Home
Debby Lim

Debby Lim

Senior Partner

Debby Lim

Senior Partner

“She is a very good lawyer who is dedicated, technically strong and practical in approach. She is able to help clients navigate the tough journey of restructuring and insolvency.” – Chambers Asia-Pacific, 2024

“Debby Lim is exceptionally knowledgeable in the restructuring and insolvency field and is able to advise and provide customised solutions to companies in distress.” – The Legal 500 Asia Pacific, 2024

Singapore

D+65 6885 3665

Local time

Email me

Download vCard

Debby Lim is a senior partner in Dentons Rodyk’s Litigation and Dispute Resolution Group and co-heads the Firm’s Restructuring, Insolvency and Bankruptcy practice. With a robust cross-border commercial litigation portfolio, Debby brings over 17 years of specialised experience in insolvency, banking and finance disputes, complex asset recovery, and fraud investigations.

She is recognised for leading precedent-setting, high-stakes restructuring and insolvency mandates across the Asia-Pacific, including landmark matters involving judicial management, schemes of arrangement, and the enforcement of creditor rights in complex corporate collapses. Debby routinely advises and represents debtors, creditors, and insolvency officeholders in contested schemes, priority disputes, enforcement proceedings, and antecedent transaction challenges.

A seasoned advocate, Debby has appeared before the Singapore Court of Appeal—including in a rare five-judge configuration—in multiple jurisprudentially significant insolvency appeals that have shaped Singapore’s insolvency law landscape. She is also establishing herself as a leading appellate litigator.

In the non-contentious space, Debby advised on Singapore’s first pre-packaged scheme of arrangement and the first judicial management of a foreign-incorporated company, reinforcing her reputation as a legal strategist at the forefront of legislative and procedural innovation.

Internationally recognised for her expertise, Debby is one of the first three Singapore-qualified lawyers to be bestowed the prestigious fellowship by INSOL International. She contributes actively to thought leadership through scholarly writing, including for LexisNexis Annotated Laws of Singapore, and recently participated in UNCITRAL Working Group V deliberations on cross-border insolvency frameworks.

Debby also holds key leadership positions within the legal profession. She is the Co-Chair of the Law Society of Singapore’s Publications Committee and Vice-Chair of its Insolvency Practice Committee. Committed to diversity, equity and inclusion, Debby serves as the Asia Regional Vice Director of Membership of the International Women's Insolvency & Restructuring Confederation (IWIRC), where she also mentors the Indonesian Network, and was formerly Co-Chair of the IWIRC Singapore Network. She is a founding member of the Law Society’s Women in Practice Task Force and sits on Dentons Rodyk’s Women’s Committee.

Beyond her professional commitments, Debby is deeply involved in pro bono advocacy. She is an empanelled state-assigned counsel with the Legal Assistance Scheme for Capital Offences (LASCO), representing individuals facing the death penalty, regardless of nationality. Most recently, she argued Azuin bin Mohd Tap v Public Prosecutor [2025] SGCA 8, further solidifying her standing as a skilled litigator beyond commercial law.

