Lim Kian Leong was the founder and Senior Partner of Lim Kian Leong & Co. He graduated from Oxford University with a BA (Hons) in Jurisprudence and was called to the Bar of England and Wales at Middle Temple in 1981. He made the decision to further his education and obtained the highly prestigious post-graduate degree of Bachelor of Civil Law (BCL) (Hons) at Oxford University in 1982. Mr. Lim was a member of the Advocates and Solicitors Disciplinary Board of Malaysia and headed the firm’s Corporate Practice Division, engaging in Corporate Advisory, Corporate and Commercial Litigation and Construction Law.
Established in 1985, Lim Kian Leong & Co. was built on the dreams of an exceptional young man filled with genuine love and appreciation for the law. Through the years, Lim Kian Leong & Co. has thrived under the dedicated and determined leadership of its founder, who tirelessly worked to build a company that clients could trust, and he could be proud of. The firm was also fortunate enough to have engaged lawyers and Partners who believed in Lim Kian Leong and his vision for the future. Together, they committed themselves wholeheartedly to the company, and today, Lim Kian Leong & Co. is a highly regarded and respected law firm.
Lim Kian Leong had three great loves in his life – family, food, and the law. The importance of each would vary, depending on the time of day, but to all who knew and loved him, these three things were what defined and made him a devoted husband, loving father, and fearless litigator of the Malaysian Bar. In an illustrious career spanning more than 40 years, Mr. Lim never wavered from his dedication to the ideals of justice, fairness, hard work and commitment to clients. A highly accomplished litigator, he was Lead Counsel on many high-profile cases for domestic and international clients in highly complex and contentious corporate, civil, and commercial litigations, often involving multi-faceted disputes with multiple parties. Kian Leong was widely respected by all who knew him for his outstanding legal mind, extraordinary eloquence and innovative solutions to his clients’ business and legal disputes.
As an experienced and formidable corporate litigator, Lim Kian Leong achieved numerous victories, both, in the courtroom and at the negotiation table. He played a significant role in transforming the legal landscape of Malaysia by taking on many ground-breaking “test” cases. However, Kian Leong also appreciated the challenges that came with this profession and used them as impetus to add to his already impressive scope of legal knowledge. This intense desire to learn, rooted in a love for the law and steadfast commitment to his clients’ causes, was always present. As a result, he developed a work ethic that was unrivalled, and which made him go above and beyond to obtain the best possible outcomes.
The onset of the Covid-19 pandemic also forced Mr. Lim to step out of his comfort zone when it came to technology. With the emergence and prevalence of video court hearings, lawyers all over the country were pushed (some kicking and screaming), into the new age of Zoom. From his initial reaction of “What is Zoom? Never mind, let’s KIV it”, to eventually becoming somewhat of a pseudo – expert, Kian Leong embraced this new aspect of legal practice and could often be found excitedly “advising” his colleagues and peers on changing camera angles to avoid the dreaded double chin, using the appropriate background for hearings, how investing in a big screen, external microphone and high-definition camera were gamechangers, and most importantly, how to unmute! Mr. Lim also hilariously documented how he overcame his fear of video technology in an article for the Bar Council titled “The Experiences of a Dinosaur in the Age of Zoom”. This was just one of countless examples showing his zest for knowledge and the passion he possessed for his profession.
It must also be said that Kian Leong believed in the potential of the next generation, and as a result, was a mentor to many. He dedicated much of his time to teaching young lawyers about the law, the ins and outs of legal practice, and most memorably, the importance of one’s “killer points”! He was receptive to alternative arguments and fostered an environment where associates felt comfortable and curious enough to engage in academic debates, put personal perspectives forward and share strategies on cases they were working on. Mr. Lim always said that these lively discussions kept him on his toes, and ultimately, led to more creative solutions.
Blessed with a wicked sense of humour, Lim Kian Leong could always be counted on to find the funny in every situation. This superpower was what motivated him to never give up, because according to him, “things were never as bad as they seemed”. He celebrated his wins in the courtroom with McDonalds and when he lost, commiserated with colleagues over KFC. This anecdote perfectly sums up Mr. Lim’s approach to work and life, which was, whether you win or whether you lose, life goes on and (after a good meal), so must we.
Kian Leong was a force of nature. Even in the most tumultuous of storms, he never buckled, and made sure that those around him didn’t either. He possessed a strong sense of duty which meant that he always had sage advice and a joke on hand for associates who looked downcast. Mr. Lim truly believed in “leaving no man (or woman) behind”, and as General of his “army”, felt enthusiastically about helping younger lawyers reach for the stars. His distinctive personality, generosity of spirit, strength of character and optimistic outlook on life served him well throughout his forty-year career and made him a well-respected and much-loved leader of Lim Kian Leong & Co.
Indeed, it has been said by many that Lim Kian Leong was a True Gentleman of the Bar. He was a man who led by example, showing those around him how to conduct themselves, both, professionally as a lawyer and as an individual who treated everyone he encountered with compassion and kindness. His integrity, intelligence, innate sense of fair play, humility and admirable respect for the law will continue to inspire and guide us all for generations to come.