Ian Lim
林伟隆
LL.B. (Hons) (NUS)
Partner
“It’s not what you know, it’s how you use what you know.”
Ian may be urbane, cutting a dapper figure in his three-piece suit, but do not let his Clark Kent appearance fool you – journals rank him among some of the sharpest employment lawyers in Singapore.
Heading the Labour & Employment desk that he had built from ground up over his two-plus decades at the firm, Ian specialises in both transactional and contentious employment and immigration law, particularly on issues of non-competition, dismissal, discrimination, harassment, retirement & re-employment, industrial relations, and data privacy and confidentiality. He counts among his clients multinationals including DHL, IBM, and Samsonite, and C-Suite executives.
Fiercely loyal, the adrenaline junkie (football on the weekends, snowboarding on holidays) has supported the same underdog sports teams for over 30 years. And that unwavering allegiance extends to clients and colleagues. No wonder then that those same clients have also stuck by him for decades.
Ian ran TSMP’s award-winning community services programme for many years. Before he handed over the reins to partner June Ho, he was instrumental in TSMP’s recognition by the National Volunteer & Philanthropy Centre (NVPC) as the 2018 SME winner in the renowned President’s Volunteerism & Philanthropy Award. He continues to be active in pro bono and community work, especially for migrant workers.
Testimonials
The Legal 500 Asia Pacific
“Ian Lim is our go-to person in Singapore. He is terrific.”
Chambers Asia-Pacific
“Ian is a very thoughtful attorney,” affirms one admiring client, who goes on to praise him for his “high-quality legal advice.”
WWL Southeast Asia (Labour, Employment & Benefits)
“An expert in employment and labour issues spanning non-competition, dismissal and data privacy”
Benchmark Litigation Asia-Pacific
“He runs a small but very competent team and has good leadership practices which enable the entire team to serve us quickly and effectively. He teaches and guides his team which is really lovely to see as this resonates with our own company values as well.”
Chambers Asia-Pacific
“Delivers practical, balanced advice on Singapore employment matters, and is helpful, personable and a seasoned professional I can trust.”
Asialaw Profiles
“Customer-focused, responsive and accessible.”
Asialaw Client Service Excellence
“Ian Lim provides friendly, timely and practical advice.”
The Legal 500 Asia Pacific
“Outstanding lawyer… very conscious of the value proposition and feasibility of solutions when implemented in the real world”
Notable Briefs
Advised home-grown digital-focused insurer Singlife on executive equity and compensation issues in its 2020 merger with Aviva, with a combined business valued at SG$3.2 billion, as well as in its subsequent 2023/24 acquisition by Sumitomo life which valued the business at an even higher SG$4.6 billion.
Acted for an S&P100 tech major in New York law emergency arbitration proceedings at the SIAC involving its ex-GM who joined a NASDAQ-100 tech major to head its cloud services in India in breach of his restrictive covenants, with equity rescission implications.
Acted for shareholders in obtaining a Singapore High Court SG$3.1 million buyout order in a minority oppression suit in the clean energy industry, involving novel issues of share valuation and expert evidence (Poh Fu Tek v Lee Shung Guan [2018] 4 SLR 425).
Acted for a multinational logistics and supply chain giant in investigations and exit negotiations with directors who were implicated in bribery and fraud allegations in South Asia involving US$84 million worth of inflated revenue.
Advised a major international airline on its trade union settlement negotiations and Ministry of Manpower conciliations arising from the closure of its Singapore crew base operations.
Acted for SGX-listed TEHO International in its investigations into misconduct and fraud in connection by its subsidiary’s ex-Managing Director, and in obtaining Singapore High Court non-compete and other injunctions in proceedings in relation to his breaches of fiduciary duties and confidentiality.
Represented Eternal Pure Land and ASX-listed Lifecorp in negotiations with the Attorney-General’s Chambers on behalf of the Ministry of National Development, in respect of the termination of the state lease and refund of monies for the Fernvale Link columbarium.
Ian Lim in the News
25 November 2024
Ian Lim interviewed in the Straits Times: “‘There’s no clear signal’: Bosses, workers in S’pore look for sweet spot in return-to-office rules”
31 October 2024
Ian Lim was interviewed in HRD Asia: “Best practices for lawful termination in Singapore”
8 October 2024
Ian Lim interviewed in Singapore Business Review: “Most expats in Singapore unaffected by tighter salary rules”
3 October 2024
Ian Lim interviewed on Thrive by The Business Times: “Is your workplace discriminatory or toxic? We ask an employment lawyer”
27 January 2024
Ian Lim interviewed by Singapore Business Review: “LAZADA LAYOFF LAPSE: Should companies notify unions about retrenchments?”