Experience

Judicial Manager of Comgateway (S) Pte Ltd: Advising the judicial manager of Comgateway (S) Pte Ltd which is a well-known logistics service provider with a presence in a few jurisdictions including Singapore, the US and the Philippines. This is the first voluntary (out-of-court) judicial management in Singapore involving the successful sale of the distressed company’s assets as a going concern.
Group Lease Holdings Pte Ltd: This is a long-running matter where the firm defended the Singapore subsidiary of a Thai public listed company (Group Lease PCL) and its Chairman and CEO Mr Mitsuji Konoshita, against serious allegations of fraud and conspiracy made by its former business partner. The facts are complex: The firm’s client is alleged to have used a web of corporate organization structures to conceal the fraud, and it is alleged that this fraud has been ongoing since 2015. Debby led a team of 8 lawyers from the firm as lead counsel in defending the application to wind up the client as reported in JTrust Asia Pte Ltd v Group Lease Holdings Pte Ltd (Group Lease Public Co Ltd and another, non-parties) [2024] SGHC 195.
Hin Leong Family SPVs: Advising and acting for the independent directors of three special purpose vehicles owned by the main shareholders of Hin Leong Trading (Pte) Ltd Singapore which was previously placed under judicial management for the purposes of a debt restructuring of its liabilities in excess of USD 4 billion.
Dishangtie Green Technology (Hong Kong) (“Dishangtie”): Advising Dishangtie in respect of its investment in EVCo, also known as Strides DST, which was an electric van leasing company in Singapore that is a joint venture between SMRT's Strides Holdings and Dishangtie. The company was put under provisional liquidation after the arrest of its former CEO and CFO in late 2023.
The Picotin Group: Acting for a group of companies in successfully obtaining moratoria protection pursuant to Sections 64 and 65 of the Insolvency, Restructuring and Dissolution Act 2018 (the “IRDA”) in Re Picotin Pte Ltd and other matters [2024] SGHC 156. The applications were heavily contested by some of the landlords. The decision is an important one as it provides illuminative guidance on the Singapore court’s approach to carve-outs to moratoria as well as related entity moratoria applications under section 65 of the IRDA generally.
Cryptocurrency Client: Advised and acted for a creditor of a high-profile insolvent debtor in the cryptocurrency industry, in respect of proprietary and debt claims, and potential claims for fraud, conspiracy, dishonest assistance and knowing receipt against the directors and employees of the debtor.
Joint Liquidators of BGA Holdings Limited: Acted for the Joint Liquidators in securing Singapore recognition of the Hong Kong liquidation proceedings, with a view towards obtaining access to any Singapore assets. The Hong Kong liquidation proceedings were recognised in Singapore as foreign main proceedings pursuant to the Model Law, notwithstanding the fact that there are two pending appeals before the Hong Kong Court of Appeal.
Local Bank: Acted for a local bank in respect of allegations of collusion and illegality made against it and a debt of over S$16 million owed to it.
A Singapore company involved in the construction of an LNG-to-power plant in Vietnam: Advising and representing a Singapore company involved in the construction of the first foreign-funded LNG-to-power plant in Vietnam worth US$4 billion in judicial management proceedings in Gulf International Holding Pte Ltd v Delta Offshore Energy Pte Ltd [2023] SGHC 151
SP Corporation Limited (“SP”): Acted for SP in the acquisition by Tuan Sing Holdings Limited (the "Offeror") of all the shares in the issued share capital of SP (other than the shares held by the Offeror) by way of a scheme of arrangement (the “Scheme”), as well as SP’s subsequent delisting after completion of the Scheme. The Scheme represented a total value of approximately S$11.1 million.
Private Trustees of the Estate of Madam Lim Lie Hoa: Acting for the Private Trustees of the Estate of Madam Lim Lie Hoa in Ong Jane Rebecca v Lim Lie Hoa and other appeals and other matters [2021] SGCA 63 where the Court of Appeal clarified the law on the Riddick undertaking in the context of enforcement proceedings.
Provisional Liquidators of Century Sunshine Group: Acting for the Provisional Liquidators of Hong Kong listed Century Sunshine Group in successfully obtaining foreign main recognition in Singapore of the “light-touch” Cayman Islands provisional liquidation. This is to facilitate the restructuring of the S$101.75 million Singapore listed notes.
