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
The team of IP lawyers at our Firm assist in applications concerning registration of trademarks, copyrights, patents, industrial designs and other related services
The Firm provides a comprehensive list of services in the labour and employment category. The services include advice on employee remuneration and benefits, resignation and termination, dispute resolution, disciplinary hearings, employment terms and conditions, disputes with Trade Unions, preparation of Employment Contracts, Collective Agreements, Settlements and Awards. Further assists in compilation of employment guides and handbooks.
The Firm specializes in litigation, dispute resolution, corporate insolvency and bankruptcy and is experienced in managing legal matters in all courts throughout Sri Lanka.
The Firm offers services with regard to family law and testamentary matters, inclusive of Wills, Probate, estate management, intestate succession and matrimonial issues.
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 attestation of transfer and other title documents. The scope of services include 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.
The Firm provides immigration services to facilitate work visas, dependent visas, business visas for foreigners seeking to travel into or work in Sri Lanka. In addition to this, the Firm also assists in advising and processing dual citizenship applications.
Savantha was called to the Bar in 1999 and has extensive experience with the firm for over 18 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.
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.
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.
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
Jivan 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.
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.
Dasuni was called to the bar in the year 2009, and has since been a part of the firm. She has several academic and professional qualifications which include a LLB (Hon) University of London, LLM (Hon) Queen Mary University of London and Attorney-at-Law of the Supreme Court of the Democratic Socialist Republic of Sri Lanka
Hansi was called to the Bar in the year 2014. She possesses both professional and academic qualifications including a LLB (Hon) from the University of London (External) and is an Attorney-at-Law of the Supreme Court of the Democratic Socialist Republic of Sri Lanka. She also holds a Higher Diploma in International Relations. She has extensive experience in her designated practice areas of Corporate and M&A, Banking and Finance, Projects and Infrastructure. Hansi is also a Rising Star in the practice categories of Corporate and M&A, Projects and Energy published by Legal 500 (Asia Pacific, 2021 Edition)
Hasanthie was called to the Bar in the year 2012. She has been a part of the firm since the beginning of her career. She possesses academic and professional qualifications which include LL.B (Hons) from the University of London (External), Attorney-at-Law of the Supreme Court of the Democratic Socialist Republic of Sri Lanka and a Diploma in Commercial Arbitration from ICLP. Her areas of practice consist of Intellectual Property Law, Family Law & Testamentary and Employment.
