DFDL has hired Rolf Winand, former KPMG tax partner and Vietnam COO, as a regional partner in its tax and customs practice group as it continues to rebuild that practice.

Winand’s appointment comes a few months after Jack Sheehan was name the regional director of the firm’s tax and customs group, and David Mah, a veteran of Grant Thornton, BDO and Ernst & Young, was named senior tax adviser in Cambodia. In April, DFDL added two more senior tax advisers from Ernst and Young, Hak Viren and Py Borapyn, also in Cambodia.

In late February, DFDL lost Edwin Vanderbruggen, Sheehan’s predecessor, and Cambodia-based tax partner Jean Loi, who left to start a competitor firm called VDB Loi operating in Cambodia, Vietnam and Singapore.

Winand has 11 years of experience working as a tax partner, a risk management partner and the COO of KPMG in Vietnam. His experience covers corporate, personal and value added tax advice to clients ranging from market entry participants, foreign and local investment funds and fund managers, sovereign wealth funds, banks and other financial institutions, insurance and manufacturers to major international corporations operating in Vietnam.

“Tax advisory services continue to be one of our core areas of expertise and are an essential component of our integrated practice,” said Martin Desautels, managing partner of DFDL, in a statement. “As DFDL continues its growth, we will continue to offer tax services in an increasing number of jurisdictions. This strategic hire reaffirms our commitment to this integrated tax and legal capabilities model which is quite unique throughout Southeast Asia.”

DFDL picks up tax director from E&Y

DFDL has added a new tax director in the form of Bernard Cobarrubias, who was previously in the International Tax Services team at Ernst & Young.

Cobarrubias, who will be based in Ho Chi Minh City, specialises in international and local tax advisory services including cross-border transactions, corporate restructuring, mergers and acquisitions advisory and implementation. He also handles local business tax advisory services, corporate structures and licensing, as well as regulatory and tax compliance.

A ten-year veteran of Ernst & Young, Cobarrubias has spent four years in Vietnam. ALB

Ranajit Dam is Southeast Asia Regional Editor at ALB. Follow us on Twitter: @ALB_Magazine.