The Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) officially welcomed Atty. Francis Ed Lim as its new Chairperson on Tuesday, following the completion of Atty. Emilio B. Aquino’s seven-year tenure.
Appointed by President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. on June 3, Atty. Lim now assumes leadership of the country’s chief regulator for the corporate and securities sectors. His appointment marks a new chapter for the SEC, as it continues its mission to promote fair, transparent, and efficient capital markets in the Philippines.
In his address during the turnover ceremony at the SEC Headquarters in Makati City, Chairperson Lim outlined his vision for the Commission:
“I envision the SEC as a no-nonsense regulator, firm when necessary, but always fair, efficient, reliable, and professional. One that enables investment and business growth without compromising on integrity.”
Acknowledging the challenges facing the domestic capital market, Atty. Lim emphasized the urgency for reform:
“Let’s also be honest: the Philippine capital market has been lagging behind. Inclusive growth demands deeper, broader, and more accessible capital markets.”
To achieve this, the SEC under his leadership will work closely with key stakeholders, including the Philippine Stock Exchange, the Philippine Dealing and Exchange Corporation, non-governmental organizations, and all branches of government.
As his first order of business, Chairperson Lim committed to expediting the resolution of all pending applications under existing legal timeframes.
“We will work to further simplify and streamline everything we ask from the public. Every requirement must be justified. Let’s make it easier to comply—and harder to delay.”
Atty. Lim brings to the SEC decades of expertise in securities and capital markets litigation, bankruptcy and insolvency law, corporate rehabilitation, antitrust, and trade regulation. Before his appointment, he served as senior legal counsel at ACCRA Law and was President and CEO of the Philippine Stock Exchange from 2004 to 2010. He concurrently held key positions in affiliated institutions, including the Securities Clearing Corporation of the Philippines and the Philippine Dealing and Exchange Corporation.
He has also played an integral role in judicial reform efforts, having co-chaired Supreme Court sub-committees that crafted the Rules on e-Commerce and Rules on Notaries Public. He also contributed to the drafting of the Rules on Corporate Rehabilitation (2008) and Rules on Electronic Evidence (2011).
Atty. Lim’s legal acumen has earned him numerous accolades, including recognition as a Leading Lawyer in capital markets by The Legal 500 Asia Pacific and as one of the Philippines’ Top 100 Lawyers by Asia Business Law Journal in 2021.
In addition to his public service, Atty. Lim teaches law at the Ateneo Law School and San Beda College Graduate School of Law. He earned his Bachelor of Philosophy, magna cum laude, from the University of Santo Tomas, and his law degree from Ateneo de Manila University. He holds a Master of Laws from the University of Pennsylvania and is licensed to practice law in both the Philippines and New York State.
