Our team brings together some of Sri Lanka’s most respected legal and commercial minds, individuals known not just for their expertise, but for their networks, their judgment and their ability to deliver when it matters most. We are not a firm of academics. We are commercially driven, well connected and built for high-stakes mandates.
M.U.M. Ali Sabry, PC
PRECEDENT PARTNER
M.U.M. Ali Sabry, President’s Counsel, is one of Sri Lanka’s leading legal practitioners, with a career spanning litigation, law reform, economic policy and international affairs. Appointed President’s Counsel in 2012, he was among the youngest lawyers of his generation to receive silk. Before entering public office, he built a successful legal practice and served as a member of the Law Commission of Sri Lanka, contributing to significant legal reform initiatives.
From 2020 to 2024, Ali Sabry served in the Cabinet of Sri lanka as Minister of Justice, Minister of Finance and Minister of Foreign Affairs. As Minister of Justice, he led reforms aimed at modernising Sri Lanka’s justice sector, including court digitisation, judicial infrastructure and civil, criminal and commercial law reform. He also supported the expansion of the superior judiciary and introduced reforms to improve the efficiency of commercial dispute resolution and court processes.
As Minister of Finance during Sri Lanka’s 2022 economic crisis, he led the country’s initial engagement with the International Monetary Fund (IMF) and the international debt-restructuring process. He subsequently served as Minister of Foreign Affairs, during a critical period of economic diplomacy. He also served as Chair of the Indian Ocean Rim Association.
Ali Sabry has represented Sri Lanka at leading international forums, including the United Nations, the World Economic Forum, the Munich Security Conference, the Raisina Dialogue and the Doha Forum, and addressed the Cambridge Union in 2024.
Following his return to private practice, Ali Sabry advises governments, businesses and investors on complex disputes, strategic transactions and matters involving public policy and international affairs. He brings to Fortbridge a rare combination of courtroom authority, policy leadership, economic insight and cross-border experience gained at the centre of nationally significant negotiations.
Shamir Zavahir
PARTNER
Shamir Zavahir is a corporate and commercial lawyer, litigator and arbitrator. He advises clients on corporate transactions, commercial matters and disputes, bringing a practical, business focused approach to his work. His practice spans banking and finance, capital markets, mergers and acquisitions, energy, infrastructure, employment, technology, intellectual property and restructuring. His approach is practical, commercial and focused on helping clients achieve their objectives.
His experience includes commercial litigation and arbitration, acquisitions, shareholder and joint-venture arrangements, financing, regulatory approvals and project contracts. Between 2020 and 2022, Shamir served in senior advisory roles within the Government of Sri Lanka, including as Head of Reforms and Coordinating Secretary at the Ministry of Justice. He played a central role in the national programme to modernize the justice sector, coordinating reforms relating to court digitization, judicial infrastructure, arbitration, and civil and commercial law, while working closely with the judiciary, government institutions, the legal profession and other key stakeholders.
During Sri Lanka’s 2022 economic crisis, he advised the Minister of Finance and formed part of the Sri Lankan delegation engaged in negotiations with the International Monetary Fund (IMF) and World Bank in Washington, D.C. He later served as Adviser to the Minister of Foreign Affairs, participating in high-level Sri Lankan delegations to the United Nations Human Rights Council in Geneva and the 78th United Nations General Assembly in New York. Drawing on this experience in both private practice and in the public service, Shamir advises clients with an appreciation of the legal, regulatory and policy considerations that influence complex commercial transactions and disputes.
Shamir holds an LL.B. (Hons) from the University of London, is an Attorney-at-Law of the Supreme Court of Sri Lanka and is a member of the Chartered Institute of Arbitrators. A multiple gold-medal winner at Sri Lanka Law College, he captained Sri Lankan teams at leading international advocacy competitions and continues to lecture in public law.
Ruwantha Cooray
PARTNER
Ruwantha Cooray is an Attorney-at-Law of the Supreme Court of Sri Lanka and a Barrister of England and Wales, with extensive experience in litigation, arbitration, corporate advisory, regulatory affairs and strategic consulting. He advises corporations, public institutions, regulators, investors and entrepreneurs on complex legal and commercial matters, particularly where contractual, regulatory and operational considerations overlap. His work extends from early risk assessment and dispute strategy to negotiation, regulatory engagement and resolution.