Skysmart Ventures Limited: Acting for the white knight in obtaining a super priority rescue financing order respect of its investment into Asiatravel.com. This is the first time that a debtor has obtained a second rescue financing order from the Singapore Court.
Sony Pictures: Advising Sony Pictures in respect of the liquidation of Hooq Digital, the South-East Asian video streaming service. The assets of Hooq Digital were subsequently purchased by Softbank-backed South Korean e-commerce giant Coupang Corp.
Liquidators of AnAn Group, a Singapore subsidiary of CEFC China Energy: Acting for the liquidators of AnAn Group, a Singapore subsidiary of CEFC China Energy (an energy conglomerate with US$4.8 billion in debt). The 5-Judge Court of Appeal’s decision, being one of two conjoined appeals involving the complex interplay of insolvency proceedings and arbitration clauses, is reported in AnAn Group (Singapore) Pte Ltd v VTB Bank (Public Joint Stock Company) [2020] SGCA 33.
Confidential Client: Acting for a mainboard-listed company in respect of Commercial Affairs Department investigations into potential market manipulation offences under the Securities and Futures Act.
China Sports International: Acting for Bermuda-incorporated mainboard-listed China Sports International, which was the first foreign-incorporated entity in Singapore to be placed under judicial management.
Hoe Leong Corporation Limited: Acting for Hoe Leong Corporation Limited a mainboard-listed heavy equipment supplier in the restructuring of its debts amounting to nearly S$80 million. This is the first 'pre-packaged' scheme of arrangement in Singapore and also involved one of the first successful applications for Section 211C moratoria to protect subsidiaries in the Group.
Trustee of Jurong Country Club Notes: Acting for the Trustee of the Jurong Country Club notes in respect of the early buyback offer from JTC. This arose due to Jurong Country Club’s land being acquired for the development of the Singapore-Kuala Lumpur high-speed-rail terminus.
SK Engineering & Construction Co Ltd: Successfully acted as Singapore counsel for the appellant creditor in SK Engineering & Construction Co Ltd v Conchubar Aromatics Ltd and another appeal [2017] SGCA 51 who succeeded in reversing the High Court's Order sanctioning two schemes of arrangement in relation to the debt restructuring of two stakeholders of Jurong Aromatics Corporation, which owned one of the world’s largest petrochemical plants worth US$2.4 billion. This is a landmark 5-Judge Court of Appeal decision in respect of the issue of related-party creditors in Schemes of Arrangement.
Confidential Client: Acting for a confidential high net worth individual in respect of asset-tracing investigations into a Singapore incorporated company embroiled in a close to a billion dollar fraud spanning multiple jurisdictions.
Liquidators of Siva Ships Intl Pte. Ltd.: Acted for the successful liquidators in Duncan, Cameron Lindsay and another v Diablo Fortune Inc and another matter [2017] SGHC 172 where the Singapore High Court considered for the first time whether a contractual lien on sub-freights is a charge requiring registration. The subsequent Singapore Court of Appeal decision in Diablo Fortune Inc v Duncan, Cameron Lindsay and another [2018] SGCA 26 was shortlisted for the award for the most significant insolvency-related litigation at the 2018 Global Restructuring Review Awards. This has also led to a public consultation by the Singapore Ministry of Law which culminated in legislative amendments of significant impact to the shipping industry.
Judicial managers of mainboard-listed CNA Group Limited: Acting for the judicial managers of mainboard-listed CNA Group Limited. The judicial management involved advising on the company’s various computer and systems installation contracts; assisting in the negotiation of the sales of some of the company's assets and business; representing the company in a complex ICC arbitration in Doha, Qatar.
Various Banks: Advising two banks on the Singapore law aspects of the US$1.87 billion restructuring of Torm Shipping, a Danish shipping company that is one of the world’s leading carriers of refined oil products and has five international subsidiaries located in Brazil, India, Philippines, the United States of America and Singapore.
Judicial managers of Armada Singapore Pte Ltd: Acting as international counsel for the judicial managers in relation to the US$895 million to US$1 billion cross-border insolvency and restructuring of a global shipping conglomerate involving Singapore, the UAE, India, Belgium, the Netherlands, the United States of America, England, Australia, the Marshall Islands, Malaysia, Liberia and other jurisdictions.

