ACCRALAW Senior Legal Counsel Francisco Ed. Lim was recently appointed by President Ferdinand R. Marcos, Jr. as the incoming Chairperson of the Securities and Exchange Commission (“SEC”).
Mr. Lim specializes in corporate law, securities and capital markets, and litigation. He led various teams that handled some of the largest capital markets-related transactions in the Philippines and has advised corporations and financial institutions on matters involving corporate governance and securities regulation.
Mr. Lim previously served as President and Chief Executive Officer of the Philippine Stock Exchange (“PSE”) from 2004 to 2010. During his tenure, he also held concurrent positions in various institutions such as the Securities Clearing Corporation of the Philippines, the Capital Market Development Center, Inc., the Philippine Stock Exchange Foundation, Inc., the Philippine Dealing and Exchange Corporation, and the Securities Investors Protection Fund.
He is a law professor at the Ateneo de Manila University School of Law and the San Beda University Graduate School of Law, where he teaches courses in Securities Regulation, International Business Transactions, Arbitration, Evidence, and Partnership. He also serves as a professional lecturer at the Philippine Judicial Academy.
Mr. Lim has contributed to the drafting of rules of procedure promulgated by the Supreme Court, such as the Interim Rules of Procedure on Corporate Rehabilitation (2000), the Interim Rules on Intra-Corporate Controversies (2001), the Rules on Corporate Rehabilitation (2008), the Rules on Electronic Evidence (2001), the Rules on Notarial Practice (2004), the Rules on DNA Evidence (2013), and the Financial Rehabilitation Rules of Procedure (2013).
He is consistently recognized by various legal publications as a leading lawyer for corporate and M&A, capital markets, and dispute resolution in the Philippines. He is also the recipient of various professional awards such as Deal Maker of the Year (Asian Legal Business, 2017), Commended External Counsel of the Year (In-House Community Counsel, 2016-2017, 2022-2023), and Philippines’ Lawyer of the Year (asialaw, 2019).
Mr. Lim is the third ACCRALAW lawyer to be appointed to this government position, following Founding Partner Manuel G. Abello† (1981-1986) and Of Counsel Teresita J. Herbosa (2011-2018).
ACCRALAW congratulates Mr. Lim on his appointment and extends its best wishes as he advances his career in public service.