Portia Amato brings over 20 years’ experience working in the US – from compliance consultancy to leading inhouse compliance at investment and asset management firms.

Portia joined Bovill Newgate from regulatory compliance consulting firm IQEQ where she was Managing Director based in New York.

Portia’s career began in house at various investment management firms where she has supported and built compliance programs, participated in regulatory exams and managed various new regulatory filing and policy requirements throughout the years, before she moved into consulting roles.

What has been the proudest moment of your career?

I believe the proudest moment had to be when one of my employees came to me to let me know his dad ran a billion-dollar wealth adviser and needed help with an SEC exam. The requested items were due the next day, and I knew nothing about this person’s business as I had not worked with them before. Despite all that, we received a clean bill of health from the SEC, and the firm immediately hired me to support them on an ongoing basis.

I felt great pride in how effectively we were able to get through that exam and for me to have won over this firm’s trust.

I felt great pride in how effectively we were able to get through that exam and for me to have won over this firm’s trust.

Tell us an amusing anecdote or a seasonal joke

This is not an anecdote or joke, but I once had a client call me in a panic one year on December 23rd because an SEC exam team showed up at their office unannounced, which usually only happens if they have cause to believe very serious nefarious activity is taking place. I calmed them down, told them to go back into the conference room, and ask point blank the reason for the visit. The exam team told them they were in the building to see another firm, but that firm’s doors were locked (they were at an offsite), so the SEC did not want to waste the trip. They looked up the names of the tenants in the lobby and chose them.

The good news was that they spent one hour with my client, and my client ended up getting credit for an SEC exam, which turned out to be the best Christmas present ever for them.

What “gift” would you like to find from the regulator under your Christmas tree?

A definitive stance on AI, cryptocurrency, and ESG.

What’s your New Year’s wish?

My New Year’s wish is for tremendous growth and success of the Bovill Newgate US practice across all business lines.

Can you recommend a good book?

An old one but Catching the Wolf of Wall Street remains my favorite!