10 September 2023
June Ho and Ian Lim’s Forefront article was picked up by The Business Times: Of Extraordinary Attorneys and Rain Men
14 February 2023
Ian Lim quoted in The Straits Times: Public Feedback Sought on Key Points of Bill to Tackle Workplace Biases
7 February 2023
Ian Lim quoted in The Straits Times on companies offering cash advances to their employees
12 December 2022
Ian Lim was quoted in The Straits Times in an article noting how gig workers will be hired more for skills than job placements
1 December 2022
Ian Lim quoted in The Business Times on CPF schemes for self-employed delivery persons
3 November 2022
Ian Lim quoted in The Business Times on the workplace health & safety code of practice
18 August 2022
Ian Lim quoted in BT: “Work Injury Compensation Act could be first of several painful but crucial gig worker reforms”
10 March 2022
Ian Lim quoted in ST: “Over half of Genting Hong Kong’s Singapore team let go after financial troubles”
17 February 2022
Ian Lim quoted in International Employment Lawyer: “Singapore authorities receive nearly 400 reports of sexual harassment in 2021”
13 November 2021
Ian Lim quoted in ST: “What’s needed in new laws to ensure fair play at the workplace in S’pore?”
4 November 2021
Ian Lim quoted in International Employment Lawyer: “Singapore raises retirement age to tackle ageing workforce”
15 September 2021
Ian Lim quoted in The Straits Times: “Gig workers: CPF, injury risk expected to be in focus amid review”
6 September 2021
Ian Lim quoted in DealStreetAsia: “Gig workers seek benefits, social security protection as pandemic bites hard”
9 July 2021
Ian Lim quoted in The Straits Times: “Employment disputes to be fully managed online by 2023”
1 July 2021
Ian Lim quoted in DealStreetAsia: “Cracks widen in SE Asia’s gig economy as worker discontent grows”
24 May 2021
Ian Lim quoted in ST: “Cases of false declaration of migrant workers’ salaries rising, says NGO”
24 February 2021
Ian Lim commented in BT article: “Gig economy: legal framework needed to avert social costs”
14 January 2021
Ian Lim quoted in TODAY: “Underwater World admits to safety lapses, uncovered after veteran diver died from stingray attack”
24 August 2020
Ian Lim commented in The New Paper: “Abruptly-retrenched workers resent lack of explanation”
11 May 2020
Ian Lim comments in ST: “Challenging times for some workers as firms try to rein in costs”
31 October 2019
Ian Lim quoted on CNA: “Unfair clauses in employment contracts: What more can be done and how should workers protect themselves?”
27 May 2019
Ian Lim comments in ST: “Illegal job brokering on the rise here, says migrant worker group”
6 May 2019
Ian Lim comments in BT: “Companies should strive to help cancer survivors continue contributing”
17 December 2018
Ian Lim comments in BT: “Social enterprise accused of failing to pay freelancers, others”
30 May 2018
Ian Lim comments in The Edge: “Is an Employment Act that covers all a boon or bane for business?”
28 March 2018
Ian Lim comments in BT on Grab-Uber merger: “For a merger to succeed, don’t forget the people”
6 March 2018
Ian Lim comments in ST and CNA on the new wider Employment Act coverage from 1 April 2019
26 February 2018
Ian Lim comments in ST: “FAS gets tough on smoking: Footballers need to be in tip-top condition”
29 December 2017
Ian Lim speaks to Channel NewsAsia about TSMP community programmes
Penned by Ian Lim
7 February 2024
My Wishlist For 2024
By Thio Shen Yi, SC, Stefanie Yuen Thio, Ong Pei Ching, June Ho, Ian Lim, Jennifer Chia, Felicia Tan, Mark A. Jacobsen, Derek Loh, Melvin Chan
7 January 2020
Reading the Tea Leaves for 2020
By Thio Shen Yi, SC, Stefanie Yuen Thio, Ong Pei Ching, June Ho, Ian Lim, Jennifer Chia, Kelvin Koh, Derek Loh, Chee Chin Wi, Kishan Pillay
