Professionals on the Move – Nov. 2023

With Serafi’s appointment to Vice Chair, Kevin Jackson will succeed her as National Managing Partner – Tax. Kevin assumes this role after serving as the U.S. Tax Practice Leader for Markets, where he oversaw all of tax’s geographic business units, working to advance the firm’s tax strategy and differentiate the tax business in competitive markets. Together, Serafi and Jackson will lead a team of approximately 10,000 partners and professionals across all Tax disciplines – federal, international, state and local – as well as specialty practices, such as mergers and acquisitions, transfer pricing and valuation services, and global mobility services.

Rema has been with KPMG for 27 years, during which she’s held several leadership positions. Since 2020, she has served as National Managing Principal – Tax. Prior to this, she led the Economic and Valuation Services practice from 2015-2020, driving double-digit growth by disrupting and diversifying service offerings and reimagining the ways her teams collaborated.

Rema earned a Master’s degree in international economics from Columbia University, School of International and Public Affairs, and a Bachelor’s degree from Barnard College.

EisnerAmper’s Wilen Selected Turnaround Management Association Global President for 2024

Global business advisory firm EisnerAmper has recently announced that Allen Wilen, Partner and National Director of the firm’s Financial Advisory Services Group, has been named the Global President of the Turnaround Management Association (“TMA”) for the organization’s 2024 term.

The TMA is a professional community that seeks to strengthen the global economy by working to save distressed businesses, assist management to navigate off-plan events and help healthy companies avoid similar pitfalls. Established in 1988, the TMA has approximately 10,000 members worldwide who include turnaround practitioners, attorneys, accountants, advisors, liquidators, consultants as well as academic, government employees and members of the judiciary.  

Allen leads a team of more than 100 professionals who assist clients through the litigation and restructuring process. He advises financially distressed companies in turnaround and crisis situations, provides counseling to purchasers in the acquisition of assets within the bankruptcy arena, and provides expert testimony to parties in civil matters. In addition, Allen frequently serves as a chief restructuring officer and receiver.

Spinelli Joins CohnReznick as Managing Director, Restructuring & Dispute Resolution

CohnReznick LLP, one of the leading advisory, assurance, and tax firms in the United States, recently announced that Joseph Spinelli has joined the firm as a Managing Director in its Restructuring & Dispute Resolution practice. Spinelli is a globally recognized thought leader and practitioner in the areas of white-collar investigations; the Foreign Corrupt Practices Act (FCPA); anti-bribery and corruption; integrity monitorships; and risk management.

A former FBI Special Agent, Spinelli served as New York State’s first ever Inspector General and has been called as an expert witness in a variety of civil and criminal cases. His extensive consulting and advisory project experience spans the U.S., Latin America, Asia-Pacific, and Europe. It includes leading integrity monitoring for all construction companies involved in the clean-up at Ground Zero following the 9/11 terrorist attacks; designing and implementing anti-bribery and corruption compliance programs for Fortune 500 companies; and conducting FCPA Investigations in South America, China, Korea, The Philippines, and Vietnam.

Before joining CohnReznick, Spinelli was Senior Managing Director, Global Investigations, for a major global consulting firm. He earned a BA from Ricker College, Houlton, ME, and a JD from John Marshall Law School, Atlanta, GA. Spinelli is Certified Fraud Examiner, Regent, 2004-2006 and a member of the Independent Association of Inspectors General.

Damiecki to Lead CohnReznick’s Construction Practice

CohnReznick LLP, one of the leading advisory, assurance, and tax firms in the United States, recently announced that Scott E. Damiecki, CPA, CCIFP, Partner, is assuming the role of Construction Industry Leader effective February 1, 2024. This is a critical time for the firm’s Construction practice which is currently experiencing substantial growth and a rise in client demand as a result of the nation’s historic investment in infrastructure.

In tandem with the practice’s ongoing growth nationwide and increasing presence within the sector, the firm has expanded in markets such as Texas and South Florida where there is a significant need for industry leading, client-centric construction services. The practice is also advancing its capabilities within the intersection of ESG and infrastructure – specifically focusing on governance and integrity monitoring work.                                                    

Damiecki has more than 25 years of construction industry experience serving general contractors, subcontractors, engineers, real estate developers, and property owners. As the practice continues to expand, he will work closely with an experienced leadership team including Amy Benbrook, Partner; Anthony Campolo, Partner; Tom Greenwalt, Partner; Michael Lipari, Partner; and Eric Rafail, Partner.