Welcome back to our ‘Meet the Experts’ series. In this edition, we explore the capital markets landscape and examine how Centralis has positioned itself as a trusted and expert-led partner for structured finance and corporate SPV administration. As the industry continues to face increasing regulation, heightened structural complexity and shifting investor expectations, Centralis takes a people-first approach – combining deep regulatory and accounting expertise, tailored service, and operational efficiency to deliver real value to clients.
To delve deeper into this, we spoke with Conor Blake, Head of Debt Capital Markets, based in the Dublin office. With over 20 years of experience in capital markets and structured finance – Conor offers valuable insight into how Centralis supports clients through every stage of the SPV lifecycle. In this conversation, Conor shares his view on what sets Ireland apart as a jurisdiction, the importance of people in driving service excellence, and the role Centralis plays in helping clients navigate today’s regulatory and operational complexities with confidence.
A Strategic hub for capital markets
Ireland has long been recognised as a leading European jurisdiction for capital markets and structured finance activity. Its appeal lies in a unique combination of regulatory and tax clarity, political support, and a mature financial services ecosystem. “The Irish government has been consistently supportive of the financial services sector,” Conor explains. “That backing translates into clear and transparent tax rules, investor-friendly regulations, and the ability to efficiently repatriate profits to investors – all of which are crucial considerations for international clients.”
As the only native English-speaking, common law jurisdiction in the EU, Ireland offers an additional layer of familiarity for clients based in other common law countries, including the US and UK. Convenient time zone, legal certainty and a seasoned local workforce – including legal, tax and audit professionals – further strengthen Ireland’s position as a preferred location for structured finance vehicles and securitisation platforms.
Putting people at the centre of the solution
While many firms focus on automation and scale, Centralis has cultivated a reputation for high-touch, responsive service. “Capital markets is a people-driven business,” Conor says. “At Centralis, we differentiate ourselves through the quality and experience of our team – from onboarding through to accounting, governance, regulatory reporting. We have a diverse, multi-lingual, multi-national team which helps us connect with clients”.
The Dublin office delivers a comprehensive suite of SPV administration services, including company formation, directorships, company secretariat, registered office provision, accounting and general administration.
Notably, the team also provide the share trustee role, which plays a vital role in ring-fencing the assets from the originating institutions.
Another favourable jurisdiction for these services is Luxembourg and our team there provide these services too, as do Centralis in many other locations.
Meeting the regulatory challenge
The demands placed on market participants continue to increase, particularly in the regulatory space. Recent developments such as the Ultimate Beneficial Owner (UBO) register and the anticipated implementation of AML6 highlight the growing emphasis on transparency, due diligence and anti-money laundering protections.
“Clients are looking for partners who not only understand the current regulatory environment but can also help them anticipate what’s coming next,” Conor notes. “That’s where experience matters. We’ve built a team that doesn’t just deliver services – we guide clients through regulatory complexity in a way that supports both compliance and strategic outcomes.”
Built to support every stage
The strength of the Dublin team lies in its integrated approach. From the initial establishment of an SPV to its ongoing administration, specialist teams oversee client onboarding, transaction management, accounting, regulatory filings, and statutory reporting. The goal is to ensure each structure remains compliant, well-governed, and operationally sound.
“It’s about getting the detail right, every time,” says Conor. “Our clients rely on us to run the day-to-day so they can focus on the bigger picture and know their transactions are in safe hands.”
For businesses operating in the capital markets space looking for a trusted partner that understands their unique needs, Centralis is ready to help. Get in touch with our experts to find out how we can support your business.