Kwa Kim Li

About Kim Li

Kwa Kim Li is the Managing Partner of Lee & Lee, one of Singapore’s most established law firms, founded in 1955 by Singapore’s first Prime Minister Mr Lee Kuan Yew.

Kim Li graduated in 1979 from the National University of Singapore and was called to the Singapore Bar in 1980. She has been with the firm since her graduation and has been in practice for over 40 years. Her practice spans various aspects of law. Although her pet area of practice is Real Estate, Kim Li also advises on Loans, Trusts, Wills, Probates, Joint Ventures and Cross Border Transactions.

Kim Li has seen the development of the Singapore real estate market cycles over four decades. She has acted for numerous developers, both public listed and private, in their property transactions in residential, office, commercial, hotel and industrial development projects. On the retail side, she has acted in numerous purchases and sales of private properties including several landmark Good Class Bungalows.

Kim Li was named as one of Singapore’s Top Property Lawyers in Asian Legal Business Legal Who’s Who Singapore. She is cited by the respected legal publication, Chambers & Partners Asia Pacific, as a recommended lawyer in Real Estate and is highlighted as a “well-regarded lawyer” who “commands respect among practitioners.” Chambers also commends her for being known for advising public and private developers on transactional real estate matters. In addition, she is ranked by Asia Property HQ as one of the top conveyancing lawyers in Singapore.

Case Highlights

Some of the more recent property transactions handled by Kim Li include:-

• Acting for a leading beauty omnichannel brand-building company in the sale and leaseback of Luxasia Building, a six-storey industrial building located in JTC’s Paya Lebar iPark for the sale price of S$75 million

• Acting for a well-known real estate developer in the sale of Enterprise Logistics Centre, a two-storey ramp-up logistics warehouse at Tuas View Place for the sale price of S$120.6 million

• Acting for a boutique developer in the purchase of a row of 9 adjoining shophouses at Joo Chiat Place for the purchase price of S$31.8 million

• Advising a well-known real estate developer and landlord of commercial and residential properties in various regulatory and land title aspects of a proposed landed residential development project

• Advising a privately held group of real estate development and investment companies in various regulatory and land title aspects of real estate acquisition, disposal and development. 

• Acting for an established Singapore family in family arrangements involving a property valued at S$80 million

• Acting for an established Indonesian family in family arrangements involving a property valued at S$100 million 

• Acting as mediator/advisor in several property disputes of substantial value

• Acting for a well-known Singapore developer in mediation proceedings in interpretation of lease terms in Common Law Title Deeds

• Acting for well-known Singapore 3 generation family in the re-structuring of their company in relation to the division of several substantial properties in Singapore with special focus on stamp duty issues

Awards & Recognitions

• Singapore’s Top Property Lawyers in Asian Legal Business Legal Who’s Who Singapore. 

• Recommended lawyer in Real Estate, Chambers & Partners Asia Pacific, who is highlighted as a “well-regarded lawyer” who “commands respect among practitioners.” Chambers also commends her for being known for advising public and private developers on transactional real estate matters. 

• Top Conveyancing Lawyers in Singapore, Asia Property HQ.

• Awarded the “Service to Education” award from the Ministry of Education, Singapore.

• Awarded the Appreciation Service Award from the Ministry of Health, Singapore.

Memberships & Directorships

• Director, Hogan Lovells Lee & Lee (2006 - present)

• Director, Corus Hotels UK (2012 - present)

• Trustee, Singapore Cardiac Society (2014 - present)

• Director, Changi Airport Group (2019 - present)

• Director, Wing Tai Holdings Limited (2022 - present)

• Director, Singapore Chinese Girls’ School (2006 - 2017)

• Director, Sentosa Development Corporation (2011 - 2017)

• Director, National University Health System (2011 - 2019)

• Director, Laura Ashley Holdings PLC (2011 - 2017)

• Director, Lee Kuan Yew School of Public Policy (2012 - 2017)

• Director, Mapletree Commercial Trust Management Ltd (2014 - 2022)

• Director, HSBC Bank (Singapore) Limited (2016 - 2019)

• Director, Jurong Town Corporation (2017 - 2023)

• Member, Law Society of Singapore

• Member, Singapore Academy of Law

• Advisor to the Real Estate Developers Association of Singapore for several years