Liz Grace is a partner in Matheson’s Asset Management Group. She specialises in EU and Irish investment funds law. In 2007, she set up Matheson’s first dedicated knowledge development unit at practice level within the firm, which today has grown to service the 60 plus members of the Asset Management Group and its clients. In collaboration with Maynooth University, Liz has recently established Ireland’s first and only university-taught investment funds law course in order to make this area of law accessible to Irish third level students for the first time.

A lawyer working in financial services needs to be able to think laterally, says Michael Barr, a partner with A&L Goodbody, as 'clients do not want just a legal answer but rather someone who will work with them to get their product into the market in a successful and cost effective way'. Other attributes required include being able to take in and understand quickly new concepts and ideas, and the ability to work well with people at all levels within an organisation, to get the deal done.