Tan Sri Nallini Pathmanathan’s career has been defined by her expertise in both public law and private law, with a lasting impact on Malaysia’s jurisprudence.
Elevated to the Bench in 2007 as a Judicial Commissioner, she served at the Criminal Courts of the High Court of Shah Alam before her appointment as a High Court Judge in 2009. At the High Court, she played a pivotal role in the Commercial Courts and the newly established Admiralty Court, building Malaysia’s reputation as a hub for commercial litigation. Her judgments during this period set critical precedents in corporate insolvency and maritime law.
Her elevation to the Court of Appeal in 2014 marked a deepening expertise in appellate commercial law, where she shaped key legal principles in corporate disputes. In 2018, she was elevated to the Federal Court of Malaysia, the nation’s apex court, where she has since delivered landmark rulings in constitutional, commercial, and public law matters.
Beyond Malaysia, Tan Sri Nallini actively engages in global legal discourse. As Vice Chair of the International Bar Association’s Judges’ Forum and a member of the Steering Group of the Standing International Forum of Commercial Courts (SIFoCC), she helps shape international best practices for commercial dispute resolution. Her commitment to legal education is reflected in her role as Patron of the Commonwealth Legal Education Association (CLEA).
