Interview with Benaiah Lim
Our newly called Associate Benaiah Lim shares more about himself in this interview.
Tell us more about yourself
I enjoy reading psychological thrillers, hiking, and a good bottle of wine (not at the same time). My favourite book is The Lord of the Rings by J.R.R Tolkien – I’ve read the book three times!
What inspired you to become a lawyer?
It’s hard to put my finger on any one person or any one event. But if I had to say who, it would be Atticus Finch in Harper Lee’s To Kill a Mockingbird. I was enthralled by the character, in particular his relationship with Scout and his fearless and indomitable spirit in fighting for the underdog.
Of course, the novel excludes details of a lawyer’s day-to-day, but we always start off with a romantic ideal, don’t we?
What did law school not prepare you for when it came to practicing law?
The clients – and I mean that in the best possible way. I’ve learnt that practice is ultimately a people-centred profession, and lawyers are thereby provided with the opportunity to make an impact in the lives of their clients.
Which legal luminary’s brain would you like to have a meal with or have on your team in any case and why?
Lord Denning, he was a maverick of the Bench who kept pushing the needle of the common law in an ever-evolving society.
“What is the argument on the other side? Only this, that no case has been found in which it has been done before. That argument does not appeal to me in the least. If we never do anything which has not been done before, we shall never get anywhere. The law will stand still while the rest of the world goes on, and that will be bad for both.” – Lord Denning in Parker v Parker [1954] All ER 22.
What gives you the most satisfaction in your work?
When I solve problems for clients. Whether they are complex and high-value, bet-the-company litigation type of work, or whether they are run-of-the-mill matters, I enjoy them all.
About Benaiah
Benaiah joined Covenant Chambers in 2020 and his main areas of practice are litigation and dispute resolution, with a particular focus on commercial, corporate, shareholder, and employment disputes across a wide range of sectors.
Having trained at one of the “Big Four” firms in Singapore, Benaiah was involved in complex, high-value, and cross-border disputes early on in his career.
During his time at university, Benaiah was awarded the Maxwell Kohler Memorial Prize for being the top student in his penultimate year. He also won subject prizes for the Law of Obligations and Contract Law.
Benaiah was one of six recipients of the prestigious COMBAR Scholarship in 2017, awarded by the Commercial Bar Association and the Honourable Society of the Middle Temple, where he was attached to the Rt Hon Justice Leggatt in the English commercial courts. His experience also included a placement with a set of barristers’ chambers in London, working with eminent Queen’s Counsels.
Outside of work, Benaiah enjoys spending time with his family.