Pay Wen Lee
Associate
About Pay Wen
Pay Wen is a common law qualified lawyer with 9+ years of post-qualification experience, admitted to the Malaysian Bar in 2017, and a Fellow of the Chartered Institute of Arbitrators (FCIArb) and an Adjudicator empanneled with the AIAC. She specialises in complex construction arbitrations and commercial disputes across UAE jurisdictions, with expertise in matters under the DIFC, ADGM and Malaysian courts, as well as arbitrations under DIAC, ADCCAC, AIAC, CIETAC and ad-hoc rules.
Notably, Pay Wen has also represented a multinational developer from PRC China as lead counsel and conducting her own advocacy in the Construction High Court, with the case receiving significant media coverage : See Expat couple wins RM500K in lawsuit over Mont Kiara condo defects.
Speaking four languages fluently – English, Mandarin, Cantonese and Malay Language and having lived and worked in Beijing, Malaysia and Dubai, Pay Wen brings deep cultural understanding to cross-border disputes and transactions, where cultural awareness is often the determining factor in the success of a case or deal.
Education
Northumbria University, UK – Master of Laws (LL.M.) in International Commercial Law (2011).
Northumbria University, UK – Bachelor of Laws (LL.B.) (Honours) (2010).
Admissions
Malaysian Bar (Admitted 6 January 2017).
Fellow, Chartered Institute of Arbitrators (FCIArb) – March 2024.
AIAC Adjudicator – November 2025.
Languages
English, Mandarin, Cantonese, Malay Language
Top Matters
- Represented a renowned developer in the UAE in a high-stakes AED 1.2 billion (USD 326M+) complex construction arbitration under the auspices of Abu Dhabi Commercial Conciliation and Arbitration Centre (ADCCAC).
- Represented a renowned developer in the UAE in a complex construction arbitration under the auspices of Abu Dhabi Commercial Conciliation and Arbitration Centre (ADCCAC) in an AED 350 million (USD 95M+) dispute.
- Represented a MEP sub-contractor in a DIAC arbitration involving one of the most of the most iconic sky scrapper comprising of two linked towers in Za’abeel district of Dubai to claim for approximately AED 147 million (USD 40M+) and to return Performance Bond which have been wrongfully Called.
- Advised a Qatari sub-contractor on whether to commence local court proceedings or ad-hoc arbitration against the Qatari main contractor in Doha.
- Represented a Sheikh in various construction arbitration proceedings under the DIAC rules, including providing clarifications to the Tribunal Appointed Expert on issues of delay and quantum post arbitration hearing because the Tribunal found experts from both sides to be incredible.
Publications
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