Nathaya Nanayakkara

Nathaya is a Partner and Head of Brand Protection at the firm.

Background & expertise

She specialises in the area of Brand Protection with a focus on online and offline anti-counterfeiting and anti-piracy enforcement actions, criminal and civil litigation, and customs enforcement. She also handles matters related to Regulatory and Compliance Law and Immigration Law.

Nathaya joined the firm in 2014 and has 10 years of experience in the legal field. She was called to the Bar as an Attorney-at-Law of the Supreme Court of Sri Lanka in 2018.

Notable matters

• Honda Motor Co. Ltd enforced its IP rights for the first time in Sri Lanka by initiating criminal raid actions against counterfeit motorcycle spare parts dealers
https://www.linkedin.com/posts/sudath-perera-associates_honda-battles-against-counterfeiters-for-activity-7180446539251691520-Qstd
https://www.ft.lk/front-page/Honda-battles-against-counterfeiters-for-the-first-time-in-Sri-Lanka/44-760174
• PUMA SE obtained enjoining orders in the Commercial High Court against entities dealing in counterfeit products
https://www.ft.lk/business/Puma-asserts-IP-rights-in-the-battle-against-counterfeiters/34-759784
• Dedigama Group (Pvt) Ltd obtained an enjoining order on the basis of trade name and trade dress infringement
https://www.dailynews.lk/2024/05/20/business/551315/colombo-commercial-high-court-issued-an-enjoining-order-against-using-the-name-dadigama/
• D. Samson & Sons Ltd (DSI) protected its ‘AVI’ trademark and brand in the Commercial High Court
https://www.ft.lk/front-page/DSI-obtains-enjoining-order-against-infringement-of-its-AVI-Brand/44-746965

Academic & professional qualifications, memberships, associations and accreditations

Her academic qualifications include an LL.B. (Hons) degree from Queen Mary, University of London (UK) and a Master of Business Administration (MBA) with Distinction from University of West London. She is currently reading for a Doctor of Business Administration (DBA) at the University of Colombo.
Nathaya is a member of the International Trademark Association (INTA) and is a part of the INTA Unreal Campaign Committee (2024 – 2025). She is also a member of the Asian Patent Attorneys Association (APAA).

Publications

• Co-author, Social Enterprises and Impact Investments: A study on challenges and perspectives of social enterprises and impact investors in Sri Lanka (2023) – Sri Lanka Journal of Management Studies (Link)
• Co-author, Common Protect: A review of the legal systems protecting children from sexual exploitation and abuse across the Commonwealth – Sri Lanka Country Report – It’s A Penalty (2022) (Link – Page 384)