Recognition

“Her diverse insolvency experience across multiple industries gives her a unique perspective on risk management issues.” – Chambers Asia-Pacific, 2023
“She is a very dedicated lawyer who will go the extra mile to ensure that our interest is protected.” – Chambers Asia-Pacific, 2023
“Debby Lim “is very responsive and gets things done,” says a source. She is well reputed for her work on insolvency mandates in Singapore's legal market, acting for a range of creditors, debtors and appointees.” – Chambers Asia-Pacific, 2022
“Debby has been described as a "miracle worker in pushing through court applications”” – Chambers and Partners
“Debby Lim is an excellent lawyer, willing to spend the extra time on issues to come up with practical solution.” – The Legal 500 Asia Pacific, 2023
Debby is described as being “very personable, bright and driven” and “takes a commercial approach” for litigious matters. She is also praised by a client for having “a perfect record in achieving successful and often ground-breaking outcomes”. “I have had the privilege of working with Debby, who combines commercial nous with a finely tuned sense of how courts will consider restructuring and insolvency issues. She appears regularly in the courts and has a good rapport with the judges, and delivers on-the-point and well-reasoned submissions for her clients.” – The Legal 500 Asia Pacific
“Debby is highly intelligent, knowledgeable, commercial, responsive and proactive on matters where we have worked together.” – IFLR1000, 2024/25 (34th Edition)
“Technically very strong, very responsive, gives fresh perspective to issues, willing and able to take on strong opponents and win.” – IFLR1000, 2024/25 (34th Edition)
“Responsive, helpful, practical, approachable, detailed and intelligent – and able to deal with complex matters in a calm and practical manner.” – IFLR1000, 2023/24 (33rd Edition)
“She is responsive, commercial and a true leader in her field. An absolute pleasure to work with.” “She is very experienced and knowledgeable about developments in the insolvency law and is able to advise clients on the most cost-effective solutions to resolve disputes.” “She offers comprehensive legal advice with sound technical knowledge, a trustworthy working partner” “Debby is a responsive and commercially minded insolvency and restructuring lawyer. Her user friendly advice is spot on and takes into account the practical considerations of a transaction. She comes highly recommended.” – IFLR1000
The Legal 500 Asia Pacific: Recognised as Leading Individual for Restructuring and Insolvency, 2024 – 2025
Chambers Asia Pacific: Leading individual for Restructuring/Insolvency: Domestic - Singapore, 2021 – 2025
Asialaw Leading Lawyers: Ranked as Notable Practitioner in Restructuring and insolvency, 2023 – 2024
Benchmark Litigation Asia-Pacific: Recognised as a Future Star in Insolvency, 2023 – 2025
Best Lawyers in Singapore: Recognised in the area of Insolvency and Reorganisation Law, 2026
Lexology Index (formerly Who's Who Legal): Recognised as a Global Leader for Restructuring & Insolvency, 2021 – 2025
Lexology Index (formerly Who's Who Legal): Recognised as a National Leader (Southeast Asia) for Restructuring & Insolvency, 2021 – 2024
IFLR1000: Recognised as a Notable Practitioner for Restructuring and Insolvency, 2023/24 (33rd Edition) – 2024/25 (34th Edition)
Global Restructuring Review: Recognised in "Name to Know in Singapore", 2019
Global Restructuring Review: Recognised in "40 of the world's leading restructuring specialists, aged 40 and under", 2016
Singapore Law Gazette Awards: Mentioned in Best Feature Article, 2019

In the Media

“More Singapore bankruptcy cases filed by debtors, not creditors, in past 5 years: MinLaw” The Straits Times, March 15, 2025

Insights

Co-author, "Utilisation of Singapore’s Scheme of Arrangement mechanism by Indian companies undertaking a “reverse flip” to India," April 23, 2025
"Bridge over troubled water – SGX’s proposed enhancements to the corporate restructuring and trading resumption framework," Dentons Rodyk Reporter Issue 03 (2024)
"Winding up suspicious transaction reporting – insolvency practitioners take note," Dentons Rodyk Reporter Issue 02 (2023)
“The Key to Lock-up Arrangements: Singapore High Court issues first written guidance on lock-up agreements in Schemes of Arrangement,” Dentons Rodyk Reporter Issue 03 (2022)

Activities and Affiliations

Memberships

Member, Law Society of Singapore
Co-Vice Chairperson, Publications Committee of the Law Society of Singapore
Member, Women in Practice Committee of the Law Society of Singapore
Member, Singapore Academy of Law
Fellow, INSOL International
Fellow, Insolvency Practitioners Association of Singapore

Prior and Present Employment

Senior Partner, Dentons Rodyk & Davidson LLP 2021 - Present
Shook Lin & Bok LLP 2009 - 2020
TSMP Law Corporation 2008 - 2009
Tan Kok Quan Partnership 2006 - 2008

Debby Lim