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.
Banking and finance: cross-border financing for both domestic blue-chip companies and multinational corporations and financial institutions, acting as co-counsel with international law firms. The firm has widespread experience in asset and project finance and handling structured transactions in the fields of energy, infrastructure, transportation, communications, real estate and pharmaceuticals, and advises on exchange control laws and corporate financial transactions within the Sri Lankan legal framework.
Capital markets and securities: the team advises on issues of shares, debentures and warrants and other listed and unlisted instruments, derivative products and securitisations. The team assists Sri Lankan companies seeking to list shares and debt instruments in overseas exchanges, international bond issues and international banks in the preparation of memorandums and prospectuses.
Competition and antitrust: the firm advises clients on all aspects of competition law issues, on Sri Lankan anti-bribery and corruption laws, and has assisted as Sri Lankan counsel in FCPA investigations.
Restructuring and insolvency: the team advises clients on winding up laws, insolvency and deregistration filing requirements, restructuring of debt and formal insolvency proceedings. It also advises lenders and investors on corporate structuring.
Corporate and M&A: the firm has an experienced team of lawyers specialising in M&A, active in the fields of energy, infrastructure, construction and pharmaceuticals. The team handles private equity and public mergers and acquisitions, undertakes due diligence exercises and prepares share purchase and shareholders agreements, and specialises in advising clients on Sri Lankan foreign investment and amalgamation laws.
Labour, employment and immigration: the firm handles the full spectrum of labour regulations in Sri Lanka, advising domestic and multinational corporations on all aspects of labour laws, including the compatibility of international labour regulations with Sri Lankan law.
Infrastructure: the team advises clients on the regulatory framework for infrastructure development with special emphasis on ports and terminals, energy and utilities and highways. It advises lenders and developers on project finance and all types of PPP arrangements. The team advises on and prepares concession agreements, implementation agreements, joint venture agreements, purchase agreements and finance and direct lending agreements.
Intellectual property: the firm handles applications for the registration of trade marks, copyrights, industrial design, patents and related services, including litigation arising from infringements and trade mark enforcement.
Real estate: the 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.
Admiralty and shipping: the firm advises on shipping and protection and indemnity interests on cross-border disputes, with special emphasis on cargo claims, vessel mortgage enforcement and crew arrests, salvage and ground handling disputes. The firm facilitates and advises on many aspects of admiralty, shipping and international trade.
Corporate secretarial services: the firm’s secretarial division through its subsidiary, Corporate Advisory Services (Pvt.) Ltd., provides incorporation, secretarial and ancillary services to corporate clients, currently in excess of 500, 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.
Founded in 1898
65 people in their team
Let us find the right lawyers for you.