Mr Pádraig Ó Ríordáin (37) has become the new managing partner of the Dublin law firm Arthur Cox.

The appointment takes effect from November 1st. Mr Ó Ríordáin succeeds Mr Eugene McCague who has completed his four-year term as managing partner. He will now resume fulltime practice in the firm's corporate department.

A graduate of UCC and Harvard Law School, Mr Ó Ríordáin practised for a number of years with a Wall Street law firm prior to joining Arthur Cox where he headed up the firm's New York office from 1993 to 1996. In 1996, he returned to the firm's Dublin office where he has been practising for the past seven years.

Mr James O'Dwyer, chairman of Arthur Cox said: "Pádraig is a highly skilled lawyer with a strong record of achievement on behalf of clients. His appointment reflects the firm's continuing commitment to providing client services to the best international standards."

Arthur Cox is one of the Republic's largest law firms with offices in Dublin, Belfast, London and New York. The firm was recently awarded "Irish Law Firm of the Year" by the International Financial Law Review.

Meanwhile, another Dublin law firm, Mason Hayes & Curran, has established an investment funds practice under the management of Mr Fionan Breathnach.

Mr Breathnach advises fund promoters on structuring, establishing and listing investment funds in Ireland and also advises fund administrators, custodians, investment managers and other related service providers on the establishment of operations in Ireland and on their ongoing business.

"Recent industry developments make this an exciting and opportune time for Mason Hayes & Curran to launch its dedicated practice unit in this area, and I greatly look forward to offering investment funds expertise to existing and new clients of the firm," Mr Breathnach said.