KPMG boosts alternative investment funds practice

Date: Friday, December 7, 2012
Author: HedgeWeek

KPMG, the US audit, tax and advisory firm, is adding several new hires to its alternative investment funds (AIF) practice's national team in Los Angeles and San Francisco.

The practice is also making additional moves to boost experience and expertise in alternative investments in the firm's West Coast offices.

"KPMG is clearly dedicated to serving the alternative investments industry and we are continuing to invest our resources to further broaden and enhance our team, which includes bringing in some of the very best people in the industry," says Al Fichera, national partner in charge, alternative investment funds – audit.

Martin A. Griffiths has joined the Los Angeles office as a principal in the federal tax practice. Griffiths, who has 27 years of real estate experience, will be KPMG's West Coast real estate tax practice lead. Griffiths also has extensive experience with pass-through entities, including real estate funds and real estate investment trusts. Before joining KPMG, he was senior vice president at Irvine Company, overseeing its income and property tax group.

K Peter Ritter has joined KPMG as a principal in the San Francisco federal tax practice. He has more than 19 years of experience advising clients on a wide variety of federal income tax matters. Ritter came to KPMG from the law firm O'Melveny & Myers where he was a tax partner resident in its San Francisco office and where he gained extensive experience in the alternative investments sector.

Daniel (Dan) Prager has joined KPMG as a managing director in its federal tax AIF practice. Based in Los Angeles, he will focus on helping grow the AIF practice in the West. He has 13 years of domestic and international tax experience. Prager most recently served as head of corporate finance for Telefonica Czech Republic.

Richard Hinton has joined KPMG's San Francisco AIF practice, as a seconded partner with a focus on the hedge fund industry. Hinton has 16 years of experience with KPMG, and has held several positions within the audit and advisory functions, both in the UK and globally. Previously, as an audit engagement partner in London, he provided audit and risk advisory services to a portfolio of hedge funds, pension funds, investment managers and administrators.

Graeme M Fletcher is a principal in international corporate services, who transferred from KPMG's Atlanta office to San Francisco. Working with the existing Bay Area alternative investments resources in tax, audit and advisory, his focus is to develop and lead an alternative investment-focused international tax effort to serve the Bay Area marketplace