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2026 Edition
Outstanding
Highly recommended
Recommended
Overview
DL & F De Saram, one of the largest full-service law firms in Sri Lanka, specialises in domestic and cross-border matters across all practice areas, with its strongest practices in banking and finance, corporate and M&A, dispute resolution and intellectual property. The firm is highly capable of undertaking complex transactions and meeting client expectations. Key contacts for corporate and M&A and banking and finance work are Savantha De Saram and Prabash De Saram. The firm hired Vishwamithra Kadurugamuwa as consultant counsel in March 2025 from Kandima Residences, Maldives. He specialises in banking and finance, capital markets, corporate and M&A, private equity, construction, regulatory, restructuring and insolvency, competition/antitrust, and real estate matters.
Client feedback
"Responsive, willing to work with complicated requirements and approachable." – Corporate and M&A
"The firm has always provided very valuable and timely guidance." – Dispute resolution
"The team is very professional and technically proficient." – Regulatory
"The staff are very personable and approachable, open and clear in their comments, and their formal responses are clear and easy to understand." – Shipping
"Practical and relevant advice, able to relate to the business context, with a depth of experience and exposure across industries that is useful when receiving advice." – Technology and telecommunications
Jivan Goonetilleke
"Willing to listen, accessible and gives sound advice."
"His experience, knowledge and clear communication skills."
"A great scope for commerciality and an understanding of the industry provides for strong legal and commercial advice."
"Deep experience and knowledge across multiple industries, the ability to provide practical and contextual legal advice, the ability to understand global business contexts in a local setting, and a willingness to weigh in on pros and cons when advising and giving practical and realistic solutions."
Aloka Nandasena
"Very approachable, very responsive and able to draft complex agreements."
Client feedback
"Responsive, willing to work with complicated requirements and approachable." – Corporate and M&A
"The firm has always provided very valuable and timely guidance." – Dispute resolution
"The team is very professional and technically proficient." – Regulatory
"The staff are very personable and approachable, open and clear in their comments, and their formal responses are clear and easy to understand." – Shipping
"Practical and relevant advice, able to relate to the business context, with a depth of experience and exposure across industries that is useful when receiving advice." – Technology and telecommunications
Jivan Goonetilleke
"Willing to listen, accessible and gives sound advice."
"His experience, knowledge and clear communication skills."
"A great scope for commerciality and an understanding of the industry provides for strong legal and commercial advice."
"Deep experience and knowledge across multiple industries, the ability to provide practical and contextual legal advice, the ability to understand global business contexts in a local setting, and a willingness to weigh in on pros and cons when advising and giving practical and realistic solutions."
Aloka Nandasena
"Very approachable, very responsive and able to draft complex agreements."
Linked Reviews
General business law (asialaw)
Work highlights
Acting as local counsel to Standard Chartered Bank on the divestment of its Sri Lankan retail and wealth banking business to DFCC Bank for LKR 3.7 billion, in one of the most complex banking portfolio transfers undertaken in the Sri Lankan market in recent years. The transaction covered personal loans, mortgage portfolios, customer deposits, and the large-scale transfer of employees across SCB Sri Lanka's Priority Banking, credit card, retail lending, and SME businesses. The firm led the regulatory approval process with the Central Bank of Sri Lanka, negotiated the transaction documents, and played a particularly active role in advising on employee transition matters — including providing real-time guidance at employee town halls and bidder meetings. The deal forms part of Standard Chartered's broader global strategy to concentrate on its corporate and investment banking operations, while enabling DFCC Bank — marking its 70th year — to significantly deepen its retail and wealth management franchise in Sri Lanka.
Key clients
China Development Bank, Evergreen Marine Corp (Taiwan), Sunshine Holdings
Acting as local counsel to Standard Chartered Bank on the divestment of its Sri Lankan retail and wealth banking business to DFCC Bank for LKR 3.7 billion, in one of the most complex banking portfolio transfers undertaken in the Sri Lankan market in recent years. The transaction covered personal loans, mortgage portfolios, customer deposits, and the large-scale transfer of employees across SCB Sri Lanka's Priority Banking, credit card, retail lending, and SME businesses. The firm led the regulatory approval process with the Central Bank of Sri Lanka, negotiated the transaction documents, and played a particularly active role in advising on employee transition matters — including providing real-time guidance at employee town halls and bidder meetings. The deal forms part of Standard Chartered's broader global strategy to concentrate on its corporate and investment banking operations, while enabling DFCC Bank — marking its 70th year — to significantly deepen its retail and wealth management franchise in Sri Lanka.
Key clients
China Development Bank, Evergreen Marine Corp (Taiwan), Sunshine Holdings