Lim Lesley
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Presentation
Lesley Lim graduated with a Bachelor of Laws (Hons) from the University of Tasmania, Australia in 2009 and obtained her Certificate of Legal Practice (CLP) in 2010. Lesley was admitted as an Advocate and Solicitor of the High Court of Malaya in August 2011 after completing her pupillage at Samrith Sanjiv & Partners (formerly known as Gurdial Bakan Singh).
After spending a number of years in practice at Richard Wee & Yip, Lesley joined MahWengKwai & Associates in October 2016. She subsequently worked with Richard Wee Chambers in July 2019 before returning to MWKA as a Partner in August 2020.
Over and above her practice and experience in general civil litigation matters and drafting of corporate and commercial agreements, Lesley has a strong interest in developing the area of Sports Law in Malaysia as she believes that the ever growing interaction between sports and the law gives rise to the need for a special and greater understanding of the sports industry and those related to it.
Lesley was nominated for the “Woman Lawyer of the Year (Law Firm)” category at the 2020 and 2022 Asian Legal Business (ALB) Malaysia Law Awards and is a key team member of the Sports Law Practice Group at MWKA which won the “Sports Law Firm of the Year Award” 2018 and 2019 ALB Malaysia Law Awards. She also captained the first national women’s dragon boat team to the 2018 Asian Games and the 2019 SEA Games.
2020 Partner, MahWengKwai & Associates
2019 Partner, Richard Wee Chambers
2016 Senior Associate, MahWengKwai & Associates
2012 Associate, Richard Wee & Yip
2011 Called to the Malaysian Bar
2010 Pupil-in-Chambers, Samrith Sanjiv & Partners
“Woman Lawyer of the Year (Law Firm)” – 2020 Asian Legal Business (ALB) Malaysia Law Awards
National Sports Institute of Malaysia – Research Division (Ethics Committee Member)
National Dispute Resolution Chamber (NDRC) of the Football Association of Malaysia (FAM) (Member)
Sports Law Association of Malaysia (SLAM) – Secretary
Malaysian Dragon Boat Federation (MDBF) – Committee Member
National Sports Institute of Malaysia – Research Division (Ethics Committee Member)
National Dispute Resolution Chamber (NDRC) of the Football Association of Malaysia (FAM) (Member)
Member of the Malaysian Anti-Doping Results Management Committee 2023 – 2024
2024 CrossFit Level 2 Trainer
2024 International Dragon Boat Federation (IDBF) – Grade 1 International Race Official
2023 CrossFit Level 1 Trainer
2022 Malaysian Dragon Boat Federation (MDBF) – National Race Official
2021 Diploma in Managing Olympic Sport Organisations
2021 Registered Trademark Agent
2020 HRDF Certified Trainer
2016 Certificate Programme in Sports Arbitration (Asian International Arbitration Centre)
2011 Associate, Chartered Institute of Arbitrators (CiARB)
2010 Certificate of Legal Practice (CLP)
2009 Bachelor of Laws (Hons) (University of Tasmania, Australia)
Lead solicitor for the inaugural RM 55 million renaming rights of the Putra Indoor Stadium to Axiata Arena at KL Sports City, which made its mark in history as Malaysia’s first corporate-named stadium
Lead solicitor for the brand sponsorships and collaborations for KL Sports City involving international brands such as SAMSUNG, Bosch, Sennheiser, 100Plus, Seiko and Dulux
Customized the contracts for high-performance athletes and coaches – in particular, the introduction of performance targets which co-relates to the selection and deselection process, for which legal input and advise was given pertaining to the legalities of the said selection and deselection process
The corporatization of a government-related agency involving the conceptualization and commercialization of a new sporting brand along with strategic partnerships with the corporate sector such as clothing line, juice, digital advertising space, sports hospital, analytics, commercial area management, esports partnerships and cycling research and development
Apart from being the principal legal consultant which managed, drafted and advised on all legal aspects of the commercialization process, there was participation in the negotiation processes and presentations to the Minister of Youth & Sports and relevant government agencies
Represented and advised the world’s leading photography agency specialising in badminton
Involved in proffering views for the draft Anti-Doping Agency of Malaysia Act
Member of the Anti-Doping Investigation Panel for Malaysia’s first Non-Analytical Anti-Doping Rule Violation
Assisted a State Government to draft enactments pertaining to stadium management
Advisory, contract drafting and government regulations towards establishing a Sports University
Represented and advised a professional football player from the Republic of Argentina with regards to the unlawful termination of a Foreign Player’s Contract by a football club
Reviewed a Representation Agreement between a Malaysian golf player and a sports management and marketing agency based in the United States which would allow the agency to manage the player’s brand globally
Appraised local and international sports governing bodies, administrators, club / team owners, athletes and sponsors of their legal rights and obligations as well as enforcement of sporting rules and regulations
Provided a wide range of legal and consultancy services to owners and managers of stadiums, sports arenas and facilities
Led multiple Sports Law Conferences from 2013 – 2016 – overseeing the general operations of the conference including but not limited to liaising with local and foreign speakers for the event (including speakers from FIFA, AFC, Everton Football Club, Ministers, Judges and officers from sports governing bodies) and ensuring that all event requirements are met. These conferences were pioneering and ground-breaking events to promote and expand Sports Law in Malaysia.
