ESTABLISHED 1898
A legacy of precision and principled advocacy.
Our Story
A pioneer of legal excellence for over 125 years, D.L. & F. De Saram has been one of Sri Lanka's trusted law firms since 1898, led by generations of the De Saram family and a team of experts dedicated to providing clients with long-term strategic solutions.
Our Heritage and Expertise
Founded by Richard De Saram and named after his sons, Douglas and Fred De Saram, D.L. & F. De Saram commenced its operations in the Gaffoor Building, Colombo Fort. Following a relocation due to military requisition, the firm now stands prominently on C. W. W. Kannangara Mawatha, opposite the Colombo Town Hall.
Over the decades, leadership has remained within the De Saram family, with pioneers like Fred De Saram, Colonel FC, and Coo De Saram who were crucial in broadening the capabilities of the firm. From Michael Sproule and Dijen De Saram, leadership today resides in the trusted hands of Savantha and Prabash De Saram, who continue to grow and preserve the firm's distinguished legacy.
Our expertise spans a significant range of legal practice from Commercial, Banking and Corporate law to more lucrative areas of Intellectual Property, Debt Restructuring and Energy Infrastructure. Guided by past leaders who continue to serve as consultants, D.L. & F. De Saram continues to evolve to address the complex challenges presented by an ever-changing legal and business environment while retaining its reputation as a provider of exceptional legal services.
Century of Sovereignty
International & Local Recognition
D.L. & F. De Saram takes pride in its global reputation and reach with a prestigious client base that connects across the globe, from the United States, United Kingdom and Europe to China, Hong Kong, Singapore and Australia. As the exclusive Sri Lankan member of the prestigious Lex Mundi legal network, our firm retains a constant rank in top legal directories, including IFLR1000, Asialaw, The Legal 500, and Chambers rankings.
Guided by Experience
Our commitment to People and Practice goes hand in hand with a legacy that was forged not only on legal expertise but inclusivity and diversity. From the appointment of our first female partner in 1995, Nivi Abeyratne, one of Sri Lanka’s sought-after property law practitioners – our Senior Leadership has grown with pride today, to include seven female patterns reinforcing the firm’s diverse representation at the highest levels of direction.
D.L. & F. De Saram is home to a dynamic and progressive team of 10 Partners and over 40 Lawyers, each bring with them a distinct personality, skill set and perspective. We take great initiative in the constant drive within our firm to facilitate sustainable and innovative solutions. Our team is not only devoted to upholding the firm’s ethical principles and values through robust and resilient legal services but also to reinforcing clients’ trust and confidence.
Modern Developments
At D.L. & F. De Saram, we resonate a clear vision amongst all members of the firm and that is to engage with integrity and sustainability as we evolve across diverse environments and client bases. As a unit, we work together to realise this vision through the adherence of strict policies and protectionism initiatives, to ensure the achievement of responsible legal practice standards. Our Pro Bono portfolio is an aspect we take great pride in, in terms of providing critical legal services to those in need around the world taking our social responsibility from domestic to global community support.
Our Managing Partner, Savantha De Saram was recently presented with the prestigious appointment to the Lex Mundi Board of Directors, a platform that shapes international legal strategies and standards.
As Savantha continues to broaden the scope of our services and influence in the internal legal arena, our firm is dedicated to outperforming and continues to provide the highest quality of legal advice to our clients at home and abroad.
