Mathea Lim is an Associate Director at PKWA Law, with a practice focused on family law matters.
Awards and Accolades
Mathea Lim is a highly regarded family lawyer with a practice focused on high-conflict and high value matrimonial disputes. She was recognised as one of “Singapore’s Rising Stars” in 2024 by Asian Legal Business, an accolade awarded to "exceptional lawyers who have demonstrated remarkable potential and have earned consistent client praise."
In particular, Mathea was praised for her “formidable achievements in complex matrimonial cases involving high-net-worth clients and international elements.” This included her role in successfully managing a divorce case involving assets totalling approximately $30 million, where issues of asset dissipation and complex cross-border elements were central to the dispute.
In recognition of her committment to access to justice, Mathea was also awarded the Legal Aid Bureau’s Novo Award (2025) for her outstanding contributions to the Bureau’s work.
Litigation Experience
Mathea is a seasoned trial lawyer known for combining sharp legal strategy with focused courtroom advocacy. She has a strong track record in heavily contested divorce proceedings.
In a recent matter, she secured a hard-fought victory for a client whose spouse vigorously opposed the divorce. Following multiple tranches of trial and a detailed review of extensive audio and video evidence, the Court ruled entirely in favour of her client and granted the dissolution of marriage.
Notable Cases
Where cases are reported, they are cited from publicly available court judgments. In all other matters, client names and identifying details have been anonymised or generalised to preserve clients’ confidentiality.
Divorce, Custody, Dvision of Assets & Maintenance
- XIK v XIL [2025] SGHCF 16 - Acted for the Husband and secured 72.5% of the matrimonial asset pool, amounting to S$2.7 million out of a total pool of S$3.7 million.
- Acted for a high-net-worth client in a highly complex matrimonial dispute involving asset dissipation and cross-border elements, with assets valued at approximately S$30 million, culminating in a successful confidential settlement through private mediation.
- Lead counsel in a widely reported case where she successfully secured an order requiring a father to pay preschool fees for his son (“Court orders man to pay son’s preschool fees to exw-fe”).
- Successfully represented a father in obtaining sole care and control of his child in a highly contentious dispute, establishing that the status quo was for the father to act as the child’s primary caregiver.
- XCZ v XDA [2024] SGFC 78 - Acted for the Wife in a novel evidentiary dispute, successfully compelling inspection of a critical document alleged by the Husband to be lost. Subsequently resisted the Husband’s appeals at two further hearings.
- XCZ v XDA [2025] SGHCF 38 - Acted for the Wife in securing 34% of a matrimonial asset pool exceeding S$8 million. The Court excluded the Wife’s inheritance from division and granted her sole care and control of the children, rejecting the Husband’s arguments for shared care.
Personal Protection Orders (PPO)
Mathea has extensive experience acting for both complainants and respondents in Personal Protection Order proceedings. She was lead counsel in a highly contested PPO matter which proceeded to a three-day trial, ultimately securing a decisive outcome by successfully resisting a PPO sought against her client on behalf of a child.
Recognised Excellence
Mathea’s academic and professional achievements include:
- Legal Aid Bureau Novo Award (2025)
- Asian Legal Business - Singapore’s Rising Stars (2024)
- Distinction, Part B Family Law Course (2019)
- LexisNexis Family Law Prize - Top Student in Family Law, NUS Law (2018)
- Wee Chong Jin Scholarship in Law (2018–2019)
- NUS Law Dean’s List (2015–2016)
While in law school, Mathea was also a founding director of the Student Disciplinary Assistance Scheme, where she assisted students facing proceedings before disciplinary tribunals..
Professional Journey
Before joining PKWA Law, Mathea trained and practised at one of Singapore’s leading law firms. Her work is driven by a commitment to guiding clients through some of the most challenging periods of their lives with clarity, rigour, and care.
She is particularly experienced in complex divorce proceedings involving substantial asset pools, intricate maintenance issues, and highly sensitive disputes concerning children.
Known for her meticulous preparation, practical solutions, and principled advocacy, Mathea places strong emphasis on empowering clients through clear advice and informed decision-making. She is also a proponent of therapeutic justice and supports mediation and negotiated outcomes where appropriate.
Mathea’s areas of work include:
- Court of Appeal and appellate family law matters
- Contentious and non-contentious divorces
- Matrimonial asset division and ancillary proceedings
- Child custody, care and control, and access disputes
- Maintenance claims and interim maintenance applications
- High-net-worth and complex family disputes
- Cross-border and international family law matters
- Jurisdictional and relocation disputes
- Marital, pre-nuptial and financial separation agreements
- Family violence and Personal Protection Order matters
- Adoption and guardianship applications
Scholarships awarded
- Distinction for Part B Family Law Course 2019.
- LexisNexis Family Law Prize December 2018 – awarded to the top student in Family Law (NUS Law).
- Wee Chong Jin Scholarship in Law (Academic Year 2018-2019).
- NUS Law Dean’s List (Academic Year 2015-2016).
Contact Us
Mathea Lim is widely trusted for her depth of experience, strategic judgment, and steady guidance in complex family law matters. To discuss how Mathea and the PKWA Law family law team can assist you, please contact us to arrange a consultation.