Number of partners: 11
Number of lawyers: 40
Supported by an integrated staff of 100 employees
Languages: English, Sinhala, Tamil
Introduction
D.L. & F. De Saram is one of the oldest law firms in Sri Lanka, founded in 1898 by Richard Francis De Saram, and carried on in partnership by his sons, Douglas and Fred De Saram. This tradition endured successively into the 20th century when Fred De Saram’s sons, Colonel F.C. De Saram, F.J. “Coo” De Saram, Robert De Saram and Maurice De Saram, and nephew, Clifford Trevor De Saram, guided the fortunes of the Firm. Interestingly, the tradition is sustained by the present partners, Michael Sproule, Dijen De Saram, grandsons of Fred De Saram, and Savantha De Saram and Prabash De Saram, his great-grandsons. The firm takes great pride in its rich heritage, and is one of the largest full-service law firms in Sri Lanka.
International trade, economy and communications are constantly evolving, and the legal requirements of our global clients change at lightning speed and we stay abreast of these changes as they apply to the Sri Lankan legal framework. The Firm is in a unique position to meet the needs of our clients – individual, corporate, domestic and international.
The Firm is consistently ranked as a leading law firm by IFLR1000, Legal500, Chambers Global and Chambers Asia Pacific. Our highly qualified, versatile and experienced team offers a wide range of legal services in the areas of Corporate & Commercial Law, Banking & Finance, M&A, Projects & Infrastructure with emphasis on PPPs, Dispute Resolution, Taxation, Employment Law, Competition, Anti-trust & Intellectual Property, Real Estate, and specializes in representing major foreign and domestic companies with diverse business interests in Sri Lanka.
The Firm is experienced in Sri Lankan anti-bribery and anti-corruption laws and assists as Sri Lankan counsel for investigations under the Foreign Corrupt Practices, Act of 1977.
The Firm undertakes company incorporations, including Board of Investment of Sri Lanka approved incorporations, and assist in establishment of Overseas Companies (e.g., Branch). The Firm’s subsidiary, Corporate Advisory Services (Pvt.) Ltd., provides the full gamut of company secretarial services to over 500 domestic companies, many of which are listed on the Colombo Stock Exchange.
AREAS OF PRACTICE
The firm has an experienced team of lawyers specializing in Mergers and Acquisitions in the fields of energy, infrastructure, construction and pharmaceuticals. The team handles private equity, public mergers and acquisitions, and was recently associated with two of the largest M & A transactions in Sri Lanka. They undertake due diligence exercises, and preparation of share purchase and shareholders’ agreements, and specializes in advising clients on Sri Lankan foreign investment and amalgamation laws. The Firm continues to advise major Chinese and Indian clients on structured inbound investment.
The firm advises on Shipping and Protection & Indemnity interests on cross border disputes, with special emphasis on cargo claims, vessel mortgage enforcement and crew arrests, salvage, and ground handling disputes. Counsel facilitates and advises on many aspects of Admiralty, Shipping and International Trade including collisions, groundings, fires and cargo disputes, charter parties, bills of lading, and contracts of freight, marine insurance, ship arrests and crew arrests, maritime litigation and arbitration, purchase, appraisement, sale and registration of vessels.
The Firm provides legal counsel in all aspects of foreign and local investment on approval from the Central Bank of Sri Lanka and the Board of Investment. The firm also offers legal expertise on specific incentives and exemptions granted by the BOI in relation to Taxation and Banking and businesses.
The firm handles complex cross border financing for domestic blue-chip companies, multinational corporations and financial institutions, acting as co-counsel with international law firms. It has comprehensive experience in asset and project finance, and handling structured transactions in the fields of energy, infrastructure, transportation, communications, real-estate, and pharmaceuticals. The firm also advises on exchange control laws relevant to corporate financial transactions within the Sri Lankan legal framework.
The team further counsels on a range of banking and financial services, including loans, performance bonds, bid bonds and other credit instruments, government bonds, treasury bills and other financial and treasury instruments, mortgages and guarantee agreements, letters of credit, documentary collection (DA/DP terms), open account and other trade finance transactions, bills of exchange, promissory notes and cheques.
The Firm advises on issues of shares, debentures and warrants, and other listed and unlisted instruments, derivative products, and securitizations. It assists Sri Lankan companies seeking to list shares and debt instruments in overseas exchanges, as well as on international bond issues with underlying assets being located in Sri Lanka. Counsel further directs international banks in the preparation of memorandums and prospectuses for sales notes and warrants to Sri Lankan customers, and have considerable experience in advising on ISDA documentation for corporate and non-corporate counterparties.
