Rahmat Lim & Partners is a prominent dispute resolution practice offering comprehensive legal services across commercial, banking, corporate, employment, and property litigation. The firm's expertise extends to complex areas including security enforcement, minority shareholder rights, corporate governance disputes, insolvency proceedings, regulatory challenges, and professional negligence claims. The dispute resolution team delivers strategic representation to a select clientele comprising banks, financial institutions, multinational corporations, local blue-chip companies, institutional shareholders, and major private companies, with a particular strength in sophisticated, high-value disputes requiring nuanced legal intervention.
The practice is led by litigation head Jack Yow and international arbitration and projects head Yee Leong Chong, both distinguished practitioners with extensive experience in complex commercial disputes. Yow has notable expertise in handling high-stakes litigation involving financial institutions, multinational companies, and judicial review applications, having successfully recovered multi-million-ringgit facilities and obtained significant arbitration awards. Chong, with over 33 years of practice, specialises in international arbitration across multiple Asian regions and Africa, focusing on construction, energy, infrastructure, and investment disputes. Their collective expertise has positioned the firm as a leading dispute resolution practice in the region.
In a landmark debt restructuring matter, the firm successfully acted for Sapura Energy and its 22 subsidiaries in obtaining critical court orders for a complex debt restructuring exercise valued at approximately RM12 billion ($2.5 billion). The firm secured a third set of court orders effective March 2024, enabling the company to engage with creditors and develop a comprehensive scheme of arrangement without facing immediate litigation. This intervention represents the largest reported restructuring effort by a Malaysian company to date, involving multi-currency syndicated loans from multiple financial institutions and demonstrating the firm's sophisticated approach to resolving complex corporate financial challenges.
Building on its expertise in complex commercial disputes, the firm is concurrently representing BASF Petronas Chemicals in a significant electricity supply agreement dispute with Petronas Gas. The matter involves a substantial claim concerning breach of an electricity sale and purchase agreement, with contractual implications valued at approximately RM4.2 billion ($882 million). The dispute centres on the interpretation of contractual obligations relating to annual electricity quantity commitments for the 2018 and 2019 contract years, with Petronas having commenced legal proceedings for outstanding payments against BASF, highlighting the intricate commercial and contractual challenges inherent in large-scale utility supply arrangements.
Notable litigation clients include BASF Petronas Chemicals, Essilor Manufacturing (Thailand) and Sapura Energy.
Client feedback
"Sticks to budgets; excellent reporting." – Commercial and transactions
"Rahmat Lim & Partners were very prompt and efficient in helping me settle the dispute. They provided me with good legal advice, which greatly helped resolve the matter amicably. I am most grateful." – Commercial and transactions
"Providing advice on next steps. The cases are quite complicated, but Rahmat Lim & Partners Malaysia managed to simplify the process and assist us in confidently managing the cases." – Labor and employment
Chiew Ee Kwong
"Chiew Ee Kwong provides very clear advice and ensures appropriate delegation, making the process seamless and efficient."
Desmond Liew
"Desmond Liew is committed to timelines and demonstrates strong technical expertise in the areas he covers."
Mei Fang Tan
"Mei Fang Tan is very responsive, even during late evenings and weekends. She provides thorough advice whenever possible, ensuring clients feel supported."
Jack Yow
"Jack Yow is highly efficient and possesses excellent knowledge of the law in the area of tenancy resolution, making him a reliable advisor."
