Lillian Li
Lillian is a dispute resolution lawyer with more than ten years of experience in commercial arbitration, investor-state disputes, and litigation.
Lillian regularly acts as counsel and tribunal secretary in high stakes commercial and investment treaty arbitrations under most arbitral rules such as HKIAC, ICC, UNCITRAL, SIAC, LCIA, and JAMS. Her practice also covers U.S. disputes and cross-border litigation.
Her experience spans both common and civil law proceedings as she has advised clients with arbitrations seated in London, Paris, the Hague, Seoul, New York, Singapore, and Hong Kong and governed by English, U.S., Hong Kong, Singapore, and Korean law. Her practice supports a diverse range of clients including private equity firms, hedge funds, tech companies, hospitality, listed companies, and high net worth individuals.
Previously, Lillian served as a judicial clerk to the Vice President of the European Court of Human Rights in France, and as a judicial assistant at the Hong Kong Court of Final Appeal and High Court.
Lillian is also committed to pro-bono. Previously, she worked for the UN Committee against Torture, advised the UK and Hong Kong governments on human rights legislation in emerging areas of law, and filed amicus briefs on landmark constitutional cases. She continues to collaborate with and advise NGOs on a range of legal issues.
Outside of private practice, Lillian is also an active member in the arbitration community. Currently, she serves as a committee member on HK45 (an organisation for young professionals in arbitration), is the Hong Kong National Representative for the IBA's Young Lawyers' Committee, and a mentor and member of ArbitralWomen.
Lillian has been recommended by Legal500 Hong Kong and South Korea as a key lawyer for International Arbitration in 2023, 2024, and 2025, and was also named a 'Rising Star' by Asia Legal Business for North Asia.
Experience & expertise
Selected matters
- acting for a billionaire in four separate ICC arbitrations in several shareholder disputes concerning claim preclusion and breach of contract governed under Korean law, seated in Seoul, with claims in excess of USD 2 billion
- acting for a digital asset and crypto firm in an HKIAC arbitration concerning breach of contract governed under Hong Kong law and seated in Hong Kong, with claims of approximately USD 400 million
- acting for a Nasdaq listed company in a JAMS arbitration concerning an intellectual property related dispute, governed under California law and seated in London
- acting for a Swiss conglomerate against the Republic of Korea in an UNCITRAL investor-state arbitration seated in Paris, with claims in excess of USD 200 million
- acting for a Korean company in an UNCITRAL investor-state arbitration against a South-East Asian state seated in Singapore, with claims in excess of USD 300 million
- acting for an Asian state in an UNCITRAL investor-state arbitration against an American real estate investor seated in London with claims of approximately USD 4 billion
- acting for a Japanese venture capital fund in a US dispute arising from a failed acquisition with claims in excess of USD 3 billion
- acting for a Chapter 11 Trustee in multiple cross-border proceedings in New York, Singapore, and Hong Kong arising out of the collapse of Pacific Andes International Holding Limited
- acting for an American inventor in anti-suit and anti-anti-suit proceedings in California and Hong Kong court proceedings in relation to an intellectual property dispute over patented drugs
- Tribunal Secretary in an HKIAC arbitration between a cosmetic brand and its former directors, seated in Hong Kong with claims in excess of USD 100 million.
Sectors
