APAC Insider- APAC Legal Awards 2024 | 8 Colombo Law Alliance is a Law Chamber founded by Dr. Asanga Gunawansa and Mr. Dilshan Jayasuriya in 2013. Dr. Gunawansa is an individual with more than three decades of professional experience, both in Sri Lanka and overseas. Based in Sri Lanka, Colombo Law Alliance provides specialised legal services to a wide range of clients in both the private and public sectors. As the Chamber is named in the APAC Legal Awards 2024, we speak with Dr. Gunawansa, Co-Founder and Lead Legal Counsel of Colombo Law Alliance. Dr. Gunawansa began his illustrious career with the position of State Counsel, attached to the Department of Attorney General of Sri Lanka in 1993. Upon completion of his PostGraduate studies, achieving an LLM in International Economic Law at the University of Warrick and a PHD in Law at the National University of Singapore, Dr. Gunawansa joined the United Nations Compensation Commission in Geneva in 2000. There, he held the role of Legal Officer for five years, before joining the United Nations Relief and Works Agency as a Legal Officer. In 2007, Dr. Gunawansa was hired by the National University of Singapore, as an Asst. Professor, to teach construction law and arbitration, a position he held until 2012. In the year 2013, Dr. Gunawansa returned to Sri Lanka to establish Colombo Law Alliance (CLA) with his long-standing friend, Mr. Jayasuriya. As one of the most soughtafter law chambers in Sri Lanka, CLA specialises in all areas of commercial and civil law. The firm is considered as one of the go-to in Sri Lanka in connection with legal services relating to foreign direct investment, public private partnerships, project financing, construction disputes, banking, international trade, contracts and alternative dispute resolution, including arbitration. CLA servs both national and international clients, including international organisations and public sector entities. Renowned for its excellent services, CLA served as the local legal consultants for the largest foreign direct investment project in Sri Lanka to-date, the Colombo Port City Development Project. CLA was also involved in drafting several proposed regulations and parts of the law in relation to the establishment of the Colombo Port City Economic Commission Law. The formation of such a stellar law chamber has not come without its challenges, however. “Since the establishment of CLA in 2013, the most difficult period faced by the law chamber was during 2021-2023,” Dr. Gunawansa recalls, “when the Sri Lankan economy took a major downturn following the COVID-19 pandemic, the economic crisis, and a change of Presidency, following public protest, the situation was dire. However, even during these difficult times, CLA assisted its clients to stay afloat and effectively deal with legal challenges that they had to face due to the economic crisis.” Such challenges are faced by a dynamic team of legal experts who drive CLA by taking an innovative, pragmatic approach when handling complex legal issues. Comprised of 15 fulltime junior associates and several part-time legal service providers, the team provides effective and timely legal solutions to its clients, through novel thinking, extensive legal research, and a strong emphasis on teamwork. Although Sri Lanka is a small jurisdiction, its strategic positioning and ample natural resources attracts plenty of interest from around the world for investment opportunities and trading collaborations and partnerships. CLA is in an advantageous position to attract those seeking legal services in the areas of commercial and corporate law due to its innovative and effective team. Cultivating such an exceptional team has been an immense source of pride for both Dr. Gunawansa and Mr. Jayasuriya. “The most rewarding aspect of working in the legal sector, from an individual’s perspective, has been the opportunity for training and nurturing young lawyers and seeing them grow to become experts in their own right,” he tells us. “One of the proudest moments for the team has been the successful conclusion of project negotiations and signing of the Project Agreements for the development of the Colombo Port City.” Currently, CLA is working on preliminary legal due diligence reports for prospective foreign investments in several areas of infrastructure development in Sri Lanka. These include studies into alternative energy and transport. Led by Dr. Gunawansa, CLA expects these projects to commence before the end of 2025. We wish success to Dr. Gunawansa and his team at CLA as they continue to deliver excellent legal services to their clients. Contact: Miss Christina Peiris, Junior Counsel Email: christina.peiris@ colombo-law.com Company: Colombo Law Alliance Web Address: https://colombo-law.com Most Innovative Banking & Finance Law Firm 2024 – Sri Lanka & Best Contract & Construction Lawyer 2024 (Sri Lanka): Asanga Gunawansa Colombo Law Alliance Aug24223
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