John Wilson Partners

Corporate 

A significant amount of time is spent handling large corporate matters including legal due diligence exercises and the negotiation of share purchase agreements, drafting of Articles of Association. We also advise on the impact of Sri Lankan law on complex commercial agreements such a franchise and distribution agreements. We assist numerous foreign enterprises wishing to invest in Sri Lanka to obtain the necessary approvals, including Board of Investment of Sri Lanka approvals and provide company incorporation and company secretarial services. Advisory We undertake advisory work and provide legal opinions with regard to all areas of Sri Lankan Law. 

Employment law 

We provide legal opinions and review of contracts of employment, handbooks and policies for multinationals employing persons in Sri Lanka and provide advice on the impact of Sri Lankan law. We provide advice in regard to termination of employment issues, compensation, workplace relations, industrial disputes, voluntary settlement agreements, redundancies, industrial relations and the conduct of domestic inquiries. 

Compliance 

Most recently we have provided comprehensive advice to a large Japanese firm on dealings which persons should not have with public officials - including relevant definitions of the terms, with particular reference to the offences under the Bribery Act. We undertake compliance work and provided advice in regard to investigations consequent to whistle blowing for two multinationals during the last quarters of 2019. A few years ago, we assisted Ingram Micro - a Fortune 100 listed U.S. multinational with an internal compliance related investigation. 

Litigation 

We litigate for clients to recover debts and a significant part of the litigation portfolio we handle includes applications to register and enforce foreign judgments and arbitral awards. Our team frequently represents international clients in handling their court proceedings in Sri Lanka. Over the years, our firm has earned a strong reputation as a solid contender amongst its peers for handling civil litigation and arbitration matters. O

Our services include trust disputes, debt recovery litigation and contentious IP issues. Our Civil Litigation, Dispute Resolution and Arbitration and Employment law practice areas deal with a wide variety of cases. 

Tax and Real Estate 

We enjoy a large client base of high net worth individuals who seek specialist tax advice to structure their acquisitions of interests in real estate in Sri Lanka. We also advise foreign investors on the taxation 3 laws of Sri Lanka and corporates on complicated tax issues. We carry out examinations of title and handle all aspects of conveyancing, commercial and residential leases. 

IP 

Since 2000we have expanded our IP practice and as part of this journey we have observed a large increase in instructions received from brand owners who are facing problems in Sri Lanka in connection with their legitimate rights as brand owners/domain name owners. John Wilson Partners are currently leading the Sri Lanka IP Association - Sri Lanka Group of AIPPI, and will be driving its strategy and plans forward. 

More details are available at www.aippi.lk. 

Pro bono 

Provided advice to an international development agency in relation to granting of a loan facility to a Non-Government Organization, the proceeds of which were to be used by the NGO for on-lending to small-scale rural businesses run by women and women led co-operatives and investments in infrastructure projects for the benefit of small-scale famers. Reviewed the draft loan agreement in view of the Foreign Exchange Regulations, the Micro Finance Act and the Voluntary Social Services Organizations (Registration & Supervision) Act.