Optical resolution of racemic ${alpha}$-methylbenzylamine was carried out by using Bacillus licheniformis protease in organic media. Enantioselective amidation of racemic amino with an ester as an acyl donor was successfully employed to resolve the racemate. To enhance reaction rate and enantioselectivity, pH-adjustment by lyophilization of enzyme dissolved in buffer, colyophilization with salts or lyoprotectants, selection of solvents and molecular design of esters were investigated. The optimization of the resolution reaction achieved about 30-fold increase in initial reaction rate and about 12-fold increase in enantioselectivity, respectively.