Dunbar & Lim Chambers is a leading international arbitration firm in Singapore founded by Simon Dunbar and Kevin Lim.

The firm offers dedicated partner attention throughout each case, delivering world-class service together with boutique firm independence and flexibility.

Large and complex cases are the firm's forte. Combined, its lawyers have spent decades in top-tier global law firms exclusively practising international arbitration. They have represented clients from Asia, Europe, North America, and the Middle-East in complex and high-stakes international arbitrations. They are also admitted in multiple jurisdictions, covering some of the most widely-used laws in cross-border commercial disputes – English, Singapore, and New York law.

Experienced Counsel in High Stakes, Multi-Jurisdictional Disputes

Dunbar & Lim Chambers’ depth of experience in complex, high stakes international arbitrations puts the firm among the most experienced arbitration teams in the region.

Combined, its lawyers have been involved in more than 100 international arbitrations. They have represented clients in disputes governed by a wide range of applicable laws, subject to all of the major institutional rules, and seated in all of the leading arbitral jurisdictions.

The firm has particular expertise in joint venture, energy, technology, telecommunications, hospitality, real estate, infrastructure, and investor-state disputes. Examples include:

• Representing a world-leading nuclear technology provider in an ICC arbitration concerning the design and construction of a nuclear power plant in Taiwan. The client secured an award of substantially all relief sought, including payment of US$158 million, and the dismissal of counterclaims valued at US$350 million.
• Representing two affiliates of a major US multinational in an UNCITRAL arbitration in Singapore against two Asian state-owned entities. The dispute concerns claims of misappropriation of the clients’ technology under a long-term licensing agreement. More than US$ 500 million is in dispute.
• Representing an international oil and gas company in an UNCITRAL arbitration in South-East Asia concerning a joint operating agreement. The firm’s lawyers successfully defended the client against US$1.69 billion in counterclaims, and helped secure a worldwide asset freezing injunction and an anti-suit injunction. The remaining claims and counterclaims, worth US$130 million, were successfully settled.
• Advising a State on its ongoing disputes with a group of investors under multiple investment treaties. These disputes are subject to ICSID and other forms of investor-state arbitration, and billions of dollars are at stake.
• Representing a Taiwanese conglomerate in ICC and SIAC arbitrations against an Indian listed company in relation to a joint venture dispute in China. The arbitration is seated in Singapore.
• Representing a large Indian conglomerate in an LCIA arbitration concerning shareholder disputes regarding a major India-listed airline company. The arbitration was seated in New Delhi.

Experienced Arbitrators with Major Arbitral Institutions

The firm’s co-founders and Joint Managing Directors, Simon Dunbar and Kevin Lim, also sit regularly as arbitrator and have issued multiple awards in complex commercial disputes. They are Fellows of the Chartered Institute of Arbitrators (FCIArb), and are included on arbitrator lists and panels of major arbitral institutions, including the SIAC, HKIAC, AIAC, and THAC.

Awards and Accolades

The firm is recognised across the major legal directories as a leading firm for international arbitration.

Among other accolades, it is recognised by Chambers as a "top-ranked firm" for arbitration, with clients describing it as "small, nimble, and more efficient than large firms", with "great attention to detail", "a very deep understanding of the commercial and technical issues", and "a good focus on outcomes".

Our directors are also each individually ranked in Chambers and regarded to be among the leading international arbitration practitioners in the world. Simon is described as "phenomenally smart" and "a very experienced counsel and cross-examiner", while Kevin is recognised as being "individually brilliant", "very intelligent", and "very good to work with".