Nipuni Samarasekara

Nipuni is a Partner in the firm’s Corporate and Commercial Law Department, was called to the Bar in Sri Lanka in 2010, and admitted to the roll as a Solicitor for England & Wales (non-practising) since 2018.
Through her time as a law student and then on to a practicing lawyer, she worked in two leading law firms and also in consulting, with experience in both Sri Lanka and the United Kingdom. Her experience spans intellectual property to commercial litigation, with a focus on FDI and special projects. In 2016, after returning to the country from the UK, she joined KPMG Sri Lanka as Manager (Legal Services) and in 2019, was elevated to General Counsel. From 2021 to the early part of 2024, she was the Managing Partner of SW Legal, an independent law firm affiliated to KPMG Sri Lanka.

Background & expertise

In her early years of practice, Nipuni gained experience and valuable insight into civil and commercial litigation and dispute resolution, working on several contentious matters for large MNCs. She worked in banking for a short while in London, United Kingdom and thereafter, upon returning to Sri Lanka, she gained insight into consulting focusing on large scale FDI projects and M&A. Her expertise was focused on FDI special projects, working with several government authorities to set up large scale projects in Sri Lanka and advising on regulatory, banking and finance matters and compliance matters. Additionally, she contributed as local legal counsel for an international team of consultants advising on the banking regulations for the Colombo Port City Special Economic Zone.

Notable matters

Nipuni has played a key role in several notable matters in Sri Lanka. During her years in commercial litigation she handled one of the highest value commercial litigation in Sri Lanka, acting for a large telecommunications services provider. Thereafter, she advised on the establishment of Sri Lanka’s largest multiplex cinema, (PVR Cinemas) and the entry of Australia’s United Petroleum into the Sri Lankan retail fuel market. She has also advised several European investors, including investment banks, investing in the tea/plantation sector in Sri Lanka.

Academic & professional qualifications, memberships, associations and accreditations

Nipuni obtained her undergraduate law degree from the University of London (International) Programme (2008) and holds a Post-Attorney Advanced Diploma in Corporate Law from the Institute of Advanced Legal Studies (Sri Lanka) as well as a Master of Science Degree in Law & Finance from Queen Mary, University of London (2015). She is a life member of the Bar Association of Sri Lanka and a member of the Law Society of England & Wales.