1. Healthcare

Speaker biographies:
Operational Excellence in the Asset Management Tax
Function
Andy Ruggles
Partner
Phone: (415) 498-5087
PwC
Email: [email protected]
Andy is a partner at PwC with a focus on leading clients in the use of process and technology in the tax
reporting, analysis and compliance process. Andy serves clients on a national basis (with a deep knowledge
of subchapter K and Asset Management) as well as the use of technology in the analysis and reporting of
issues. Andy serves clients with specialties in process redesign, data mapping/blueprinting/organization,
conversion of data and process to a technology enabled approach, as well as assistance with the
implementation of third party systems.
Andy is frequent speaker in tax panels and forums regarding the transformation of process and technology
in the Asset Management industry. His extensive track record working with organizations’ tax
departments, IT departments, and leadership teams as well as PwC’s teams of tax and technology
professionals provides clients the optimal blend of tax perspective with the experience and pragmatism in
tax operations.
Andy has a BS in Finance and an MBA with Accounting emphasis from California State University, is a
member of the AICPA and California Society of CPAs.
Maria Lamari-Burden
Principal
Phone: (646) 471-8968
PwC
Email: [email protected]
As a tax principal in PwC’s Asset Management practice, Maria advises hedge fund and other alternative
investment fund clients in structuring investment vehicles, evaluating tax matters associated with various
financial instruments, reviewing fund documents and tax planning. Maria has also served as CFO and
CCO of private investment management firms, where she was responsible for all tax, financial, business,
accounting and legal matters and she acquired substantial experience in the operational and compliance
aspects of the investment management business.
Maria contributed to the writing, editing and publication of Hedge Funds: A Comprehensive Tax Planning
Guide, the first publication of its kind to conduct an in-depth analysis of the tax and structuring issues
associated with domestic and offshore private investment partnerships. She is a member of several trade
organizations, has strong relationships with various industry participants and is a frequent instructor of
internal training sessions for staff technical development.
Maria received her LL.M. in Taxation from New York University School of Law and her J.D., with
distinction, from Hofstra University School of Law. She has an M.B.A. in Finance from Fordham
University Graduate School of Business and a B.E. in Civil Engineering from Manhattan College. Maria is
also a member of the New York State Bar.
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Mike O’Neill
Partner
Phone: (646) 471-5556
PwC
Email: [email protected]
Mike is a tax partner in PwC’s Alternative Investments practice. He has over 20 years of experience
servicing alternative asset managers and advising clients in the capital markets arena. He specializes in
securities taxation and tax planning related to both domestic and offshore hedge and private equity funds
and the related investment management entities. Mike has deep specific tax knowledge and experience in
a wide array of strategies including equity, credit, commodities and real estate. Mike regularly advises
clients on tax planning related to structuring collective investment vehicles, income deferral strategies,
loss deferral avoidance planning, compensation planning and many other critical tax planning
opportunities.
Mike’s client base includes many of the largest and most complex alternative investment managers in the
marketplace. Mike is a well known thought leader in the industry and regularly speaks at conferences in
relation to current tax issues facing the alternative investment community. Within PwC, he serves as a
national technical resource for other PwC clients with respect to capital markets taxation issues.
Mike is a Certified Public Accountant licensed in New York State and is a member of the American
Institute of Certified Public Accountants and the New York State Society of Certified Public Accountants.
He received a Bachelor of Science degree in Accounting from Fordham University.
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Miriam Klein
Partner
Phone: (646) 471-0988
PwC
Email: [email protected]
Miriam is a tax partner in the Alternative Investments group of PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP and is based
in New York City. Miriam started her career in the tax planning and compliance group of one of the top
ten hedge funds. She has extensive experience serving hedge fund and private equity fund clients of all
sizes and strategies, as well as their advisor entities. In connection with her work, Miriam advises clients
on the application of proposed and enacted legislation and issues such as organization and structure,
financial products, investor reporting, withholding considerations, and tax allocations.
Miriam is a frequent speaker on technical issues at industry events and often authors alternative
investment fund tax technical alerts. She has also authored the following journal articles:
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Klein, M., M. Lowy, S. Basilyan, & A. Biegeleisen, (2014). Not So Ordinary? The Impact of the
Reportable Loss Transaction Rules to Alternative Investment Funds Investing and Trading in Foreign
Currency Denominated Debt. Journal of Taxation of Financial Products, 12 (1), 29-36.
Klein, M. & S. Kopstick, (2013). Much Ado About Lots: Alternative Investment Fund Reporting Under
the New Cost Basis Reporting Regime. Journal of Taxation of Financial Products, 11 (3), 19-26.
Kim, R., E. H. Dougherty, & M. Klein, (2011). Will Hedge Fund Investors Start Asking for Tax Alpha?
Can Hedge Fund Managers Deliver It? The Journal of Wealth Management, 13(4), 44-50.
Miriam earned her B.S. in Accounting, magna cum laude, from Brooklyn College/CUNY and her M.B.A.
from the Stern School of Business of New York University. She is a member of the American Institute of
Certified Public Accountants (AICPA), New York State Society of CPAs (NYSSCPA), and Managed Funds
Association.
Miriam appears on the 2013 Forbes 30 under 30 List for Finance.
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