Irish law firms are finally seeing an upturn in business after a chilly 12 months which saw deals all but disappear after the 11 September terrorist attacks on the US.

A combination of the global downturn, the hit taken by the technology sector and the impact of foot and mouth disease all contrived to put the brakes on Ireland’s phenomenal growth, which is expected to average no more than 3.5% this year, down from 11.5% in 2000 and 6.7% last year.