Two series (para- and meta-substituted) of racemic methyl esters of 3-aryl-3-hydroxypropionic acid were prepared after which the enantiomers were separated by an enzyme-catalyzed transesterification. Several lipases were investigated as the catalyst. The influence of the enzyme pretreatment, as well as substrate concentration, reaction temperature, stirring manner, and substrate conversion on the stereochemical outcome of the biotransformation process were investigated in detail. The best results were achieved by using solvent-pretreated lipase from Pseudomonas fluorescens or Burkholderia cepacia suspended in toluene, and vinyl acetate as the acetyl group donor.