Founding member of the Sports Law Association of Malaysia (SLAM)
General advisory for the esports and gaming industry
Contract drafting involving players, casters, streamers, team owners, tournament organisers and sponsors
Formulation of tournament rules and regulations
Involved in proffering views to the Ministry of Youth & Sports for the National Esports Blueprint
Assisted a State Government to draft enactments pertaining to an esports council along with the proposed formation of an esports tribunal
Formation and subsequently, registration of the Malaysian Esports Players Association (MESPA) to ensure that the interests of esports players are represented and safeguarded
Experienced in general civil litigation matters, corporate and commercial disputes, debt recovery, construction arbitration and advisory and employment law which includes but is not limited to drafting of pleadings and legal opinions, scrutiny and analysis of relevant documents, pre-trial strategizing, trial preparations and research, hearing submissions and conducting trials.
Acted as co-counsel in trial and appellate matters – Sessions Court, High Court, Court of Appeal and Federal Court
Assisted in resisting a claim to set aside a Judgment in Default – High Court, Court of Appeal, Federal Court
Assisted a claim seeking for a declaration that a purported settlement was invalid, null and void vide the application of the exception to the Turquand rule – High Court and Court of Appeal
Assisted in defending a claim of fraudulent conspiracy in relation to the validity of lease agreements – High Court
Assisted in representing a company in a claim against one of its former directors for breach of fiduciary duties – High Court
Resisted a Fortuna and Mareva Injuction – High Court
Applying to Court for Grant of Probate and Letter of Administration – High Court
Applying to court for a Joint Petition – High Court
Applying to Court for an adoption order pursuant to the Adoption Act 1952 – Sessions Court
Disputes arising from breach of contract – Magistrates Court, Sessions Court and High Court
Recovery of outstanding debts and resisting claims for outstanding debts – Magistrates Court, Sessions Court and High Court
Execution proceedings such as companies’ winding up, bankruptcy proceedings, prohibitory order, garnishment, etc. – High Court
Judicial review against a decision by the Industrial Court – High Court
Providing legal advise to an American multinational energy corporation on civil and environmental issues.
Providing advise relating to labour and employment law and defending an employment dispute in relation to the down-sizing and restructuring of a company – Industrial Court
Claim by the Company against its former employee seeking compensation in lieu of short notice for termination of employment – Magistrates Court
Preparation of settlement agreements for claims and disputes
Assisted in defending a third party action for failure to discharge their duties as a reasonable contractor during the construction of the property – High Court and Court of Appeal
Assisted in defending a claim for trespass arising from the construction of an access road – High Court
Assisted in defending a prohibitory injunction against the utilization of a performance bond – High Court
Assisted in resisting an amendment application which was attempting to add an Adjudicator as a 2nd Defendant in the proceedings – High Court
Assisted in a claim to reserve and set aside an Ajudicator’s decision – Arbitration
Assisted in defending a property developer against claims by a contractor for extensions of time, loss and expense and variations from the contractor – Arbitration
Assisted in providing construction contract administration services and claims services to employers and contractors
Claims for outstanding sums due for rectification works carried out by a contractor
Claims for recovery of payment under the Construction Industry Payment and Adjudication Act 2012 (CIPAA)
Working closely with experts and witnesses, including geotechnical engineering consultants
Regularly involved in drafting, reviewing and advising on a variety of legal documents, contracts and agreements
Reviewing and providing advise / opinion on the interpretation of contracts and agreements
Thomas Thanapaul TS Thanapaul v MIC Group Malaysia Sdn Bhd [2013] 2 LNS 0969
Allan Kinsey & Anor. v Sunway Rahman Putra Sdn Bhd & Anor; Dekon Sdn Bhd (Third Party) [2015] 4 CLJ 624
Khoo Peng Wai v Pembinaan Terasia Sdn Bhd [2016] 1 LNS 1081
Ravichanthiran Ganesan v Dato’ Mat Shah Safuan & Pembinaan Kota Laksamana Sdn Bhd [2016] 1 LNS 66
Moderator for the Asian Sports ADR Summit 2024 – “Game of Strategies: The Legal Frontiers of Technology in Sports” (January 2024)
Speaker for ADNDRC Conference – “Where There’s Smoke, There’s Fire – Discovering Infringement” (Infringement and Enforcement in Web3 Domains) (December 2023)
Moderator for Joint Seminar by Sports Law Association of Malaysia (SLAM) and Japan Sports Law Association (JSLA) – “How to Ensure Safe Sport?” (November 2023)
