Neelakandan & Neelakandan

Neelakandan & Neelakandan (formerly Murugesu & Neelakandan) is one of the leading and oldest full-service law firms in Sri Lanka and has been in practice for almost 60 years.

The Firm was founded in 1962 by the late Mr. Velupillai Murugesu, and built to be recognised as one of the most efficient and leading professional law firms of an international repute by the late Mr. Kandiah Neelakandan. The Firm is currently headed by the Precedent Partner Ms. Sashidevi Neelakandan who has been an integral part of the Firm for over 40 years.

Neelakandan & Neelakandan is a member of Meritas, one of the world's largest alliances of prequalified independent law firms and the local correspondent firm for Allen & Overy LLP.

The Firm has been satisfying its foreign and local clients with its dynamic approach and high calibre expertise. During almost six decades, the Firm has built a reputation for meeting its clients' needs without compromising ethics, integrity and professionalism.

The Firm is entrusted with the protection of Intellectual Property in Sri Lanka of top world-renowned brands in both contentious and prosecution matters and the Firm handles a large volume of trademark, industrial design and patent applications for a number of local, as well as foreign clients including Rolls-Royce, Lamborghini, Bugatti, BMW, Volkswagen, Audi, Nissan, Datsun, Honda, Hyundai, Kia, Yamaha, Marriott Hotels, Sheraton Hotels, Hilton Hotels, Virgin, Samsung, Panasonic, LG, Canon, USHA, Seagate, Levi Strauss, Debenhams, Tesco, ICI Paints Akzonobel, Asian Paints, Visa International, Standard Chartered Bank, Staedtler, TVS, Kraft, Speedo, Head, Guess, St. Gobain Abrasives, Deutsche Telekom, Emirates Airlines, Air China, Air Berlin, CIMA, Philip Morris International, Hermes International, and Victoria's Secret to name a few.

The Firm advises banking syndicates comprised of leading local and international banks in connection with financing arrangement to various infrastructure projects. In particular, the Firm has been advising syndicates on many power projects.

The Dispute Resolution practice of the Firm covers, civil, commercial and appellate litigation arising from a range of matters including contractual disputes, professional negligence, defamation claims, environmental issues, debt recovery, intellectual property infringement & unfair competition, insolvency proceedings, trust disputes, property disputes and appeals. The Firm also has expertise in international arbitration and the enforcement of arbitral awards, Admiralty and shipping and handle pre-litigation negotiations.

The Firm advises domestic and international clients on tax structuring, appeals, direct and indirect tax, double taxation and special exemptions granted by regulatory authorities and also advise on structuring foreign direct investments into Sri Lanka.

The Firm handles a range of real estate and construction transactional work and advise many developers, landowners and purchasers on condominium law, deeds of transfer and registration of instruments of title.

The Firm has a full-scope employment practice which is regularly instructed by household-name corporates on regulatory, advisory and dispute resolution mandates and has strong experience with matters with both contentious and non-contentious labour matters.

The Firm continues to advise international shipping companies, ship owners, charterers and P&I clubs in contentious matters; cross-border disputes, relating to cargo claims, ship mortgage enforcement, vessel arrests and maritime litigation.

The Firm also advised and acts for Clients in testamentary proceedings and trust matters relating to property.

The Firm continues to advise for over five decades private clients, including individuals, family groups, foundations and trustees ensuring our legal advice is tailored for their individual needs, is practical and discreet on wills and probate, intestate succession and estate management and advise and act for Clients in testamentary matters, related advise and re-sealing of foreign probates.