Corporate/Commercial
Asia-Pacific Guide 2025 : Sri Lanka
Band 2
About
Provided by DL & F De Saram
Specializations
Key work of the Department includes both domestic and crossborder corporate and commercial law matters (including M&A, capital market transactions, compliance and regulatory matters, restructuring), projects and infrastructure, tax and labour. The Department has acted as local counsel on several cross-border matters alongside several international law firms.
The Department contributes to several publications such as Practical Law Global Guides, Doing Business Guides – World Bank Group and Littler International Guide and also maintains Facebook OTT and Net Neutrality Trackers. Recently, the Department contributed to an online tool collating information relevant to clean energy projects in a number of international markets, including Sri Lanka, being developed by Simmons & Simmons LLP and formulated a compliance checklist for ENEOS Oil & Energy Asia Pte Ltd (subsidiary of ENEOS Corporation, Japan) on their sales and marketing activities of lubricant oil in Sri Lanka.
Clients
The recurrent client base includes Odakyu Group, HPL Properties (West Asia) Pte Ltd, China Machinery Engineering Corporation, Sugih Energy International Pte Ltd, China Harbour Engineering Company, SK E&S, ZTE Corporation, Seoyoung Engineering Co. Ltd, WindForce PLC and GE.
Recent Work Highlights
Recent work highlights include advising on the divestment of JF& I Packaging (Private) Limited and advising WindForce PLC on its offer for subscription amounting to LKR 3.2 Mn and listing on CSE.
Chambers Review
DL & F De Saram routinely represents a wide variety of multinational businesses and law firms on Sri Lankan inbound investment issues, including acting as co-counsel alongside international law firms. The firm provides assistance with corporate restructuring in addition to joint ventures and M&A transactions. The team has a notable track record in working on commercial matters concerning the energy, infrastructure, construction, healthcare and insurance sectors, including project development work. The team also offers expertise in cross-border matters across a wide range of jurisdictions and is active in the private equity sphere.
Work Highlights
- DL & F De Saram advised Deloitte Shared Services India in admitting PricewaterhouseCoopers' Sri Lankan and Maldives firms to the Deloitte network.
Strengths
Provided by Chambers
"The team has a good understanding of deal nuances. The lawyers are very responsive."
"We have found this team very capable and having sound knowledge and experience. The team has always delivered the services, there is no doubt in that!"
"The team has a good understanding of deal nuances. The lawyers are very responsive."
"We have found this team very capable and having sound knowledge and experience. The team has always delivered the services, there is no doubt in that!"
Notable Practitioners
Savantha De Saram is highly regarded in the Sri Lankan legal market for his skills in handling joint venture, M&A and project development mandates.
Aloka Nandasena has a broad legal practice that encompasses corporate restructuring, M&A and project development. Her broad clientele includes multinationals, private equity funds and government bodies.
"She is the best person to work with, hands down. She is very approachable, committed to the work and has always helped me out."
"Aloka was highly effective while advising on the deal."
Hansi Abayaratne has a busy corporate legal practice, regularly advising clients on domestic and cross-border transactions, including corporate restructuring, M&A and company incorporation.
"Hansi is very knowledgeable and to the point."
Ranked Lawyers at
DL & F De Saram
Sri Lanka
Members
Provided by DL & F De Saram
Aloka Nandasena
Head of Department
Dinithi Siriwardhana
Hansi Abayaratne
Inshira Hanifa
Head of Department
Ushara Ratnayake
Clients
Provided by DL & F De Saram
Akbar Brothers (Private) Limited
China Harbour Engineering Company Limited
China Machinery Engineering Corporation
China Petroleum Pipeline Engineering Company Limited
DirectFN Technology (Private) Limited
HOSPINORM Projects GmbH
ICICI Bank UK PLC
Sysco Corporation
WindForce PLC
ZTE Corporation
Industries
Provided by DL & F De Saram
Banking and Financial Services
Construction
Consumer Goods and Services
Industrial and Manufacturing
Insurance
Media and Entertainment
Pharmaceuticals
Power and Energy
Private Equity
Projects and Infrastructure
Shipping
Technology and Telecommunications