With close to fifteen years of legal, corporate and IT sector experience under her, Anudi Nanayakkara is an independent legal consultant who caters to a range of corporate and private clients both within and outside of Sri Lanka. Beyond the scope of a traditional legal counsel, she is sought after for her expertise and legal acumen in the rapidly evolving field of technology, data privacy, cybersecurity, and software development that has set her apart from her peers and carved for herself a distinct niche within the legal consulting landscape. Her journey as a legal advisor has been marked by her ability to seamlessly blend these qualities with objective, sound legal advice, creating meaningful and long-lasting partnerships in a wide array of industries.
Anudi’s success as a legal consultant lies in her deep commitment to fostering collaboration and transparent communication. She firmly believes that the key to effective legal consulting is not just a thorough understanding of the law, but also an ability to connect with stakeholders, grasp their objectives, and align these with legal strategies.
“I go beyond the law itself and understand the purpose behind each stakeholder’s involvement,” she shares. This mindset has led her to help businesses, government bodies, and communities overcome complex challenges.
One of her most notable achievements was during Sri Lanka’s economic crisis, where Anudi played a crucial role in assisting with the launch of a national app which supported fuel distribution during the financial crisis of 2022. Through her ability to foster cooperation between government entities and private companies, the app was successfully launched, providing critical support to citizens during one of the country’s most trying times. Similarly, her involvement in the development of the Hambantota International Port, despite its controversial nature, demonstrated how her collaborative approach could navigate complicated negotiations and result in both economic growth and stakeholder satisfaction.
A core aspect of her philosophy is her belief in the harmonious integration of empathy and objectivity. As a legal consultant, she places equal importance on understanding the emotions behind stakeholder concerns and providing unbiased, rational counsel. This delicate balance has been instrumental in helping her clients achieve strategic outcomes, even in high-pressure situations.
“I believe empathy brings an appreciation for each stakeholder’s concerns,” Anudi explains. But she is quick to add that this empathy never overshadows the objectivity required for sound legal counsel. Instead, she sees empathy as a tool to build trust, while objectivity ensures that decisions are fair, reasoned, and aligned with the bigger picture. This principle was key in resolving several negotiating deadlocks, including those crucial to national policy and cross-governmental agreements during her time at an international port in the island, where emotions often ran high, yet she was able to keep discussions focused on the larger objective.
Anudi’s collaborative spirit is not confined to external negotiations—it also plays a pivotal role in the internal dynamics of the organizations she advises. One of the standout examples she recalls is from her time working with an IT company, where she facilitated a groundbreaking partnership agreement for a new technology product. The challenge? Balancing strong legal protections with the business team’s need for flexibility.
Rather than positioning the legal and business teams against one another, she introduced a collaborative workshop model. This allowed both sides to discuss their respective goals, risks, and opportunities. Through this approach, the legal team gained a deeper understanding of the business’s strategic priorities, while the business team learned to navigate compliance and risk management. The result was a partnership agreement that was both legally sound and commercially appealing, setting the stage for a successful product rollout.
At the heart of Anudi’s work is a guiding principle that she holds dear: legal counsel should serve as a tool for human collaboration. For her, being a trusted legal advisor is not just about offering solutions to legal problems but also about guiding her clients through complex landscapes toward shared success.
Her approach resonates deeply with the evolving role of legal consultants in today’s world. “Choosing the right legal partner means choosing someone who will stand beside you, inspire collaboration, and navigate complexities with both wisdom and clarity,” she says. This focus on fostering cooperation and understanding the bigger picture allows her to provide lasting value to her clients, who benefit from not only her legal expertise but also her empathetic and solution-driven approach.
In a world where legal challenges are increasingly complex, Anudi’s ability to merge empathy with objectivity, and collaboration with clear communication, makes her a truly invaluable legal partner. She has redefined what it means to provide legal counsel by ensuring that her work not only addresses immediate legal concerns but also contributes to the broader strategic success of businesses and communities alike.
Central to Anudi’s philosophy is her conviction that legal counsel should be a catalyst for collaboration rather than a barrier. Her ability to integrate empathy with objectivity, and collaboration with legal precision, has earned her a reputation as a legal consultant who not only resolves issues but drives her clients toward sustainable, long-term success.
This approach resonates with the evolving expectations of today’s legal professionals. In an increasingly complex global landscape, the ability to merge technical legal knowledge with a broader understanding of business strategy and human relations has become essential. “Choosing a legal partner in today’s world means selecting someone who can navigate the intricate interplay between legal principles and business imperatives,” Anudi explains. “It requires a partner who can inspire trust, foster collaboration, and guide clients with both clarity and wisdom.”