice president, regulatory and corporate counsel, and deputy chief compliance officer at General Atlantic was named to Private Equity International’s “Future 40” list for her part in scaling GA’s global compliance function in support of that expansion.
She was also highlighted for playing a key role in integrating the compliance frameworks of Iron Park and Actis to form General Atlantic’s Credit and Sustainable Infrastructure investing strategies, and in developing the firm’s supplier risk program.
She only came to the firm in 2022. It’s quite an achievement, but for the lawyer and leader, it’s part of something bigger.
“The culture here suits me,” Frattaroli says. “The institutions I have joined over the years do more than talk the talk. The kind of people that this company attracts are the kind of people I want to be around.”
Chuck Feeney, GA’s late founder (also co-founder of Duty-Free Shoppers and Atlantic Philanthropies), was inspired by the philanthropic legacies of the Bill Gates and Warren Buffetts of the world, donating more than $8 billion over his lifetime. That legacy, and GA’s role as a global investor in influential and transformative companies, was a philosophy she could easily align with.
Since coming to GA, Frattaroli was able to draw on broker experience in previous roles, steering the firm through the complex regulatory transitions as it expanded its broker-dealer activities. Frattaroli helped the organization familiarize itself with a whole new host of federal regulatory standards. What resonates more deeply in this role, Frattaroli says, is the feeling of being able to make an immediate impact.
“In other roles, I very much felt like a cog in a much larger machine,” the VP says. “Here, I can bring ideas to the table and they are heard. There is a palpable sense of being valued that I think is shared by everyone here. I get to be involved in everything that’s happening, and that’s exciting for me.”
That includes expanding into areas where Frattaroli has had to study up. She recently became the go-to voice on AI on her team, piloting new technologies and regularly presenting on regulatory topics in the RIA space.
“I want a role that offers more than just the right professional experience.”
Laura Frattaroli
Frattaroli’s expanding purview aligns well with GA’s own growth in a very short period of time. While the firm was founded in 1980, its growth as of late has been particularly notable. GA now manages more than $118 billion in assets and has supported over 830 portfolio companies worldwide.
The lawyer and leader isn’t sure she’d be here if it weren’t for Reach Prep, a pathway program for talented students from underprivileged backgrounds to get a private school education. Her previous exposure to the law came in the form of episodes of Law and Order: Special Victims Unit, but in her new private school setting, she suddenly had access to a whole new world of potential careers.
Frattaroli is a first-generation Colombian immigrant with hard-working blue-collar parents. She’s endeavored to pass along what she’s learned in multiple forums. She’s an active member of GA’s Women’s Network and is a mentor through the Fellowship Programme, which champions the development of future industry leaders.
“I want a role that offers more than just the right professional experience,” the VP says. “I want to be part of an organization that provides opportunities for women, for youth, whether that be mentoring or otherwise. I am where I am because of networking, because of some luck, and because people took the time to invest in me. I want to pay that forward.”
Leadership on a more granular level has been an interesting evolution. Management, Frattaroli says, can be a tough business. It’s a full-time job along with the rest of her duties, but it’s one she takes very seriously. She regularly tells her team that if they are performing at their best level, that reflects well on her, so it only makes sense for Frattaroli to make sure her team is aligned and motivated alongside her.
“There are two different priorities for me in my own management and leadership,” the attorney says. “The first is to support my team in whatever goals they want to pursue. That might be a pivot or a new development opportunity. The second is that I have worked hard to create a culture where there are no stupid questions. Just ask. I wouldn’t have met some of the people who have helped me in my career had I not asked a question that might have seemed foolish.”
Frattaroli says that she has regularly found herself in rooms surrounded by incredibly intelligent people, and she encourages her team and those she mentors to simply engage. You may be surprised at the kind of people who are eager to help someone on their own professional journey.
Take it from a leader, a lawyer, and an empowering figure at one of the nation’s most prestigious growth equity firms.
Comply is proud to support leaders like Laura Frattaroli, whose work reflects the evolving role of compliance in enabling responsible growth. As General Atlantic continues to scale globally, Laura’s focus on governance, integrity, and mentorship demonstrates how strong compliance foundations support long-term value creation. At Comply, we share the belief that compliance is not a static obligation, but a living system that grows alongside the business. By investing in people, process, and principled leadership, firms can scale with confidence and purpose.