The firm advises clients on all aspects of competition law issues, including reviewing arrangements and agreements that are potentially anti-competitive, joint ventures, merger controls, dominance and practices, and preparing compliance memorandums.
The firm instructs clients on the regulatory framework for infrastructure development with special emphasis on ports and terminals, energy, utilities, and highways. The team assists investors on all aspects of the project cycle from tendering procedures, labour requirements, operational issues, to dispute resolution. They advise lenders and developers on project finance and all types of Public-Private Partnership arrangements. The lawyers have considerable experience in advising on, and preparing concession and implementation agreements, joint venture agreements, purchase agreements, finance, and direct lending agreements.
The firm provides legal counsel to general contractors, prime contractors, subcontractors, architects and design professionals, owners, developers, construction managers and suppliers in all matters relating to the construction industry. It also undertakes specialized construction arbitration work.
The firm’s real estate team advises on foreign ownership restrictions, land acquisitions and sales, mortgage and lease agreements, together with due diligence examinations on real estate, and the preparation, attestation and registration of transfers and other title documents. The team is currently involved as legal advisers to three of the largest mixed development projects underway in Sri Lanka. The scope of services includes advising on condominium law and general drawbacks, preparation of condominium plans and declarations, sales agreements, deeds of transfer and obtaining local authority documentation. The firm also counsels construction companies employed in mixed development projects.
Labour, Employment and Immigration
The firm provides the full spectrum of labour and employment legal services to its domestic and multinational clients. These include advice on employee remuneration and benefits, resignations and terminations, dispute resolution, disciplinary hearings, employment terms including superannuation and pension benefits, disputes with trade unions and individual and collective disputes, workmen’s compensation and preparation of employment contracts, collective agreements, settlements and awards. The firm has has significant experience in HR and employee restructuring and advises multinationals on the compatibility of international labour regulations with Sri Lankan laws. It also assists in the compilation of employment guides and handbooks.
The firm advises clients on winding up laws, insolvency and deregistration filing requirements, restructuring of debt and formal insolvency proceedings. The team institutes and defends insolvency proceedings on behalf of its clients and advises lenders and investors on corporate structuring.
The team of IP lawyers handle applications for the registration of trademarks, copyrights, industrial design, patents and related services. This includes managing litigation arising from infringements and trademark enforcements, advising on infringement of intellectual Property rights and IP dispute resolution including litigation.
The firm undertakes IT assignments dealing with drafting and dispute resolution on all aspects of information technology law, including software development and licensing, IT consultancy and agency, outsourcing, trans-border data flow agreements, data privacy, domain registrations, web site and e-commerce, software development and licensing agreements and IT dispute resolution.
Litigation and Dispute Resolution
The firm specializes in litigation, dispute resolution, corporate insolvency and bankruptcy, and is experienced in all courts throughout Sri Lanka. The team assists clients in respect of all litigation and dispute resolution matters with creditors, debtors, clients, shareholders, staff, and other third parties.
The firm instructs on many aspects of tax, both individual and corporate including tax incentives and exemptions for foreign investors, corporate and income tax disputes, Value Added Tax(VAT) and other indirect tax issues, transaction structuring and representing clients in tax disputes.
The firm counsels on all aspects of family law and testamentary matters including wills, probate, estate management, intestate succession and matrimonial issues.
The firm’s secretarial division, through its subsidiary, Corporate Advisory Services (Pvt.) Ltd., provides incorporation, secretarial and ancillary services to corporate clients in accordance with the provisions of the Sri Lanka Companies Act. CAS is a virtual one-stop-shop for all services connected with the establishment and operation of a domestic or foreign company in Sri Lanka, and currently manages in excess of 500 clients.
Offering the best of legal services in all three languages in Sri Lanka, our team consists of 11 Partners and 43 Lawyers, supported by an integrated staff of 100 employees.
Our highly qualified, versatile and experienced legal team specializes in infrastructure project development which includes ports, power and energy, highways, with emphasis on public-private partnerships and cross border financing.
Senior Partner
Savantha was called to the Bar in 1999 and has extensive experience with the firm for over 20 years. Savantha’s prolific academic and professional qualifications include LL.B (Hons) Holborn Law College London, Attorney-at-Law of the Supreme Court of the Democratic Socialist Republic of Sri Lanka, Barrister-at-Law (England and Wales) Lincoln’s Inn. His areas of expertise include Corporate and Commercial Law, Project Finance, and Infrastructure projects.
