This Directory displays the wealth of professional specialist legal, tax and actuarial expertise in banking, securitisation, debt, corporate finance, funds, asset finance and insurance.

With long standing traditions in a common law jurisdiction, the specialist financial legal sector has grown rapidly in Ireland, developing cutting edge expertise in banking, asset financing, treasury, derivatives and collective investment (mutual) funds. Alongside the well developed legal services infrastructure is an accomplished industry of professional taxation advisers, most of whom work within the framework of the leading global accountancy practices.

This 'Who's Who' of Ireland's leading professional services advisors illustrates the role of the leading Dublin legal firms with specialist financial services expertise, many of whom themselves play key roles in advising the Irish and other authorities on the evolution of the innovative regulatory regime that exists in Ireland.

Most professional tax advisers in Ireland are members of the Institute of Taxation. Membership (including students and subscribers) of the Institute comprises in excess of 4,600 individuals drawn mainly from the tax consultancy, accounting, legal and financial services professions and also from the Revenue Commissioners. The Institute sets standards in educational proficiency and professional ethics for the tax consultancy profession in Ireland.

The Republic of Ireland has a strong legal profession comparative to its size, with over 5,000 solicitors, and over 800 barristers. The Law Society of Ireland was established in 1842. The Republic of Ireland's legal code was inherited from Britain, of which it was part, up to independence from the UK in 1921.

The Parliamentary and legislative structures of the Irish Republic are patterned broadly on those of the British system, although Ireland has a written Constitution that can be altered only by plebiscite. The Republic joined the European Economic Community (European Union) as a full member in 1970. Its company law and financial regulatory law has evolved rapidly in the past fifteen years, reflecting changes in corporate finance and financial services, as well as EU legislation. In relation to funds it was the second EU country, after Luxembourg, to ratify the pan European UCITS Directive in 1989.