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Chicago-based real estate investment trust Ventas Inc. has enticed Carey Roberts away from her position as the top lawyer for global insurer Assurant Inc.  

Roberts joins Ventas as the company's second-ever general counsel and succeeds Richard Riney, who has retired, according to an announcement Tuesday. Roberts also was appointed executive vice president and ethics and compliance officer. 

She is expected to join Ventas during the first quarter of this year and will lead the company's legal, compliance and enterprise risk departments while reporting to chairwoman and CEO Debra Cafaro. 

Carey Shea Roberts, Executive Vice President, General Counsel and Ethics and Compliance Officer of Ventas, Inc.

"I look forward to working with Debra and the rest of the Ventas team to support the Company's continued success and commitment to sustained high performance, excellence and integrity," Roberts said in a written statement. She was not immediately available for an interview. 

Ventas invests primarily in health care industry real estate and has assets in the U.S., U.K. and Canada that include senior housing communities, medical office buildings and university research centers. 

Assurant hired Roberts in 2017 to lead the New York-based firm's global legal department as chief legal officer. She oversaw compliance issues, government relations and internal audits, according to the company's website. She also served as executive vice president, corporate secretary and liaison to Assurant's board of directors. 

Roberts began her career at Covington & Burling in 1997 and made partner in 2005. She practiced in the firm's corporate department and advised private and public companies on a broad array of matters, including securities, regulatory, intellectual property and technology issues. 

In 2014, Roberts went in-house for Marsh & McLennan Cos. Inc. in New York and served as the professional services firm's deputy general counsel, chief compliance officer and corporate secretary. 

"My compliance team included over 200 colleagues located around the world, working throughout the company's various lines of business," her LinkedIn profile states. "My direct reports included subject matter experts on data privacy, anti-corruption, bribery, sanctions and anti-money laundering, as well as a center of excellence focused on culture, training and internal investigations."

Roberts is a graduate of The George Washington University Law School and University of Chicago, where she studied English literature. She serves on the board of directors for the International Institute for Conflict Prevention & Resolution and The American Alpine Club, a nonprofit group for climbers.