Industry trade bodies boost lobbying teams

The NVCA and EMPEA are hiring more tax and regulatory specialists.

Two trade bodies responsible for getting across the private fund industry’s message on sensible policymaking and regulation are hiring more dedicated specialists to their ranks.

The Emerging Markets Private Equity Association (EMPEA), which targets industry matters in Asia, Latin America and Africa, made two appointments this week. Randy Mitchell joins the group as vice president of strategic engagement, where he will work alongside topic-specific EMPEA working groups, for instance the Limited Partners Council. He was formerly a private equity and trade strategist with the US Department of Commerce, with a focus on Russia and other emerging markets.

Also joining the EMPEA is Ann Marie Plubell, who will act as vice president of regulatory affairs. Working closely with the EMPEA’s Legal and Regulatory Council, Plubell will lobby for smart rulemaking at a time when many emerging markets are still developing regulatory regimes for alternative assets. Just recently China unveiled long-awaited clarification on registration and marketing for domestic GPs.

Meanwhile the National Venture Capital Association (NVCA) has been boosting its own ranks as Congress nears the end of its summer recess. Justin Field joins the group as vice president of federal policy, where he will likely assume a focus on tax matters. Field was previously a legislative assistant for Democrat Senator Robert Menendez, where he was responsible for tax issues and the senator’s work on the Senate Finance Committee, which oversees tax policy. The NVCA has been lobbying the government to preserve the capital gains tax treatment of carried interest and wants a simpler tax code to encourage startup investment.

Last month the NVCA also welcomed back Kate Mitchell, a strong campaigner for the JOBS Act, who will once again represent the industry as Congress mulls reforms to the 2012 bill.