Drew Smith

Drew is the General Counsel and Compliance Officer at IHLAD, where he also serves as Board Secretary. In these roles, he oversees all legal and compliance functions, providing strategic guidance on legal, regulatory, and governance matters.

Prior to joining IHLAD, Drew served as a Special Counsel with the General Counsel’s Office and as a Special Advisor to the Vice Chancellor and CABO at New York University Abu Dhabi.

Before relocating to the UAE, Drew worked as a federal prosecutor with the United States Department of Justice and with the United States Department of Health and Human Services, serving in the Chief of Staff’s Office and in the General Counsel’s Office for the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. He also spent time in private practice, advising clients — including Fortune 50 companies — on risk management, tax compliance, and corporate governance matters