Z.J. Jennifer Lim

Z.J. Jennifer Lim focuses her practice on international dispute resolution and arbitration. She represents clients in investor-state and commercial arbitrations, including proceedings conducted under the ICSID, ICSID (Additional Facility), and UNCITRAL Rules, as well as ICC, HKIAC, SIAC, and LCIA arbitrations seated in Singapore, Hong Kong, New York, Washington, D.C. and London. Jennifer also sits as arbitrator under ICC, SIAC, LCIA and HKIAC rules. In addition, Jennifer has broad experience advising on general transnational litigation matters, including arbitration-related court proceedings, and complex cross-border disputes.

Since 2023, Jennifer has been recognised as a Lexology Index (formerly Who’s Who Legal) “Global Elite Thought Leader”, the highest accolade by the publication for outstanding lawyers aged 45 or under, and has been selected as a Lexology Index “International Arbitration Future Leader” since 2019 and recommended on the “Southeast Asia Arbitration” report since 2023. Clients describe her as “one of the best arbitration lawyers of her generation”, “[a] top arbitrator and a role model in the field who is confident by not showy” (2023), “a very thoughtful advocate who takes the time to uncover every aspect of a case” and a “brilliant lawyer who is gifted with both talent and a strong work ethic”. Jennifer was recognised as a “Future Star” in Singapore by Benchmark Litigation Asia Pacific 2024, named “Young Lawyer of the Year (Law Firm)” at the Asian Legal Business SE Asia Law Awards 2023, and was awarded “Arbitration Rising Star” by IFLR’s Women in Business Law APAC Awards 2023. She was also listed by Legal Media Group’s Expert Guides 2021 and 2022 as one of the “Rising Stars” in commercial arbitration and included in The Legal 500’s inaugural Arbitration Powerlist: Southeast Asia 2022.

Prior to joining Chambers, Jennifer was a partner in the Singapore office of a leading international law firm. She also worked in the New York and Hong Kong offices of another global law firm and served as a law clerk to Judge Hisashi Owada and Judge Leonid Skotnikov at the International Court of Justice, The Hague, the Netherlands.

Jennifer received a J.D. from Columbia Law School, where she was a James Kent Scholar, recipient of the David Berger Memorial Prize, and a senior editor of the American Review of International Arbitration. She received an LL.B. with First Class Honors from University College London in 2012. While in law school, Jennifer participated in the Philip C. Jessup International Law Moot Court Competition and remains the only person in the history of the competition to receive the Stephen M. Schwebel Award for “Best Oralist in the Championship Round” for two years in a row.

Jennifer serves as the global Co-Chair of the YSIAC Council, is co-vice-chairperson of the Law Society of Singapore’s Alternative Dispute Resolution Committee, and is a member of the Law Society of Singapore’s Advocacy Committee and the ICC Task Force “Addressing Issues of Corruption in International Arbitration”. From 2023 to 2024, she served on the ICC Singapore Arbitration Group’s Empowerment Committee. From 2018 to 2020, she served on the HK45 Committee. From 2014 to 2016, she was a member of the International Law Committee of the New York City Bar Association. She also served on the Program Committee for the 2016 Annual Meeting of the American Society of International Law.

Jennifer teaches a course on international disputes in the energy sector as Adjunct Teaching Mentor at the Singapore Management University. She has also lectured at Hanoi Law University and the National University of Singapore and publishes and speaks regularly on international dispute resolution. Jennifer is an Assistant Editor of the Singapore Arbitration Journal, a joint initiative by the Singapore Institute of Arbitrators and the Singapore Academy of Law.

Jennifer is qualified to practise in Singapore, New York, England & Wales (solicitor) and Hong Kong (solicitor, non-practising). She is bilingual in English and Mandarin Chinese.

