KPMG UK grows FS tax practice with senior hires

• Tax lawyer Candice Nichol joins as deal advisory tax partner from international law firm Simmons & Simmons
• Justin LaHood to lead Financial Services Tax Transformation practice in UK
• Firm also announces Mike Bolan as head of its UK-US Financial Services Corridor 

The tax practice at KPMG UK has hired three new partners as it continues to invest in talent and further support its financial services clients through a rapidly evolving tax landscape.

Candice Nichol, a tax lawyer with 14 years’ experience, has joined KPMG as a deal advisory tax partner in London from international law firm Simmons & Simmons. In her new role, Candice will focus on advising the firm’s large cap private equity clients on M&A transactions at a time when deal activity is at record high levels in parts of the market.

Throughout her career, Candice’s experience has focused on advising clients in the financial services sectors on complex, cross-border transactions, as well all aspects of deal, balance sheet and fund structures. Candice has also used her legal experience and skills to mentor students participating in international law programme Law without Walls and has represented individuals seeking access to justice.

Justin LaHood has been appointed to lead KPMG UK’s Financial Services Tax Transformation business and support the firm’s clients with pragmatic solutions in managing tax risk, meeting tax compliance obligations, and establishing efficient and effective tax processes. He has previously held senior tax roles at Pacific Life Re, AIG and Swiss Re.

KPMG has also hired Mike Bolan to head its UK-US Financial Services Corridor. Mike, who has 17 years’ experience providing UK and international tax advice to clients across financial services and fintech sectors, will support US corporate clients in responding to the demands of UK and EU tax developments. He’ll initially be based out of the New York office.

KPMG UK’s Tax and Law practice now comprises 114 partners and a total 3,000 professionals.

Rob Lant, Head of Financial Services Tax at KPMG UK, said: “Financial services institutions here in the UK, and across the world, face a tax landscape that is rapidly evolving. We’ve invested heavily in our team to ensure our clients have access to the top talent that can help them ensure robust corporate tax governance amidst that change. It is about integrating all the services we have at KPMG – from legal services and tax to consulting and deal advisory – to provide a solutions-based approach. That clarity and focus is what our clients are looking for in such a volatile and uncertain market.”

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About KPMG

KPMG LLP, a UK limited liability partnership, operates from 21 offices across the UK with approximately 16,000 partners and staff. The UK firm recorded a revenue of £2.3 billion in the year ended 30 September 2020.

KPMG is a global organization of independent professional services firms providing Audit, Legal, Tax and Advisory services. It operates in 147 countries and territories and has more than 219,000 people working in member firms around the world. Each KPMG firm is a legally distinct and separate entity and describes itself as such. KPMG International Limited is a private English company limited by guarantee. KPMG International Limited and its related entities do not provide services to clients.