Speaker for Malaysia Property Law Conference 2023 – “Delve into Strata Title Issues” (October 2023)
Speaker for MWKA Online Talk – Legal Challenges in the Digital Gaming and Esports Industry (July 2023)
Speaker for MWKA Online Talk – The Future of Sports Sponsorship in Malaysia (April 2023)
ALSA BAC – “The Spotlight Series – Sports Law” (March 2023)
Cradle Fund Sdn Bhd – Knowledge Sharing Session on Sports Law (October 2022)
Moderator for AIAC September Sports Week – An Ecosystem of Sports: Organising an International Sporting Event (September 2022)
Speaker for MMU Law Society: An Insight on the Role of Sports Law in Malaysia (May 2022)
Speaker for MWKA Online Talk – Trademark Infringement and Passing Off (April 2022)
Speaker for MWKA Online Talk – Integrity in Sports: The Roles of Sports Associations and Athletes (January 2022)
Speaker for Malaysian Dragon Boat Federation (MDBF) Advance Coaching Course – Anti-Doping Briefing (December 2021)
Moderator for SLAM Conference – Equality, Diversity and Inclusion (November 2021)
Speaker for UTP Griffin Esports Club: Esports and Prejudice – Removing the Labels (October 2021)
Moderator for ADAMAS Forum – Persekitaran Bebas Doping, Tanggungjawab Siapa? (October 2021)
Moderator for ADAMAS Forum – Anti-Doping dari Kaca Mata Penggiat Sukan (September 2021)
Speaker for AIAC September Sports Month – A Year into Covid-19: The Strain on the Sports Industry and Athletes Mental Health (September 2021)
Moderator for Sports Law Association of Malaysia (SLAM) Webinar: Life in the Fast Lane (August 2021)
Moderator for Sports Law Association of Malaysia (SLAM) Webinar: Olympism in Sports and Life (July 2021)
Speaker for MWKA Online Talk: Legal Aspects of Digital Transformation (June 2021)
Moderator for MWKA Online Talk : Data Privacy : Does it Exist? (April 2021)
Speaker for ADAMAS Sports Integrity Forum (March 2021)
Speaker for MWKA Online Talk: Cybersecurity Laws in Malaysia (February 2021)
Speaker for eLawyer Legal Webinar Series – Cyber Fraud and Asset Recovery in Malaysia (January 2021)
Microsoft wins their battle against the FTC (July 2023)
Epic Games vs Apple Ruling (The Breakdown) (September 2021)
Epic Games vs Apple (The Legal Perspective) (May 2021)
Refund Policies for Digital Games (January 2021)
Gender Discrimination in Women’s Football (March 2019)
Illegal Sports Streaming (July 2018)
Sports Law VAR (July 2018)
True Fitness (July 2017)
Stadium Naming Rights (January 2017)
The Entrapment of Big Sam Allardyce (October 2016)
Money in Olympics (August 2016)
Brexit and the Premier League (July 2016)
Image Rights (June 2016)
“Thank you for your great support, with professional skills and warm mind!
We appreciate the professional advice and timely support from Ms. Lesley Lim and the team. It was really helpful to us. Also thank you for your friendly and hospitable approach.” – Ajinomoto (Malaysia) Berhad
“Working with Lesley Lim has been a game-changer for Grace Volleyball Academy. Their guidance on contracts and business law didn’t just protect us legally; it gave us peace of mind to focus on nurturing our young athletes. Their warmth and understanding made legal discussions feel like conversations with a trusted advisor. Thanks to Lesley Lim, our club feels secure and empowered with a solid contract.” – Edwin Ang, Grace Volleyball Academy
“The MWKA team is very proficient, especially in the field of sports. They were very understanding and helped us to draft a contract within a short time for a reasonable price. Lesley Lim displayed excellent listening skills, and the ability to understand our requirements and suggested appropriate solutions. Well done and thank you for the excellent service.” – Vector Motorsports Club, Penang
“We have been very pleased with the way the firm has handled our case, with Lesley Lim in charge of a complicated case. Everything was handled smoothly with great communication and interaction. We definitely recommend this firm.” – Raphael Sachetat, CEO Badmintonphoto
“Our company is a gaming enterprise and Vietnam’s leading internet and technology company. In expanding our venture into the Malaysian market, we engaged MWKA based on their experience in the gaming, esports and technology industry. In addition to providing sound legal advice, MWKA also gave practical examples along with business guidance and recommendations. It was a good experience working with Lesley Lim and Carolyn Ng.” – VNG Corporation, Vietnam
“My organisation (an international sport governing body) has engaged MWKA for ongoing corporate and commercial matters in sports. Strong experience in the sports industry is not very common in this part of the world and we are glad to have the capable assistance of Lesley Lim, Cassandra Thomazios and Tommy Wong in our matters, ranging from contract drafting and review to advising on potential disputes.” – Dylan Mah, International Table Tennis Federation, Singapore
Spoken languages
Lawyer Offices
Location
Country: Malaysia
City: Petaling Jaya