• Advised a biotechnology company in resisting claims of breach of an advance purchase agreement providing for ICC arbitration.
• Represented an international offshore service provider in two SCMA arbitrations against the ship owner and sub-charterer.
• Represented a Chinese photovoltaic module manufacturer in an ICC arbitration brought by a South American energy company involving claims of breach of contract exceeding US$200 million.
• Advised a U.S. technology company in negotiating an arbitration agreement to resolve a FRAND licensing dispute with a Chinese chipset manufacturer.
• Represented an Asian company in a US$300 million investor-state dispute with Mexico.
• Represented a Canadian company in the largest ever NAFTA investor-state claim against Mexico (in excess of US$2.4 billion).
• Represented a U.S. private equity firm in an ICC arbitration involving one of the largest real estate transactions ever conducted in Europe.
• Represented a Canadian company in an ICC arbitration in connection with a shareholder dispute.
• Represented an Indian national in an SIAC emergency arbitration brought by an American multinational technology company concerning a non-compete agreement. Achieved a swift settlement of the dispute after working closely with Indian lead counsel to argue that under the contract’s specified governing law, Indian law would apply and the non-compete agreement was not enforceable under Indian law.
• Represented a Korean manufacturer in an ICC arbitration brought by a European construction company concerning alleged defects in the products sold. Negotiated a settlement on terms that enabled the parties to resume their business relationship.
• Represented U.S. companies in a NAFTA claim against the Government of Canada arising from requirements imposed by a Canadian province. The Tribunal issued a decision on liability ruling in favour of the clients that the province’s regulations had violated NAFTA.
• Represented a Chinese EPC contractor in an ICC arbitration concerning the construction of a coal-fired power generation facility in Central America, with more than US$1 billion at stake.
• Represented an Australian national in an SIAC Streamlined Procedure arbitration against a popular social media platform.  The Tribunal awarded all the relief sought by the claimant, as well as costs and legal fees.
• Represented a major U.S. financial services company in an ICC arbitration seated in Hong Kong, in a dispute worth over US$500 million concerning a significant corporate transaction.
• Represented a French company in an ICSID arbitration against the Republic of Ecuador, arising out of Ecuador’s unilateral increase of its participation to 99% of all revenues from oil sales above a fixed “reference price” and its declaration that the client’s contracts had come to an end. The Tribunal issued an award of over US$435 million, net of cost recovery and other factors, in favour of the client.
• Represented a Slovakian bank in investment treaty claims against Greece arising from the Greek debt restructuring of 2012.

• Represented a large bank in New York State court proceedings brought by a central bank of an Asian country in relation to a cyberheist.
• Represented an African oil consortium in a dispute with a former supplier relating to the delivery of drilling fluids after a civil war broke out in that country.
• Advised a Chinese biotech company in connection with a contractual dispute concerning license and collaboration agreements.
• Represented a high net worth individual in a dispute with his former Chinese joint venture partner relating to the distribution of assets from the Chinese JV company, involving litigation in multiple jurisdictions, including successfully obtaining an injunction against the adversary’s assets in Hong Kong.
• Prepared an expert report addressing issues of Singapore company law and arbitration law.

• Advised an Asian sovereign wealth fund on the impact of the Russia sanctions regime on its investment in Russia.
• Represented an SGX-listed company regarding alleged FCPA and RICO violations in connection with its investment in an Asian country.
• Represented a major pharmaceutical company regarding potential FCPA issues arising from the payments for travel and expenses in connection with a training program for Chinese foreign officials.
•  Advised a leading global investment firm on its investments in companies based in Vietnam.
  

• Represented Antigua and Barbuda before the International Court of Justice in an advisory proceeding concerning climate change and its impacts.
• Represented the African Union before the International Tribunal for the Law of the Sea in an advisory proceeding concerning climate change and its effects on the marine environment.
• Advised an oil consortium in connection with proceedings brought against an African country in the East African Court of Justice.

• Sole arbitrator in an ICC Expedited Procedure arbitration involving a dispute between a Thai claimant and two Australian respondents in the defence and security sector.
• Sole arbitrator in an SIAC arbitration involving a dispute over the sale and purchase of shares in a Singapore company.
• Co-arbitrator in an SIAC arbitration involving a dispute over the sale and purchase of mixed xylene.
• Sole arbitrator in an ICC Expedited Procedure arbitration involving a dispute over alleged defects in military products.
• Sole arbitrator in an SIAC arbitration concerning disputes over the supply and installation of equipment and non-payment of invoices under two contracts.
• Sole arbitrator in an HKIAC arbitration regarding alleged breaches of a distributorship agreement.
• Co-arbitrator in an LCIA arbitration concerning the alleged non-payment of invoices under a supply agreement.
• Emergency arbitrator in an SIAC arbitration regarding alleged breaches of a master franchise agreement and alleged violations of intellectual property rights.
• Co-arbitrator in an SIAC arbitration concerning a loan agreement.
• Sole arbitrator in an HKIAC arbitration involving a dispute over the sale and purchase of Bible Paper.
• Sole arbitrator in an HKIAC arbitration concerning alleged breaches of a consulting agreement.

