Despite hard economic times, Matheson Ormsby Prentice's Robert O'Shea and Pat English say foreign direct investment in Ireland has remained high and will be key in boosting the economy

The contemporary Irish lawyer spends more time than ever in cross-border environments in patriotic defence of Ireland's reputation in international circles.

In this context, we recently were in a meeting with a London law firm colleague in which the trusted colleague lamented the turbulent times in which we live. The confluence of recent events was, he said, one we could scarcely have expected, much less be prepared for. We are in uncharted waters at a time of quite unparalleled challenge where reputations in international circles have been subjected to extreme and brutal force. The real challenge, he wisely concluded, lies in winning our way back to the fore and in restoring our reputation in the process.