Angelina Lim

Angelina Lim is an experienced bankruptcy and insolvency attorney who has helped clients navigate some of the most challenging reorganizations and receiverships in Florida. With experience spanning large law firms in New York City, two federal bankruptcy clerkships, and nearly two decades as a partner at Johnson Pope, Angelina brings an uncommon depth of perspective to her practice.

Angelina counsels trustees, debtors, creditors, and receivers on all aspects of bankruptcy and insolvency proceedings, including complex Chapter 11 reorganizations, Subchapter V cases, Chapter 7 liquidations, assignments for the benefit of creditors, and state court insolvency litigation. She has represented stakeholders in high-profile cases involving fraud, Ponzi schemes, and distressed real estate, including serving as counsel to trustees in the PenAir, Sky King, Brasota Mortgage Company, and 1031 Tax Group bankruptcies. Clients value her ability to see the full picture and develop strategies that protect their interests while moving matters forward.

Her path to the law was shaped early by family and opportunity. Inspired by her father—a barrister in Malaysia who earned his degree in England—Angelina knew from a young age that she wanted to be an advocate. She began her career as an auditor with the Federal Home Loan Bank of San Francisco before earning her law degree at Rutgers University with high honors. Two clerkships—one with the Honorable Cornelius Blackshear in the Southern District of New York and one with the Honorable Michael Williamson in the Middle District of Florida—cemented her focus on bankruptcy law.

Before joining Johnson Pope, Angelina practiced in New York with Fried Frank and Dewey Ballantine, where she gained experience advising clients on sophisticated commercial litigation and insolvency matters. That background gave her the foundation to handle everything from complex adversary proceedings to cross-border insolvency issues with confidence and clarity.

A committed leader in the legal community, Angelina is a founding board member of the Asian Pacific American Bar Association of Tampa Bay and serves on the board of the Tampa Bay Bankruptcy Bar Association. She frequently speaks on panels addressing diversity in the profession, creditor education, and bankruptcy best practices. Whether representing a trustee in a high-profile reorganization or advising a small business on its options, she brings a practical mindset and a genuine dedication to her clients’ long-term success.

Representative Matters

• Chapter 7 Litigation. Represents many Chapter 7 trustees in more complicated asset cases.
• Complex Chapter 11 Reorganizations. Represents creditors in multiple jurisdictions in mega Chapter 11 retail/health care cases. Represents business debtors in chapter 11 cases. Represented Chapter 11 trustees in high-profile insolvency cases, including the Brasota Mortgage Company, PenAir, Sky King and the 1031 Tax Group LLC bankruptcies, advising on asset recovery, creditor negotiations, and litigation strategy.
• Ponzi Scheme Proceedings. Counseled the receiver in the Transcontinental Airlines/Louis J. Pearlman fraud case, coordinating efforts to marshal and distribute assets to victims and creditors.
• Subchapter V and Small Business Cases. Guided business debtors and individuals through streamlined Subchapter V reorganizations, balancing operational continuity with creditor repayment plans.

Bar Admissions

• Florida, 1998
• New York, 1993
• New Jersey, 1993
• United States District Court of New Jersey, 1993
• United States District Courts (Middle & Southern Districts of Florida), 2005, 2013
• United States District Courts (Southern & Eastern Districts of New York), 1993

Education

• Rutgers University Law School, J.D., High Honors, Order of the Coif, 1993
• University of Southern California, B.S., Finance, 1985

Awards & Recognition

• Florida’s Legal Elite, Florida Trend Magazine
• Super Lawyers, 2017 – 2025
• Pro Bono Award of the 13th Judicial Circuit Pro Bono Committee, 2021

Community & Professional Organizations

• The Florida Bar
  • Member, 1995 – Present
• Tampa Bay Bankruptcy Bar Association (TBBBA)
  • Vice President, 2025
  • CLE Co-Chair, 2020 – 2021
• American Bankruptcy Institute
  • Member
• Asian Pacific American Bar Association (APABA)
  • Founding Member
  • Board Member, 2025
• Clearwater Bar Association
  • Member
• 13th Judicial Circuit Grievance Committee
  • Member
• International Women’s Insolvency & Restructuring Confederation (IWIRC)
  • Member
• Upper Tampa Bay Regional Chamber of Commerce
  • Board of Trustee Member
• Florida Bar Diversity & Inclusion Committee
  • Member, July 2022 – June 2023

Outside the Office

Angelina loves anything on the water, whether it’s snorkeling, swimming, or simply enjoying time outdoors with her family. She is also passionate about mentoring young attorneys and supporting diversity in the legal profession.