Continued...

Another Englishman who made an impression on his clients was G.T. Hale. He was anxious to prevent delays in law and did his utmost to keep his clients out of Court. He was a deeply religious man and well loved by the community. He was the President of the Law Society as well as a member of the Council of Legal Education. Hale retired as senior partner in 1957 and his death in 1975 was met with much sadness by his many friends and clients whom he left behind on his departure to England.

Subsequently in 1961, F.C. Rowan CBE, one of the firm’s most colourful Senior Partners, made some foresighted structural changes to the firm. A lawyer of social as well as professional brilliance, his exit from the legal environs of Colombo left a deep void. He joined the Indian Army at the outbreak of war and returned to continue his practice in his own fearless fashion. He was a man of quick wit and Irish flair and legend has it that he was hosted at various farewell functions for upto three months prior to his departure from Sri Lanka.

Recognising the potential of homegrown 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 1970’s.

Julius & Creasy was also responsible for the first female Senior Partner in the annals of legal history in Sri Lanka. Mrs. L.C. Fernando 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. It was a sign of things to come, as over the years Julius & Creasy have admitted, and is now almost dominated by, the gender which Mrs. Fernando represented.

The more recent years have seen the Senior Partners of Julius and 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. Mr. B.M. Amarasekera was responsible for a large number of property transactions in the country and was a conveyancing practitioner of repute. Mr. R.H.S Phillips, who was well known for his work in the intellectual property field, also helped draft the pioneering Intellectual Property Act of 1979. Another senior partner Mr. N. Ratnasabapathy was synonymous with the practice of commercial law and these gentlemen together with their colleagues contributed enormously to the value added by Julius and Creasy to the legal environs of Sri Lanka.

In litigation too, Julius & Creasy has an extensive practice in all Courts of first instance and appeal. Despite being a predominantly civil law firm, it has occasionally entered the fray in the criminal courts for certain clients. The firm has contributed much to the jurisprudence of the country, being involved in several landmark cases over the years. It appeared in the first ever suit filed under the Intellectual Property Act, and was also involved in the defence of the impeachment motion filed against the then Chief Justice Neville Samarakone among other memorable cases in the field of civil and commercial law.

From its inception as the untidy office of two highly respected Englishmen, Julius & Creasy has – despite the rigours of time – evolved and expanded into the largest, and one of the most highly respected and sought after legal firms in Sri Lanka.