Jon Hanifan has joined Akin Gump Strauss Hauer & Feld to lead its European hedge fund tax advisory team.

He joins from Ernst & Young, where he was a director in the hedge fund tax practice.

Hanifan will work closely with the investment management practice, which was recently joined by partners Tim Pearce and Ian Meade in London, and with Jonathan Ivinson, tax partner in Akin Gump’s London and Geneva offices.

Hanifan specialises in the provision of tax advisory services to hedge fund clients, including the tax implications of structuring new businesses, restructurings, international expansion or relocation, and mergers and acquisitions.

Stuart Leblang, co-head of Akin Gump’s tax practice, says: “Jon has extensive experience advising hedge funds and their investment managers on the full range of tax issues affecting their businesses.  With our expanding presence in London, Jon will provide critical tax support to our hedge fund clients in the UK and elsewhere in Europe.”

Hanifan says: “Akin Gump’s funds team is highly respected around the world. The opportunity to join the team and to help further expand the growing practice’s capability across the funds sector is a challenge I am hugely looking forward to.”