Issue 7 2019

Acquisition International - Issue 7 2019 69 Oct18445 The Test of Time Julius & Creasy has blossomed over the last 140 years to become well-established in its home country of Sri Lanka. teeped in history, Julius & Creasy is one of the most renowned civil law firms in Sri Lanka. Over the years, Julius & Creasy has established itself on rich tradition and the highest professional principles in order to truly flourish as it does today. The firm is able to offer innovative legal and business solutions to a diverse, sophisticated and high-profile clientele, thanks to its wealth of expertise in a wide range of specialised fields. With a strong reputation for excellence in legal services and professional staff, Julius & Creasy has built a vast national and international client base, with high-profile clients including multinational companies, financial institutions, public and private sector companies and traditional private customers too. Major cross- border assignments for international clients has added to its vast experience and expanded its global reach significantly. Julius & Creasy is not only the name of the firm, but the names of two pioneers of legal practice in Sri Lanka and history records show that, despite being Englishmen, the two founding partners showed a deep attachment to their adopted country. They functioned with a sense of independence and fairness, which endeared them to their adopted local community as well as their own Recognising the potential of home grown lawyers, the British solicitors opened the doors of the Senior Partner’s office to Sri Lankans. Mr. J.F. Martyn was followed by H.T. Perera and subsequently the colourful, J.A.Naidoo. Mr. A.R.N. de Fonseka steered the firm through turbulent times in the country’s political history in the early 1970s. Julius & Creasy was also responsible for the first female Senior Partner in the annals of legal history in Sri Lanka. Mrs. L.C. Fernando S was one of the first two women to pass out as Proctors, and she was subsequently the first Senior Partner in an otherwise male-dominated profession. The more recent years have seen the Senior Partners of Julius & Creasy striding the commercial and litigation landscape of Sri Lanka in a manner that spelt out its commitment to the development of the Firm, along with the consequent development of their clients. From its inception as the untidy office of two highly respected Englishmen, Julius & Creasy has, despite the rigors of time, evolved and expanded into the largest, and one of the most highly respected and sought after legal firms in Sri Lanka. Today, a partner at the firm, Anomi Wanigasekera, heads up the Intellectual Property group and was recently awarded an AI Leading Adviser commendation for her hard work and diligence. Anomi joined the firm in 1984, shortly after she was admitted to the bar, and has extensive experience in the full range of enforcement, management and transactional matters pertaining to intellectual property law, including representing clients before the National Intellectual Property Office, acting for multinationals as well as Sri Lankan conglomerates in respect of infringement actions, applying for injunctions and search and/or seizure orders. She also overlooks the drafting and reviewing of contracts and advises on regulatory compliance matters. Under Anomi’s guidance, the firm’s Intellectual Property clients represent numerous multinational companies, which include a majority of the Fortune 500 companies. Anomi and her team also act on behalf of several leading Sri Lankan conglomerates and is regularly instructed by some of the leading Trademark Agents in the UK, USA, EC, Australia, Japan, Hong Kong, Singapore, Malaysia and India.