Sri Lanka

DL & F De Saram has strong practices in banking and finance, corporate and M&A, dispute resolution and intellectual property. Key contacts for corporate and M&A and banking and finance work are Savantha De Saram and Prabash De Saram, respectively.

General business law

Work highlights

Provided admiralty regulatory advice to Assuranceforeningen SKULD in relation to the Maritime Labour Convention.

Assisted Regional Development Bank in a merger with Lankaputhra Development Bank.

Advising Odakyu Group on a joint venture hotel development project with TAD Group.

Key clients

Bank of Baharain, HCL Technologies, Kuwait BSC, Mitsubishi UFJ Financial Group, Sugih Energy International

Client feedback

“Extremely prompt, accessible and very detailed.” – Labour and employment

“Prompt, thorough, professional and competent in the work the firm does for us.” – Private equity

Jivan Gunathilaka

“Responsive and reliable.”

Inshira Hanifa

“Good relationship skills, open and honest.”

John Wilson Partners has established itself as a full service corporate law firm and continues to offer a broad range of legal services to national and international organisations, businesses and private individuals. John Wilson is a key contact.

General business law

Work highlights

Advised Orana on the Sri Lankan law pertaining to the planned market entry in the jurisdiction.

Acted for Kuehne and Nagel in regard to the legal regulatory and taxation framework governing payment of dividends.

Carried out legal due diligence for Lineage Logistics with respect to an acquisition worth approximately $1.7 billion.

Julius & Creasy continues to maintain its position as one of the top law firms in the jurisdiction. Banking and finance, corporate and M&A and dispute resolution are within its scope of advice. The firm has particular strength in aviation and shipping. Amila Fernando, Anandhiy Gunawardhana, Diluka Rodrigo and Shane Silva are key partners.

General business law

Work highlights

Acted as local counsel for Hutchison Telecommunications Lanka in relation to the merger with Etisalat Lanka.

Assisted Zilingo in the acquisition of nCinga Innovations and carried out a red-flag due diligence review of nCinga Sri Lanka.

Advised SriLankan Airlines on the issuance of new bonds and the repayment of the bonds issued in 2014.

Key clients

Balapitya Investments, Deloitte Consulting Overseas Projects, International Distillers, Publicis Groupe Holdings

Client feedback

“Thorough, practical and objective focused.” – Corporate and M&A

Sudath Perera Associates is a leading full service law firm in Sri Lanka. It operates with two major departments, namely corporate and commercial law department and dispute resolution department. The two teams combined are experienced in the fields of dispute resolution, civil and criminal litigation, corporate and commercial law, intellectual property, labour and tax. The firm is frequently contacted by international law and profession services firms as their preferred local legal counsel in Sri Lanka for any transactional and investment advisory work. Managing partner Sudath Perera is the key contact. In September 2019, Capital market partner Suhadini Wickremasinghe left the firm.

General business law

Work highlights

Acted as lead counsel to Bolton Labs in corporate restructuring, including an asset divestiture exercise and the preparation of the cross-judicial transaction documentation.

Assisted Nippon Paints Lanka in a corporate restructuring exercise.

Advising Copreus on in regulatory and compliance matters in Sri Lanka, the drafting and reviewing of commercial agreements and employment matters.

Key clients

Capital Trust Corporate Solutions, Kuehne+Nagel, MAGA Engineering, Rofa-Bekleidungswerk

Client feedback

“Extremely efficient and have in-depth knowledge of local regulations.” – Capital markets

“Very effective negotiation and industry knowledge.” – Corporate and M&A

Dushyantha Perera

“Dushyantha is a talented and dynamic lawyer.”