• Global Co-Chair of the YSIAC Council
• Co-vice-chairperson, Law Society of Singapore Alternative Dispute Resolution Committee
• Member, Law Society of Singapore Advocacy Committee
• Member, ICC Task Force “Addressing Issues of Corruption in International Arbitration”
• Member, ArbitralWomen
• Member, American Society of International Law
• Adjunct Teaching Mentor at the Singapore Management University (SMU)
• Assistant Editor of the Singapore Institute of Arbitrators and the Singapore Academy of Law’s Singapore Arbitration Journal

• Member of Peer Review Board of Asian International Arbitration Centre’s Alternative Dispute Resolution Journal (2025)
• Member, Law Society of Singapore ESG Working Group (2024-2025)
• Member, Law Society of Singapore Public and International Law Committee (2023-2025)
• Member, ICC Singapore Arbitration Group, Empowerment Subcommittee (2023-2024)
• Member, Hong Kong International Arbitration Centre, HK45 Committee (2018-2020)
• Member, ICC Hong Kong, Arbitration and ADR Committee (2016-2020)
• Member, American Society of International Law, Annual Meeting Program Committee (2015-2016)
• Member, New York City Bar Association, International Law Committee (2014-2016)
• Philip C. Jessup International Law Moot Court Competition, National Administrator for the Netherlands (2013)
• Law Fellow, Fellowships at Auschwitz for the Study of Professional Ethics (2012)

• Admitted as an Attorney and Counsellor-at-Law by the State of New York: 2013
• Admitted as a solicitor in Hong Kong: 2020
• Admitted as a solicitor in England & Wales: 2022
• Admitted as a solicitor and advocate in Singapore: 2023

University College London (2008-2012):

Bachelor of Laws, First Class Honours (2012)

• Philip C. Jessup International Law Moot Court Competition 2010, National Champion (UK); Quarterfinalist (International); Best Oralist Award (5th Place, International)
• UCL Global Excellence Scholarship (University prize awarded to the most outstanding undergraduate joining UCL from Asia)
• Andrews Prize (for the best overall performance in the Intermediate (first year) examinations)
• Linklaters Prize for Excellence (for the highest mark in Property Law I)
• Dechert Property Law Prize (for the highest mark in Property Law I)
• UCL Negotiation Competition, First Runner-up

Columbia University School of Law (2010-2012):

• Juris Doctor (2012)
• James Kent Scholar, 2011-2012
• Harlan Fiske Stone Scholar, 2010-2011
• David M. Berger Memorial Prize, excellence in international law
• Parker School Certificate, achievement in foreign and comparative law
• Philip C. Jessup International Law Moot Court Competition 2011 and 2012, National Champion (US); First Runner-up (International); Stephen M. Schwebel Best Oralist Award

