Pranavan Neelakandan

Neelakandan & Neelakandan has been named Intellectual Property Law Firm of the Year in Sri Lanka at the Corporate INTL Global Awards 2025, recognising the strength of one of the country's foremost law firms and the intellectual property practice in which Partner Pranavan Neelakandan plays a leading role. With more than sixty years of practice behind it, the firm has become a benchmark for legal precision in Sri Lanka, serving clients across the island and internationally from its offices at the Kandiah Neelakandan Building at Deal Place in Colombo.

Intellectual property is among the firm's principal areas of expertise. Its practice is built around protecting and commercialising intellectual property as a driver of innovation and commercial value, advising clients on the registration, management and enforcement of their rights. This encompasses the full range of intellectual property protection that modern businesses require, from trademarks and brand protection through to the enforcement action needed to defend those rights against infringement in the Sri Lankan market.

The firm's client base illustrates the trust placed in its intellectual property work. It represents Fortune 500 companies, leading global brands, local conglomerates, small and medium-sized enterprises, financial institutions and non-profit organisations. Among the international names associated with the firm are prominent automotive, technology and hospitality brands, reflecting its ability to serve rights holders whose intellectual property must be protected consistently across borders. For such clients, having a dependable local adviser with deep knowledge of Sri Lankan law and procedure is essential to safeguarding valuable brands and innovations.

Neelakandan & Neelakandan operates across more than twenty-eight practice areas, including mergers and acquisitions, energy and natural resources, real estate and conveyancing, and commercial litigation and arbitration. This breadth means the firm's intellectual property work is supported by a full-service platform, allowing it to address related commercial, transactional and contentious issues within a single relationship. The firm's membership of Meritas, a global alliance of independent law firms, further extends its reach, giving clients access to co-ordinated legal support across many jurisdictions.

Intellectual property has become an increasingly valuable asset for businesses operating in Sri Lanka, whether they are international brands protecting their reputation or local enterprises seeking to build and defend their own. Effective protection requires not only securing registrations but also monitoring the market and taking enforcement action where rights are infringed. Neelakandan & Neelakandan approaches intellectual property as a driver of innovation and commercial value, advising clients on how to protect and commercialise their rights while standing ready to enforce them. Its combination of local expertise and international connections through the Meritas alliance allows it to co-ordinate protection for clients whose intellectual property must be safeguarded across multiple markets as well as within Sri Lanka.

Pranavan Neelakandan, as a Partner of the firm, contributes to a practice that combines long-standing pedigree with a modern, commercially aware approach. The firm describes its people as those who perform, reflecting a culture that pairs experience across multiple disciplines with a commitment to delivering results for clients. Its recognition as Intellectual Property Law Firm of the Year in Sri Lanka at the Corporate INTL Global Awards 2025 affirms both the firm's standing as a leading Sri Lankan practice and the quality of its intellectual property advice to domestic and international clients seeking to protect and enforce their rights in the country.