Areas of practice
- Foreign Investment
- Infrastructure
- Construction
- Mergers and Acquisitions
- Information Technology
- Competition and Anti-Trust
Contact details
Telephone (+94) 11 2695782 | Mobile (+94) 777 891 696 | Email: savantha@desaram.com | LinkedIn
Partner
Prabash was called to the Bar in 1999 and been with the firm for over 15 years. He was previously the Manager of Exports and Imports (Trade Services) at Hong Kong and Shanghai Banking Corporation Limited and provided advice on documentary credit collection transactions and trade finance lending instruments. Prabash has extensive academic and professional qualifications which include Attorney-at-Law of the Supreme Court of the Democratic Socialist Republic of Sri Lanka, LL.M Magister Juris at University College – University of Oxford, Qualified Member of the Chartered Institute of Management Accountants – UK. His area of expertise include Corporate and Commercial Law, Banking and Finance, Taxation, Project Finance and Infrastructure projects and Intellectual Property.
Prabash was called to the Bar in 1999 and has been with the firm for over 17 years. He worked previously at the Hong Kong & Shanghai Banking Corporation Limited in Sri Lanka advising on Trade Finance Instruments. His areas of expertise include Corporate and Commercial Law, Banking and Finance, Taxation, Project Finance and Infrastructure and Intellectual Property Law.
Academic Qualifications : Magister Juris (Masters in Law) University College, University of Oxford, UK (2000-2001)
Professional Qualifications : Attorney-At-Law, Supreme Court of Sri Lanka, Past finalist – Chartered Institute of Management Accountants (CIMA- UK)
Academic Awards and Scholarships : Obtained first class honours in all three years at the Sri Lanka Law College (1996, 1997 and 1998). Attained first class honours in the Magister Juris graduate degree from the University of Oxford , UK (2001). Awarded the Shell Centenary Scholarship for studies at the University of Oxford, UK (2000). Awarded Angelo M. Patrick prize for best performance by a Sri Lankan in SMM (Strategic Management and Marketing) in the final stage of the CIMA – UK Examination (May 2000)
Areas of practice
- Banking and Finance
- Tax
- Real Estate
- Restructuring and Insolvency
Contact details
Telephone (+94) 11 2695782 | Fax (+94) 11 2695410 | Email: prabash@desaram.com
Patron partner
Dijen, a former Senior Partner of the firm was called to the Bar in 1976 and has extensive experience, having been with the firm for over 30 years. Dijen’s academic and professional qualifications include LL.B (Hons), University of Ceylon, and Attorney-at-Law of the Supreme Court of the Democratic Socialist Republic of Sri Lanka. His areas of practice comprise Dispute Resolution, Insurance and Tax.
Areas of practice
- Family Law
- Dispute Resolution
- Insurance and Tax
Contact details
Telephone (+94) 11 2695782 | Fax (+94) 11 2695410 | Email: dijen@desaram.com
Patron Partner
Michael, a former Senior Partner of the firm, was called to the Bar in 1968 and has widespread experience with the firm exceeding 40 years. His prolific academic and professional qualifications include Bachelor of Arts from University of Oxford, Barrister-at-Law (England and Wales) Inner Temple, and Attorney-at-Law of the Supreme Court of the Democratic Socialist Republic of Sri Lanka. His areas of practice include Real and Moveable Property and Trusts.
Areas of practice
- Real and Moveable Property and Trusts
Contact details
Telephone (+94) 11 2695782 | Fax (+94) 11 2695410
Partner
Manjula was called to the Bar in 1993 and has extensive experience with the firm for over 22 years. She possesses academic and professional qualifications which include LL.B (Hons), University of Colombo, Attorney-at-Law Supreme Court of the Democratic Socialist Republic of Sri Lanka and Notary Public of Colombo. Her areas of practice consist of Employment, Corporate and Commercial, and Intellectual Property Law.
Areas of practice
- Labour, Employment and Immigration
- Real Estate
Contact details
Telephone (+94) 11 2695782 | Fax (+94) 11 2695410 | manju@desaram.com
Partner
Aruni was called to the Bar in the year 1998 and has far-reaching work experience exceeding 20 years, which includes 9 years at Nithya Partners where she was appointed a Partner in 2007. She has been with D.L. & F. De Saram’s for over 6 years. Her academic and professional qualifications include LL.M in Commercial Law, University of Aberdeen, United Kingdom, and Attorney-at-Law of the Supreme Court of the Democratic Socialist Republic of Sri Lanka. Her areas of practice include Conveyancing and Property Development, Securitisation/ Debt Market Practice.
