Julius & Creasy

Our History

With its near 140 year history Julius & Creasy is one of the oldest law Firms in Sri Lanka, while also being the largest. Its reputation is one that has been built on rich tradition as well as the caliber of professionals passing through its corridors.

The beginnings of the partnership go back to when E.D. Thomas joined Villiers Alexander Julius and attested their first Notarial Deed. E.D. Thomas’ partnership with V.A. Julius was of a short duration as the former returned to England owing to ill-health and his place was taken by Harry Creasy, with the partners operating under the name, style and Firm of Thomas, Julius & Creasy. Although Julius & Creasy was established in 1879 with two other persons, L.P. Fisher and F. Liesching, the shorter designation of Julius & Creasy was not adopted until the endorsement of the deeds was changed in 1883 and it has remained so ever since.

Harry Creasy, the son of Sir Edward Creasy, who was one-time Chief Justice of the then Ceylon was also a member of the legislature at the time. V.A. Julius was the Senior Partner of the Firm and along with Harry Creasy, carried out their functions and duties with meticulous care and detail and in a few years their reputation for honesty, integrity, industry and precision grew to such an extent that they were respected unfailingly throughout the business and civil communities as well as the Government of the day. Julius & Creasy was not only the name of the Firm, but the names of two pioneers of legal practice in Sri Lanka – a banner of leadership which still flies proudly to this day.

The two founders of the Firm were also founder members of the Colombo Rowing Club being strong oarsmen as well as benefactors to Colombo society at the time. History records, that despite being Englishmen, the two founding partners showed a deep attachment to their adopted country and functioned with a sense of independence and fairness, which endeared them to their adopted local community as well as their own

The partners immediately succeeding the founders also had a profound impact on the professional and business communities as much as they helped shape the social fabric of the time. Learned and practical, these men and through them the Firm, became the bedrock of legal expertise.

Sydney Julius, the nephew of the founder V.A. Julius, was the senior partner of the Firm to succeed the founding partners. His winning ways of friendliness and charm soon endeared him to all the communities. He was renowned for his professional efficiency and meticulous attention to detail and his departure from Sri Lanka at the height of his success was universally regretted. Several matters of importance benefited from the negotiating acumen of Sydney Julius, where he acted as a peace-maker and settled contentious issues.

E.R. Williams who succeeded Sydney Julius as Senior Partner, was a partner of the Firm for thirty years but his character was the opposite to Sydney Julius as he was an introvert who performed his functions and duties with the minimum of fuss. He established such a reputation for skillful negotiation that he was engaged along with Harry Creasy to represent the interests of the Europeans in the Legislative Council.

O.P. Mount was another strong pillar on which the Julius & Creasy office was built. He was an expert in administration and management of the affairs and functions of the Firm, specializing in dealing with testamentary cases.

The first Ceylonese partner of the Firm was Mr. J.F. Martyn in 1944, and he was soon followed by H. T. Perera in 1946. True to its pioneering spirit, Julius & Creasy proceeded, for the first time in the legal history of Ceylon, to merge with another Firm, David Maartenz & Co., resulting in the Firm becoming the epicenter for commercial work in the country.

Another Englishman who made an impression on his clients was G.T. Hale. He was anxious to prevent delays in law and did his utmost to keep his clients out of Court. He was a deeply religious man and well loved by the community. He was the President of the Law Society as well as a member of the Council of Legal Education. Hale retired as senior partner in 1957 and his death in 1975 was met with much sadness by his many friends and clients whom he left behind on his departure to England.

Subsequently in 1961, F.C. Rowan CBE, one of the Firm’s most colorful Senior Partners, made some foresighted structural changes to the Firm. A lawyer of social as well as professional brilliance, his exit from the legal environs of Colombo left a deep void. He joined the Indian Army at the outbreak of war and returned to continue his practice in his own fearless fashion. He was a man of quick wit and Irish flair and legend has it that he was hosted at various farewell functions for upto three months prior to his departure from Sri Lanka.

Recognizing the potential of homegrown lawyers, the British solicitors opened the doors of the Senior Partner’s office to Sri Lankans. Mr. J.F. Martyn was followed by H.T. Perera and subsequently the colorful, J.A.Naidoo. Mr. A.R.N. de Fonseka steered the Firm through turbulent times in the country’s political history in the early 1970’s.

Julius & Creasy was also responsible for the first female Senior Partner in the annals of legal history in Sri Lanka. Mrs. L.C. Fernando was one of the first two women to pass out as Proctors, and she was subsequently the first Senior Partner in an otherwise male-dominated profession. The more recent years have seen the Senior Partners of Julius & Creasy striding the commercial and litigation landscape of Sri Lanka in a manner that spelt out its commitment to the development of the Firm, along with the consequent development of their clients. Mr. B.M. Amarasekera was responsible for a large number of property transactions in the country and was a conveyancing practitioner of repute. Mr. R.H.S Phillips, who was well known for his work in the intellectual property field, also helped draft the pioneering Intellectual Property Act of 1979. Another senior partner Mr. N. Ratnasabapathy was synonymous with the practice of commercial law followed by Mr R.Senathi Rajah. Mr Hermon Fernando was involved in many ground-breaking labour cases and was an expert in the field of labour and employment law. These gentlemen together with their colleagues contributed enormously to the value added by the Firm to the legal environs of Sri Lanka

In litigation too, the Firm has an extensive practice in all Courts of first instance and appeal. Despite being a predominantly civil law Firm, it has occasionally entered the fray in the criminal courts for certain clients. The Firm has contributed much to the jurisprudence of the country, being involved in several landmark cases over the years. It appeared in the first ever suit filed under the Intellectual Property Act, and was also involved in the defense of the impeachment motion filed against the then Chief Justice Neville Samarakoon among other memorable cases in the field of civil and commercial law.

From its inception as the untidy office of two highly respected Englishmen, Julius & Creasy has – despite the rigors of time – evolved and expanded into the largest, and one of the most highly respected and sought after legal Firms in Sri Lanka.