ALN Kenya | Anjarwalla & Khanna is delighted to announce the appointment of James Karanja as Tax Associate Director in charge of Transfer Pricing Services based in Nairobi, Kenya. As global challenges continue to frame new changes to the international and digital tax regulatory framework, James’ appointment is designed to strengthen the Firm’s response to its client service needs.
The appointment further reaffirms our approach on how we view new opportunities, as we continue to help unlock value for our clients investing across Africa. James joins a team led by Managing Partner and Head of Tax Daniel Ngumy and Partner Kenneth Njuguna. He will continue to strengthen the Firm’s significant tax offering in East Africa.
James has over 22 years’ experience in international tax issues, having worked with the Kenya Revenue Authority (KRA) and Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development’s (OECD) Tax Inspectors without Borders (TIWB) Project. Prior to joining ALN Kenya, he had served as the Head of Transfer Pricing at Andersen Tax in Nairobi.
James is the immediate former Head of Secretariat of the TIWB where he was responsible for developing TIWB into a highly visible, well-funded and successful global transfer pricing capacity building project of the OECD and UNDP. This initiative focused on building skills for tax administrations in developing countries. As Head of TIWB, James worked with senior revenue officials across the African continent and is therefore well known and well regarded by revenue authorities across Africa.
During his tenure at KRA, James worked extensively on international tax issues including transfer pricing audits, investigations and legislative reforms and was responsible for leading the Africa tax Administration Forum Committee of African transfer pricing experts to Africa’s contributions to the OECD-G20 Base Erosion and Profit Shifting (BEPS). In recognition of the successful interventions, James assisted the OECD Secretariat in formulation of the design of the Inclusive Framework on BEPS to allow for broader participation of developing countries in the tax reform process.
“The global tax environment is quickly changing, with greater focus on international arrangements, and cross-border tax matters such as transfer pricing,” says ALN Kenya Managing Partner and Head of Tax, Daniel Ngumy. “The appointment of James not only reflects his professional expertise and commitment to our ALN values towards bolstering our quality of service and know-how front, but also highlights our unwavering commitment to continue supporting clients navigate emerging tax issues new territories and capitalise on future opportunities in the East African region and across Africa.”
James has also served as the Kenya representative to the OECD Committee on Fiscal Affairs, as well as a member of OECD’s working party on Tax Treaties and related issues. James is also well versed with exchange of information for tax purposes issues having served as a Global Forum on Transparency peer reviews assessor and led Kenya’s Phase 1 and 2 Peer reviews in addition to representing Kenya in the Global Forum’s Steering Group.
ALN Kenya Co-Managing Partner Rosa Nduati-Mutero has referred to the appointment as “further evidence of our meritocratic culture, our strong belief in the future of the firm and ALN, and in the individual strength of our outstanding professionals and colleagues. In this constantly evolving sector, James adds to the tax team’s insightful and forward-thinking perspective which is crucial to solving our clients legal tax challenges.”
In 2017, James was named among the International Tax Review’s Global Tax 50 which lists of the most influential individuals, organisations, geopolitical events, and trends in the tax world. He has also participated as an accomplished speaker at numerous international tax meetings and conferences. James is an outgoing Associate of a Pan African initiative dubbed the Illicit Financial Flows joint programme and remains passionate about championing issues of Africa’s economic development.
James is an Advocate of the High Court and a member of the Law Society in Kenya. He also holds a Master of Public Policy and Management (MPPM) from Strathmore University, Bachelor of Law (LLB) from University of Nairobi.
James will be involved in working with our clients in the preparation of transfer pricing documentation across Africa. James will also be involved in defending clients against the increasingly significant transfer pricing assessments raised by revenue authorities on multinational companies and investors operating across Africa.
“I am very excited to join Anjarwalla & Khanna, and ALN, which enjoys a strong record for cross-border and digital tax matters. I hope to bring my experience to assist clients across Africa with their transfer pricing needs, and to help build a dedicated international practice in my client engagements. Going forward, I see us as the tax team that everyone wants to work with and be part of, and the trusted tax adviser of choice in the region,” says Tax Associate Director James on his joining the team.
Speaking on James’ appointment to ALN’s growing cross border tax team, ALN Kenya Senior Partner and ALN Board Director Karim Anjarwalla comments: “As an experienced tax expert, James will add bench strength and depth, further bolstering the establishment of a dedicated international tax team which will be a game changer for our East African region and the continent at large.”
Please join us in welcoming James to the ALN family and wishing him the best of luck in his new role as he takes this significant step towards further excellence.
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