Raneesha is a Counsel of the firm and has over 10 years of experience in advising and representing clients in Commercial and Corporate litigation and arbitration.
She has appeared before civil Courts of original and appellate jurisdiction, arbitral tribunals and other statutorily appointed regulatory bodies. Her practice includes Banking, Insurance, Company Liquidations, Minority Protection and Derivative Actions, Intellectual Property, Aviation, Administrative Law, Contract Law, Delict, Labour Law and Land Law. She has successfully advised and represented several foreign entities in arbitral disputes relating to civil construction engineering, oil and petroleum distribution, manufacture and supply of consumer goods and services and leasing.
Raneesha holds a Bachelor of Laws Degree from the University of Colombo and is a Member of the Chartered Institute of Arbitrators.
Raneesha has significant experience in advising several major foreign companies in the resolution of civil construction engineering disputes through arbitration and ADR including disputes relating to the construction of luxury and / or superstructure apartment complexes, hydro power projects in Sri Lanka and waste water management projects in Sri Lanka, the development and extension of expressways in Sri Lanka and construction projects relating to communication and leisure. In several of these matters, Raneesha has advised and represented clients during the entire contractual process of such disputes including during pre-arbitral dispute resolution processes such as dispute adjudication board hearings and hearings and representations before other contractual authorities, referral of the disputes for arbitration and the enforcement of arbitral awards before the Courts of Sri Lanka.
Raneesha advised and represented one of the major importers and distributors of petroleum products in Sri Lanka in a dispute under the ICC Rules of Arbitration against The Board of Investment of Sri Lanka under an agreement for the operation and development of infrastructure relating to petroleum at various sites in Sri Lanka.
Raneesha also advised and represented two major Japanese building construction and civil engineering companies in several disputes with the Ceylon Electricity Board relating to the construction of a Hydro Power Project in Sri Lanka.
In litigation and advisory matters, Raneesha has represented foreign and local clients in various industries.
Raneesha successfully represented a Sri Lanka based plantation company in a dispute with the Land Reform Commission of Sri Lanka in respect land leased to the company by a statutory body vested with the management of plantation estates.
Raneesha has also represented Clients in respect of several aspects of intellectual property law including successfully representing a multinational information technology company in defending an action for alleged unfair competition on the basis of the importation of parallel goods. She also advised and represented several local and foreign clients including a multinational coffee and baked goods chain and one of the major breweries in Sri Lanka in respect of trademark infringement, unfair competition and passing off against entities in Sri Lanka.
Raneesha advises and represents Clients in several delictual actions including representing a foreign commercial airline in several actions instituted by passengers in respect of allegations of flight delays and damage to property including successfully negotiating an out of Court settlement in a claim for delictual liability. She has also advised a leading local newspaper publishing company in defending an action for defamation.
Raneesha advises and represents Clients in all aspects of Company law including liquidations, minority suits and shareholder disputes. She has successfully defended a mercantile establishment in multiple actions filed on the basis of oppression and mismanagement and applications for derivative action and has successfully negotiated settlements for several creditor Clients in applications for Winding Up companies.
Raneesha has also advised and represented several major foreign companies including representing a multinational clothing company in respect of an agency dispute with a local distributor company and a foreign manufacturer and supplier of kitchens to a global luxury hotel chain in a dispute relating to financing under letters of credit involving a leading private Bank in Sri Lanka.
Raneesha has appeared before the Labour Tribunal and appellate Courts in labour related matters for several local and foreign entities including local hotel chains, multinational information technology companies and leading international education companies.
Raneesha has also advised and represented several Clients in disputes before statutory authorities including advising and representing the local subsidiary of a multinational pharmaceutical company in respect of a dispute with the National Medicines Regulatory Authority relating to the classification of cosmeceutical products and the local subsidiary of a multinational information technology company in a dispute relating to the warranty of products sold by the local subsidiary of a multinational information technology company in a hearing before the Consumer Affairs Authority.
Raneesha has also appeared in hearings before the Director General of Intellectual Property pertaining to opposing applications by local entities for registrations of trademarks on behalf of several foreign Clients including an American multinational mass media and entertainment conglomerate and a distilleries company.
Raneesha has advised a multinational fast food chain in respect of disputes with its franchisee in Sri Lanka and a multinational tyre manufacturing company in respect of aspects of environmental law pertaining to waste disposal at a distribution plant in Sri Lanka.