Sylvie Gallage-Alwis: A Pioneering Journey of Leadership and Legal Excellence

In the field of legal expertise, where precision and empathy converge, few individuals stand out as brightly as Sylvie Gallage-Alwis. Sylvie is a dynamic and determined litigator who consistently strives to support her clients and seek effective commercial solutions to disputes. With over 17 years of commercial litigation and product liability expertise, Sylvie’s journey exemplified resilience, leadership, and the pursuit of excellence.

Sylvie is a founding partner of the Paris office of Signature Litigation, a distinctive European firm focused exclusively on dispute resolution. She heads the product liability and compliance practice, managing complex cases involving product safety, toxic tort, mass litigation, regulatory compliance, and environmental, social, and governance (ESG) matters.

Signature Litigation: At a Glance

Located in London, Signature Litigation is a prominent international law firm specializing in high-value commercial litigation and arbitration. The firm also has a notable presence in Paris, Frankfurt, and Gibraltar.

Signature Litigation was established to address the growing need for dedicated advice and support in complex cases. Staffed by independent and highly experienced dispute practitioners, Signature Litigation’s focus as a niche specialist has proven effective in delivering results.

The Key Inspiration behind the Foundation

In 2019, Sylvie established the Paris office of this firm with two other partners. She sought a conflict-free, entrepreneurial environment that would allow her to better serve her existing clients while attracting new ones, without the constraints generally imposed by large firms. International law firms offer numerous advantages but they can create significant hurdles for those looking to develop their own business. Often, the management prioritizes nurturing existing clients over seeking out new opportunities. At this stage in her career, Sylvie needed the freedom to act independently and grow in her field of experience, which is product liability.

Sylvie’s Leadership Approach at Signature Litigation

Sylvie’s experience at a major international law firm has significantly influenced her leadership style, particularly in client management and large-scale case handling. As a founding partner, she recognized the necessity of developing leadership skills in various areas, including team and staff management, office management, and budget oversight. Throughout her journey, Sylvie learned that it is impossible to control every aspect of the firm; efficient delegation is essential for effective leadership. She emphasizes the importance of entrusting team members with responsibilities, allowing her to focus on priorities as a partner: attracting clients and ensuring that her team is engaged with meaningful work.

The Significance of Mentorship and Sylvie’s Take On

Throughout her career, Sylvie has had the opportunity to work with various mentors, with one of the most influential being a co-founding partner of Signature Litigation Paris. Sylvie began her journey as a trainee in his team, where his mentorship proved to be highly effective. He encouraged her to perform, work hard, and develop ideas, assuring her of his support in any way she could. Additionally, Sylvie greatly benefited from the support of several female general counsels, who promoted her to work with their peers. This endorsement allowed her to build her client base as easily as her fifth year as an associate. The power of “word of mouth” referrals worked exceptionally well for her.

“The trust placed in me inspired me to extend the same to my team. I aim to mentor them by demonstrating two key points: (1) it is possible to develop your profile as an associate without having to wait for a title, and (2) all the benefits that come from being consistent and hardworking. I share both the changes and rewarding aspects of being a partner so they can make an informed decision about whether it is right for them”, explains Sylvie.

“As my mentors did for me, I also reassure them that if they aspire to grow and become partners, I will support them throughout the journey, taking it one step at a time”, she adds.

Significant Regulatory Challenges for Growing Companies

Sylvie believes increasing regulations are posing a major challenge for companies. It is difficult for businesses to be aware of all the obligations they need to comply with. This challenge is further complicated by the need to monitor both regulatory changes and the inconsistent evolution of case law across different EU jurisdictions regarding climate change issues. As a result, companies often find themselves investing in external regulatory counsel, although they frequently reach out to their lawyers too late, often only after an investigation or lawsuit has been initiated.

Empowering Clients to Stay Compliant with Evolving Environmental Regulations

Signature Litigation offers robust regulatory advice to clients by thoroughly reviewing all claims related to their product manufacturing and design process. This comprehensive approach is essential for ensuring full compliance, as it involves a deep dive into the company’s activities and practices.

Emerging Legal Issues with New Technologies

The New Product Liability Directive, set to take effect in 2026, aims to address some of the challenges associated with new technologies, alongside other recent legislation such as the AI Act. Companies must understand that their liability will be more easily established in the future due to the procedural changes that the New Directive will introduce. They need to get ready for this shift. Sylvie and her team recommend that, from day one, companies build a comprehensive file that mirrors what outside counsel would prepare the moment litigation is initiated against their clients.

At Signature Litigation, the team believes in dividing their efforts to conquer challenges more effectively. Each team member is responsible for specific industries, allowing for a focused and efficient approach. To stay current and informed, they regularly attend specialized events and engage with regulators. Building strong relationships with regulatory bodies is essential for success in product litigation.

Strategies for the High-profile Industrial Disaster Cases

Sylvie considers herself fortunate to be involved in some of the largest industrial risk cases currently pending in France. To effectively manage these cases, she ensures complete integration with her clients’ teams, comprising engineers, PR, legal, and sales personnel, to ensure that all aspects are covered and coordinated. She avoids sharing her opinions with the media, as this can backfire. Instead, she prefers to work behind the scenes on a solid defense and only make information public once it has been fine-tuned. Sylvie emphasizes, “Focus on convincing the court first, reassure the public, and assume you will never convince the detractors”.

The Future of Class Action Lawsuits in Europe and the Role of Litigation

With the new Collective Redress Directive in effect since 2023, class actions are expected to evolve in Europe. They are already a significant concern for companies in certain jurisdictions, such as the Netherlands and Portugal. Other countries, like Spain and France, are reforming their systems and will likely see similar developments. Claims related to ESG issues and consumer protection claims are anticipated to grow and particularly develop as they relate to topics that interest the public. According to Sylvie, class actions may come into play when NGOs struggle to achieve the regulatory changes they seek or when the legislative process is too slow. A historical example is seen in the asbestos-related cases.

The Future Roadmap for Signature Litigation

Signature Litigation will remain dedicated solely to dispute resolution while striving to expand its areas of expertise for clients. The team is focused on enhancing its partnership in existing specialties, which include commercial law, insurance/reinsurance, corporate, shareholder, product liability litigation, and international arbitration. Additionally, they aim to develop new practice areas such as intellectual property ( IP), tax law, and administrative litigation through internal promotions and lateral hires.

Furthermore, the firm plans to expand into additional jurisdictions in Europe; for instance, they opened a Frankfurt office in July 2024 to better serve clients facing cross-border litigation, which is becoming an increasingly new trend.