Jern-Fei Ng Sets Precedent as First King’s Counsel to Join Malaysian Law Firm

Jern-Fei Ng Sets Precedent as First King’s Counsel to Join Malaysian Law Firm

Distinguished barrister and arbitrator Jern-Fei Ng KC, a King's Counsel, has joined the esteemed Malaysian disputes boutique Lim Chee Wee Partnership (LCWP) as a registered foreign lawyer.

Ng, a King's Counsel born and raised in Malaysia and currently residing in Singapore, becomes the first such legal professional to join a Malaysian law firm.

Ng will maintain his existing legal practice as a member of Duxton Hill Chambers in Singapore, which he joined in May 2023, while also continuing his arbitral practice at Temple Chambers in Hong Kong, in addition to his London tenancy at 7 Bedford Row.

Dato' Lim Chee Wee, senior partner and co-founder of LCWP alongside two former Skrine partners in 2020, welcomed the move, stating it would enhance their international arbitration practice with specialist advocacy expertise.

“He (Ng) made Malaysia proud when he became one of the youngest silks to be appointed in England and Wales and is now the first and only King’s Counsel to be affiliated with a Malaysian practice,” Wee said.

LCWP managing partner and fellow co-founder Lee Shih added that Ng’s instruction in more than 350 international arbitrations as counsel over the past 20 years alongside his experience practising English law would be “immensely valuable to our clients”.

The firm's managing partner and co-founder, Lee Shih, emphasized the significance of Ng's extensive background in international arbitration and profound knowledge of English law, highlighting their immense value to client success.

“I am confident that my mutually complementary affiliations in four different jurisdictions will serve to reinforce LCWP’s offerings in this space,” Ng, who practised at Essex Court Chambers in London for many years, said.

Ng's appointment formalises a longstanding, 15-year relationship with LCWP, rooted in his time as a junior at Essex Court.

Ng and LCWP boast a collaborative history on diverse cross-border matters, including a $40 million commodities arbitration and a $50 million multi-jurisdictional civil fraud litigation (both seated in London), a $4 million oil supply dispute (heard in Singapore), and a multi-million-dollar civil fraud dispute and commodities supply contract (seated in Paris).

This move strategically positions Ng to broaden his practice as counsel on international arbitration matters governed by both Malaysian and English law.