Areas of practice
- Real Estate
- Restructuring and Insolvency
- Construction
Contact details
Telephone (+94) 11 2695782 | Email aruni@desaram.com
Partner
Jivan Goonetilleke was called to the bar in 2008. He has significant experience with the firm for over 10 years. He possesses extensive academic and professional qualifications which include LL.B (Hons) University of London (2005), B.A. (Bachelor of Arts) University of Kelaniya, Sri Lanka (2006), Post Graduate Diploma in Conflict Resolution from University of Colombo, Sri Lanka (2009), Attorney-at-Law, Supreme Court of the Democratic Socialist Republic of Sri Lanka (2008). His areas of practice include Dispute Resolution and Admiralty Shipping and international Trade.
Areas of practice
- Admiralty and Shipping
- Labour, Employment and Immigration
- Litigation and Dispute Resolution
Contact details
Telephone (+94) 11 2695782 | Fax (+94) 11 2695410 | jivan@desaram.com
Partner
Aloka was called to the Bar in the year 2008, and has been a part of the firm for over five years. Her diverse work experience, exceeding 10 years, includes three and a half years at the Colombo Stock Exchange. She has several academic and professional qualifications which include LL.B (Hons), University of London, LL.M (University of Colombo), Attorney-at-Law of the Supreme Court of the Democratic Socialist Republic of Sri Lanka and Notary Public of Colombo. Her areas of practice comprise Corporate and Commercial Law, Project Finance, and Infrastructure Projects.
Areas of practice
- Foreign Investment
- Banking and Finance
- Mergers and Acquisitions
- Competition and Anti-Trust
- Capital Markets and Securities
- Intellectual Property
Contact details
Telephone (+94) 11 2695782 | Fax (+94) 11 2695410 | Email aloka@desaram.com
Partner
Dasuni was called to the Bar in the year 2009 and has been a part of the firm since the inception of her career. She has several academic and professional qualifications which include a LL.B (Hons), University of London, LL.M (Hons) Queen Mary University of London, and Attorney-at-Law of the Supreme Court of the Democratic Socialist Republic of Sri Lanka.
Areas of practice
- Foreign investment
- Litigation and Dispute Resolution
Contact details
Telephone (+94) 11 2695782 | Fax (+94) 11 2695410 | Email dasuni@desaram.com
Partner
Hansi was called to the bar in 2014 and has been a part of the firm for over 8 years. She holds a LL.B (Hons), University of London and is an Attorney-at-Law of the Supreme Court of the Democratic Socialist Republic of Sri Lanka. Her key areas of practice comprise of : Corporate and Commercial Law, Infrastructure Development, Power and Energy, Project Finance, and Banking and Finance.
Areas of practice
- Foreign Investment
- Corporate and Commercial
- Infrastructure Developments
- Banking and Finance
- Mergers and Acquisitions
- Competition and Antitrust
Contact details
Telephone (+94) 11 2695782 | Fax (+94) 11 2695410 | Email hansi@desaram.com
Partner
Hasanthie was called to the Bar in 2012. She joined the firm as an Associate in the same year. She holds a LL.B (Honors) from the University of London and Diploma in Commercial Arbitration from the Institute for the Development of Commercial Law and Practice (ICLP).
Her practice primarily focuses on Intellectual Property (IP) matters including IP related litigation and IP registration requirements in Sri Lanka. She also specializes in Private Client Practice advising on last wills, testamentary actions and divorce cases.
Areas of practice
- Intellectual Property
- Private Client
- Testamentary
Contact details
Telephone (+94) 11 2695782 | Fax (+94) 11 2695410 | Email hasanthie@desaram.com
Legal Counsel
Suren was called to the bar in 1997. He has extensive work experience with the firm for over 10 years. He possesses academic and professional qualifications which include LLM (Hons) University of London (1998), LL.B (Hons) University of Wales College, Cardiff (1995), Barrister at Law (England & Wales), and Attorney-at-Law Supreme Court of the Democratic Socialist Republic of Sri Lanka (1997).
Areas of practice
- Dispute Resolution
- Project Finance and Infrastructure Projects
- Securitisation
- Admiralty Shipping and International Trade
Contact details
Telephone (+94) 11 2695782 | Fax (+94) 11 2695410 | suren@desaram.com
Company Secretarial Services
A graduate of the Institute of Chartered Secretaries and Administrators (ICSA), UK. She has worked as a Company Secretary amassing over 32 years of experience and has the capability to ensure that a company complies and operates in accordance with statutory and legal provisions.
Areas of expertise
- Company Regulations
- Compliance Strategies
- Maintaining Statutory Books
- Personal Administration
- Corporate Governance
- Data Protection.
Contact details
Telephone (+94) 11 2695782 | Fax (+94) 11 2695410 | Email su@desaram.com