Ruwantha has appeared in complex matters before the Supreme Court, Court of Appeal, Commercial High Court, arbitral tribunals, regulatory bodies and other specialised forums. His practice spans corporate and commercial disputes, public and regulatory law, infrastructure and energy, telecommunications, insurance, finance, hospitality and technology. He has experience in appellate proceedings, applications for interim relief and disputes involving complex contractual and regulatory issues. He also advises clients on commercial negotiations, regulatory compliance, dispute avoidance and the management of legal, financial and reputational risk.
Ruwantha has served as a Member of the Telecommunications Regulatory Commission of Sri Lanka and as Convener of the Cabinet-appointed Digitisation and Court Automation Committee. Drawing on his experience across litigation, regulation and corporate advisory work, he advises corporations, investors, family businesses and public institutions on governance, regulatory compliance, stakeholder engagement, strategic transactions and complex disputes. His approach combines detailed legal analysis with commercial awareness and a clear focus on practical outcomes.
Called to the Bar of England and Wales by the Honourable Society of Lincoln’s Inn in 2009 and admitted as an Attorney-at-Law in Sri Lanka in 2011, Ruwantha holds an LL.B. (Hons) from the University of Leicester. He gained early professional experience through training placements at leading chambers in the United Kingdom before establishing his practice in Sri Lanka.
Naamiq Nafath
PARTNER
Naamiq Nafath is an Attorney-at-law and specialises in writ applications and fundamental-rights litigation, alongside an established advisory and litigation practice in corporate and commercial disputes. He represents and advises individuals, businesses and institutions on matters involving constitutional rights, administrative decisions, regulatory action and complex commercial relationships. His approach combines detailed legal analysis with a practical understanding of the wider consequences of litigation and regulatory intervention.
His public-law practice includes advising on challenges to administrative and regulatory decisions, questions involving the exercise of statutory authority and applications seeking constitutional and judicial remedies. In his corporate and commercial practice, Naamiq advises clients on contractual disputes, regulatory compliance and the strategic management of contentious matters. He also has experience in tax, customs and related regulatory issues, assisting clients in navigating technical statutory requirements and disputes with regulatory authorities.
Beyond private practice, Naamiq has contributed to legal reform and institutional initiatives through the Ministry of Justice. He has served as a member of its Digitisation Committee and currently serves on the Muslim Law Reforms and Advisory Committee. Drawing on his experience across public law, commercial litigation and regulatory advisory work, he assists clients in managing complex disputes and regulatory challenges with clarity and sound judgment.
Naamiq holds an LL.B. (Hons) from the University of London and is an Attorney-at-Law of the Supreme Court of Sri Lanka. He has appeared before the Supreme Court, Court of Appeal and other original and appellate forums, representing clients in matters requiring careful analysis of constitutional, administrative, commercial and regulatory law.
Shehani Alwis
PARTNER
Shehani Alwis is a dispute-resolution and commercial-law practitioner with particular expertise in commercial arbitration, commercial contracts and public-law litigation. She advises clients on complex contractual and commercial matters, including the interpretation and performance of agreements, the allocation of contractual risk and the management of disputes. She also represents clients in arbitration-related proceedings and other contentious matters.
Her dispute-resolution practice encompasses commercial arbitration, contractual claims and disputes involving complex legal and factual issues. She works closely with clients to identify their commercial and strategic objectives, assess legal risk and develop an appropriate approach to resolving disputes. Her practice combines technical legal analysis with a clear understanding of the commercial considerations that shape contentious matters.
Shehani’s litigation practice includes writ applications, fundamental-rights proceedings and appeals before the Court of Appeal and the Supreme Court of Sri Lanka. She has experience in matters involving constitutional and administrative law, as well as disputes arising from commercial and regulatory relationships. Her approach is grounded in careful preparation, focused advocacy and the pursuit of practical outcomes for clients.
Shehani trained and subsequently practised as Junior Counsel in the Chambers of M.U.M. Ali Sabry, PC. She holds an LL.M. in International Commercial Law and an LL.B. (Hons) from the University of London. She is presently pursuing doctoral research at the University of Colombo in the field of international commercial arbitration. Drawing on her experience in commercial disputes, public-law litigation and academic research, she brings to Fortbridge a rigorous and commercially focused approach to dispute resolution.
