The former Tanaiste and minister for foreign affairs, Mr Dick Spring, has been recruited to the international advisory services division of a Washington and Boston law firm, Mintz, Levin, Cohn, Ferris, Glovsky and Popeo. The appointment follows the recent accession by Mr Spring to the boards of the US company, SIFCO Turbine Components and the Kerry-based financial services company, Fexco, as a non-executive director. He will continue to be based in Ireland.

Also joining the Mintz Levin group, which is undergoing a European expansion programme, is Mr Aidan Browne, an Irishman resident in Boston who specialises in foreign investment. "Mr Spring and Mr Browne will be helping the firm obtain work in Europe and neighbouring countries in the firm's key practice areas such as project finance, mergers and acquisitions, healthcare, telecommunications and high technology," the company stated.