Richard De Saram establishes D. L. & F. De Saram at the Gaffoor Building in Colombo Fort.
Our History
A Practice Shaped Over Generations
D. L. & F. De Saram's story begins in 1898.
Over more than 125 years, the firm has evolved alongside Sri Lanka's legal, commercial and economic landscape, passing through successive generations while adapting its practice to the changing needs of the people and businesses it serves.
The history of the firm is one of continuity, but also of change. New areas of practice, new generations of lawyers and increasingly international work have shaped D. L. & F. De Saram while preserving an institution built over more than a century.
Where the Story Began
D. L. & F. De Saram was founded in 1898 by Richard De Saram and named after his sons, Douglas and Fred De Saram.
The firm began its practice from the Gaffoor Building in Colombo Fort, establishing the foundations of a practice that would continue through successive generations.
As Sri Lanka's legal and commercial environment developed, so too did the work of the firm. What began at the close of the nineteenth century would gradually evolve into a broader practice serving the changing needs of businesses, institutions and individuals.
Early to Mid 20th Century
Responsibility for the firm passed to a new generation during the early decades of the twentieth century, with Douglas De Saram assuming its leadership.
The period also brought physical change. Following the military requisition of its original premises in Colombo Fort, the firm relocated to C. W. W. Kannangara Mawatha, where it remains today.
In 1954, Colonel Frederick Cecil De Saram, known as Colonel F. C. De Saram, became Senior Partner. Together with those who followed him, including his brother F. J. "Coo" De Saram, this period established a continuity of leadership that would shape the firm for decades to come.
A Changing Practice
As Sri Lanka's economy and commercial environment changed through the latter half of the twentieth century, the firm's practice broadened with it.
Under the leadership of Colonel F. C. De Saram and later Coo De Saram, D. L. & F. De Saram expanded its work across commercial, banking and corporate law, developing capabilities that would become an important part of the modern practice.
Change was also taking place within the institution itself. In 1995, Nivi Abeyratne became the firm's first female partner, marking an important point in the continuing evolution of its partnership.
Following the passing of Coo De Saram in 1999, Derrick Perera assumed the role of Senior Partner, beginning another chapter in the firm's leadership.
MILESTONES THROUGH THE YEARS
1898: The Firm is Founded. Milestone 1 of 11.
A New Century
The beginning of the twenty first century brought another period of transition.
Michael Sproule and Dijen De Saram assumed leadership roles as the firm's work continued to develop across a broader range of commercial matters. Both would later continue their relationship with D. L. & F. De Saram as consultants, allowing experience and institutional knowledge to be carried forward as another generation assumed responsibility for the practice.
At the same time, the increasingly cross border nature of business was changing the context in which the firm operated. D. L. & F. De Saram's relationships with lawyers and firms outside Sri Lanka continued to develop alongside the international dimensions of its work.
In 2018, D. L. & F. De Saram was admitted as the exclusive Sri Lankan member firm of Lex Mundi, connecting the firm with an international network of independent law firms across jurisdictions.
The Firm Today
Today, the firm is led by Savantha De Saram and Prabash De Saram, continuing a succession that has carried D. L. & F. De Saram through five generations. Cross border transactions, new technologies and evolving regulation have changed the questions clients face, and the firm has adapted with them.
What remains is a practice shaped over generations, with experience passed forward as each generation responds to its time.
More than 125 years after its founding, the story continues.
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