• “Advocacy before the Singapore International Commercial Court”, in “Charting New Waters: The Singapore International Commercial Court After Ten Years”, September 2025 (with Toby Landau KC)
• “Mediation”, “Notice of Arbitration” and “Procedural Order No. 1”, in “Elgar Concise Encyclopedia of International Commercial Arbitration”, June 2025 (with Hong Sim, Faraaz Amzar and Linming Ho)
• “The Application of Transnational Issue Estoppel and Observations on the Primacy Principle by the Singapore Court of Appeal in The Republic of India v Deutsche Telekom AG”, Dispute Resolution International Vol 19, May 2025
• “Singapore International Arbitration Centre (SIAC) Modernises Arbitration Proceedings with New Rules”, LexisNexis, January 2025
• “Singapore: the preferred forum to resolve international commercial disputes”, Commercial Courts Report 2024, May 2024
• “SIAC Symposium 2023 Part 1: Charting the Future of International Arbitration – Geopolitics, the Next Generation of Dispute Resolution, and Draft 7th Edition of the SIAC Rules”, Kluwer Arbitration Blog, September 2023 (With Jae Hee Suh)
• “Singapore’s apex court rejects application to keep enforcement proceedings confidential (The Republic of India v Deutsche Telekom AG)”, LexisNexis, June 2023
• “International Arbitration Experts Discuss The Major Challenges For Arbitration In 2023”, Mealey’s International Arbitration Report, February 2023 (with María Carolina Durán)
• “Singapore High Court stays court action in favour of arbitration (Presscrete Engineering v SsangYong-Wai Fong Joint Venture)”, LexisNexis, January 2023
• “The Crucial Role of Arbitral Institutions During Uncertain Times”, Law.com, December 2022 (with Tai-Heng Cheng)
• “Multi-Forum Strategies to Tackle Climate Change and Other Complex Problems: A Note from Practitioners”, EJIL:Talk!, November 2022 (with Deepak Raju, Katherine Connolly, Dominic Coppens, Michail Dekastros, Todd Friedbacher, Tanya Landon, Nicolas Lockhart, David Roney, Iain Sandford)
• “The Political Backlash Against Investor-State Arbitration”, in “Reflections on International Arbitration - Essays in Honour of Professor George Bermann”, June 2022 (with Tai-Heng Cheng)
• “Force Majeure and Hardship,” in “Managing ‘Belt and Road’ Business Disputes: A Case Study of Legal Problems and Solutions”, Michael Moser and Chiann Bao eds, April 2021 (with Tai-Heng Cheng)
• “Country Report Hong Kong”, in “Due Process as a Limit to Discretion in International Commercial Arbitration”, Franco Ferrari, Friedrich Rosenfeld & Dietmar Czernich eds., September 2020 (with Charlotte Lelong)
• “Singapore and International Law”, in “Singapore Law Watch: Overview”, July 2020 (with Chin Leng Lim and Mahdev Mohan)
• “Investment Treaty Arbitration in the Asia-Pacific”, The Asia-Pacific Arbitration Review, Global Arbitration Review, June 2020 (with Tony Dymond and Cameron Sim)
• “Hong Kong”, Challenging and Enforcing Arbitration Awards, Global Arbitration Review, March 2020 (with Tony Dymond)
• “Challenging and Enforcing Arbitration Awards in Hong Kong”, Global Arbitration Review, May 2019 (with Tony Dymond)
• “Investment Treaty Arbitration in the Asia-Pacific”, The Asia-Pacific Arbitration Review, Global Arbitration Review, May 2019 (with Tony Dymond)
• “Investment Treaty Arbitration in the Asia-Pacific”, The Asia-Pacific Arbitration Review, Global Arbitration Review, June 2018 (with Christopher Tahbaz and Tony Dymond)
• “Iura Novit Curia in Hong Kong Arbitration Law”, Iura Novit Curia in International Arbitration, Franco Ferrari & Giuditta Cordero-Moss eds.), April 2018 (with Nathaniel Lai)
• “GAR Know-How – Enforcement: Hong Kong Chapter”, Know-How Series, Global Arbitration Review, April 2018 (with Tony Dymond)
• “A New Kind of Risk? Recent Approaches to Country Risk in the Valuation of Damages”, IBA Arbitration News, February 2016 (with Laura Sinisterra)
• “Perenco v. Ecuador Deters 2nd-Guessing Arbitration Tribunal”, Law360, May 2015 (with Mark Friedman and Ina Popova)

Legal 500 2024, Singapore – International Arbitration (Firm Profile of Sidley Austin LLP)
“Jennifer Lim is intelligent, and fast in response to client's request. In solving the dispute, she also carries huge sense of commerce and is willing to explore alternative solution for client.”

“Jennifer Lim is outstanding in her expertise, diligence, the quality of her professional work, and her client relations.”

“Tai-Heng Cheng and Jennifer Lim certainly stand out in the practice.”

“Many thanks to Jennifer Lim for her efforts and hard work in assisting us to resolve with a complex dispute.”

Lexology Index: Global Elite Thought Leader 2025 (Arbitration – Under 45 – Partners); Future Leader 2025 (Arbitration Future Leaders – Partners); Recommended (Southeast Asia – Arbitration)
“Jennifer is a very thoughtful advocate who takes the time to uncover every aspect of a case. Her career has had a meteoric rise and I expect to see great things from her in the coming years.”

“Jennifer is a brilliant lawyer. She is gifted with both talent and a strong work ethic, one of the sharpest lawyers of her generation.”

“She has a very strong profile, certainly a name to know in the market.”

“Jennifer is a great practitioner who has experience of a wide range of arbitration cases, including both commercial and investment treaty cases.”