With its 127 year history, Julius & Creasy is the second oldest law firm in Sri Lanka, while also being the largest. Its reputation is one that has been built on rich tradition as well as the calibre of professionals passing through its corridors.

The beginnings of the partnership go back to when E.D. Thomas joined Villiers Alexander Julius and attested their first Notarial Deed. E.D. Thomas’ partnership with V.A. Julius was of a short duration as the former returned to England owing to ill-health and his place was taken by Harry Creasy, with the partners operating under the name, style and firm of Thomas, Julius & Creasy. Although Julius & Creasy was established in 1879 with two other persons, L.P. Fisher and F. Liesching, the shorter designation of Julius & Creasy was not adopted until the endorsement of the deeds was changed in 1883 and it has remained so ever since.

Harry Creasy, the son of Sir Edward Creasy, who was one time Chief Justice of the then Ceylon and whose name is synonymous with the most prestigious trophy awarded annually at the Colombo Rowing Club, was also a member of the legislature at the time. V.A. Julius too was a powerful oarsman and the President of the Rowing Club. He was the then Senior Partner of the firm and along with Harry Creasy, worked long and hard hours. They carried out their functions and duties with meticulous care and detail and in a few years their reputation for honesty, integrity, industry and precision grew to such an extent that they were respected unfailingly throughout the business and civil communities as well as the Government of the day. Julius and Creasy was not only the name of the firm, but the names of two pioneers of legal practice in Sri Lanka – a banner of leadership which still flies proudly to this day.

The two founders of the firm were also benefactors to Colombo society at the time. History records, that despite being Englishmen, the two founding partners showed a deep attachment to their adopted country and functioned with a sense of independence and fairness, which endeared them to their adopted local community as well as their own.

The partners immediately succeeding the founders also had a profound impact on the professional and business communities as much as they helped shape the social fabric of the time. Learned and practical, these men and through them the firm, became the bedrock of legal expertise.

Sydney Julius, the nephew of the founder V.A. Julius, was the senior partner of the firm to succeed the founding partners. His winning ways of friendliness and charm soon endeared him to all the communities. He was renowned for his professional efficiency and meticulous attention to detail and his departure from Sri Lanka at the height of his success was universally regretted. Several matters of importance benefited from the negotiating acumen of Sydney Julius, where he acted as a peace-maker and settled contentious issues.

E.R. Williams who succeeded Sydney Julius as Senior Partner, was a partner of the firm for thirty years but his character was the opposite to Sydney Julius as he was an introvert who performed his functions and duties with the minimum of fuss. He established such a reputation for skilful negotiation that he was engaged along with Harry Creasy to represent the interests of the Europeans in the Legislative Council.

O.P. Mount was another strong pillar on which the Julius & Creasy office was built. He was an expert in administration and management of the affairs and functions of the firm, specialising in dealing with testamentary cases.

The first Ceylonese partner of the firm was Mr. J.F. Martyn in 1944, and he was soon followed by H. T. Perera in 1946. True to its pioneering spirit, Julius & Creasy proceeded, for the first time in the legal history of Ceylon, to merge with another firm, David Maartenz & Co., resulting in the firm becoming the epicentre for commercial work in the country.