Nithya Partners was established in 1997 with the goal of delivering a modern and responsive service in corporate and financial law. The firm provides a full service, with its partners bringing together a unique combination of multi-disciplinary experience and knowledge gathered over several years in the public and private sector. These strengths have made it possible for the firm to deliver innovative, timely and commercial solutions to clients, and thereby position itself as one of the leading law firms in Sri Lanka within a relatively brief period. Nithya Partners has rapidly earned a reputation for excellence and developed a broad local and foreign client base consisting of several quoted and unquoted companies, multinationals, financial institutions, investment funds, multi-lateral organizations and statutory bodies. The firm is committed towards maintaining the highest standards of service delivery and meeting the needs of its clients.

Given its multi-disciplinary skills and expertise, the firm has placed special focus on providing services in corporate restructuring and the introduction of new financial instruments. The firm has successfully assisted in restructuring several large financial institutions and structured several securitizations.

The firm also focuses on anticipating new legal developments and proactively prepares to meet the challenges of providing legal services in such areas. Consequently, it has geared itself in areas such as trade law, anti-competition law and consumer laws. Similarly, the firm has also given special attention to intellectual property rights, especially in view of introduction of the new Intellectual Property Act. The firm also has expertise in electronic transactions, e-commerce law and internet law.

The firm also has a rapidly growing litigation practice and been involved in several high-profile cases, especially in the corporate area. In addition, the firm has also been involved in several international arbitrations.

Banking and Finance
Nithya Partners has a corporate and commercial practice that serves both domestic and foreign clients. Capital markets is a key area of strength for the Firm with its lawyers advising corporations, investment houses, market intermediaries and individuals on raising funds as well as responding to alleged violations of securities law. The Firm has acted in an advisory and representative capacity in some of the largest cross border investments, mergers and acquisitions and has also acted as legal advisors to several public offerings, including the largest IPO in the country to date, the IPO of Dialog Telekom in Colombo. The Firm also recently advised AUREOS Mauritius on its LKR 350 million purchase of an interest in a Sri Lankan public company. Other notable clients include Shell Gas Lanka, Asian Paints, Suntel Limited, and multinationals such as TUI Group, Shing Kwan Group and Solideal Ltd of Hong Kong.

Dispute Resolution
Nithya Partners has an active dispute resolution practice, handling the full gamut of corporate and commercial litigation and arbitration. Chanaka de Silva and Aruna Samarajewa, are currently represent several large corporates including Shell Gas Lanka Ltd in several high-profile cases against the Consumer Affairs Authority. They have also represented India’s KEC International Ltd, one of the World’s largest power transmission line construction companies, in arbitration, as well as Shell Gas Lanka in a dispute against the Ceylon Petroleum Corporation. The Firm represents the Institute of Chartered Accountants of Sri Lanka, John Keells Holdings, MAS Holdings (Pvt) Ltd, Aitken Spence & Company Limited, KPMG Ford Rhodes & Thornton, Suntel Ltd, Shell Solar Lanka Ltd and Eagle Insurance Ltd in several contentious matters. The firm also represented Sampath Bank in several high profile actions to successfully resist a hostile takeover.

Intellectual Property
At Nithya Partners department head Arittha Wikramanayake, Chanaka de Siva and Aruna Samarajewa combine their talents to offer a full suite of IP services to some of Sri Lanka’s largest companies. The Firm has represented Shell Gas Lanka, Suntel Ltd, Reckitt Benkeisser Lanka Ltd, Ambuja Cement (Pvt) Ltd, TNL Radio, Officetiger (Pvt) Ltd and MAS Holdings (Pvt) Ltd.

Projects and Energy
Nithya Partners’ project financing and regulatory issues specialist Chanaka de Silva, handles a multidisciplinary practice with particular experience in the energy and telecommunication sectors. He was involved in the USD 50 million Asia Power project and has advised the Government of Sri Lanka on the privatization of the Colombo Port and the Government of Maldives and the Foreign Investment Services Board on a proposal to develop a port in the Republic of Maldives. He was also the Legal Advisor for Ace Power Embilipitiya (Pvt) Ltd, Ace Power Generation, Matara and Ace P.G. Horana on the implementation of many medium term power projects and has advised Elpitiya Plantations on its development of leisure and recreational facilities. The Firm has advised Dialog Telekom, the largest mobile phone operator in Sri Lanka, on a US$ 50M project financing, and has further advised consultants to the Government of Sri Lanka led by PwC, on the construction of the Colombo-Katunayake Expressway. The Firm also receives instructions from Shell Gas Lanka and Shell Solar Lanka.

Real Estate
The pragmatic and service-oriented team at Nithya Partners has been involved in advising several large developers including Mireka Capital Land (Pvt) Ltd, a joint venture between the Shing Kwan Group of Singapore and the Bank of Ceylon, in the largest property development project in Sri Lanka, the Havelock City Project. The Firm continues to represent a number of property developers.

Tax
Department head Mr. Naomal Goonewardena specializes in corporate tax planning, M&A-related advice and tax disputes. He has been involved in devising a number of tax efficient structures and has acted for many high profile clients in Sri Lanka.