Highvern launches office in Ireland and makes three senior hires

Highvern has opened its Irish office, making three senior hires as it broadens its best in class corporate and fund services offering.

The Dublin-based business will be headed up by Philip Dempsey as Country Head – Ireland, who is joined by Adrian Bailie and Emma Keane as Directors.

The Irish offering will include, subject to the applicable regulatory approvals, corporate and fund administration services to unregulated and regulated structures across Debt, Capital Markets, Real Estate, Infrastructure, Private Equity, Aviation, Hedge and other alternative asset classes in the Irish marketplace.

Martin Hall, Managing Director of Highvern, commented: “Launching in Ireland is a very logical next step for us given the market prospects and proven appetite for the high quality and technology-based client service for which our award-winning funds services business in Jersey, led by Aidan O’Flanagan, is increasingly known. We are delighted to have been able to attract such an established and well-respected team in the Irish market now and look forward to working with Phil, Adrian and Emma as they grow the business.”

Philip Dempsey brings with him over 20 years’ experience in the Irish funds market, having held a number of senior operational and relationship roles including EMEA Head of Transfer Agency Product for a global financial institution. More recently, Philip set up an Irish AIFM business, and was appointed Ireland Country Head for a FTSE 250 listed fund and corporate services business. Philip was also responsible for obtaining the first ever Real Assets Specialised Depositary license in Ireland granted by the Central Bank of Ireland.

He is also an active member of Irish Funds, is a member of the Green Team Network SteerCo and regularly contributes to industry via speaking engagements and thought leadership.

Adrian Bailie is a highly accomplished chartered accountant with over 20 years’ experience in the financial services industry working with a wide range of corporate, institutional, fund and SPV clients. His primary focus will be to promote Highvern’s expansion into the Irish SPV marketplace. Adrian specialises in private debt and capital markets and has extensive expertise in the administration and corporate governance of structured finance transactions, securitisations, private debt, real estate, aviation and other alternative asset structures.

Emma Keane joined Highvern in October 2021 to establish its initial Irish footprint. Emma is a Fellow of the Association of Chartered Certified Accountants with over 14 years’ experience in the Irish funds industry across both regulated and unregulated fund structures, in particular focussing on debt financing, private equity/venture capital and real estate strategies. She has a keen interest in how ESG factors shape the investment industry and is also a Steer Co member of the Green Team Network.

Philip Dempsey said: “We are thrilled to be joining Highvern at such an exciting time in its evolution and expansion into new jurisdictions such as Ireland. It is clear that our business has a well-defined and effective business strategy. Highvern has already a strong industry reputation and the growth potential is significant.”