Indonesia’s Top Law Firms 2021

Asia Business Law Journal names the top firms in Indonesia, Putro Harnowo reports

Indonesia, like many countries, has had to persevere with the upheavals brought about by the pandemic for an uncertain period of time. Slowly but surely, the country is not only surviving the recession but also seeing landmark deals and projects that have kept the top law firms busy and that bring hope to the recovery new technology.

The gradual reopening, a more favourable global situation, and expansionary fiscal and monetary policies have driven Indonesia to claw back from the brink following a more than 2{e421c4d081ed1e1efd2d9b9e397159b409f6f1af1639f2363bfecd2822ec732a} contraction of its GDP last year. The economy rose 7{e421c4d081ed1e1efd2d9b9e397159b409f6f1af1639f2363bfecd2822ec732a} in the second quarter of this year compared to the year previous.

However, surging infections from mid-June until early August have prompted the government to tighten containment measures, and a strained healthcare system coupled with vaccine shortages make for a gloomy outlook for the rest of the year.

Amid lingering concerns over business confidence, a glimmer of hope has come from the country’s tech and capital markets sectors. In May, the two biggest startups, ride-hailing giant Gojek and marketplace Tokopedia, decided to form GoTo Group, valued at USD18 billion, making it the largest merger in the country to date. The new entity is preparing for a dual listing in New York and Jakarta this year.

In August, e-commerce company Bukalapak made its market debut after raising USD1.5 billion in the biggest IPO to date in Indonesia. The listing has fuelled a frenzy among institutional and retail investors to get a piece of the shares, and there are expectations that capital markets can drive the economy forward.

The regulator has not missed its chance. A new revision of the Indonesia Stock Exchange regulations will help foreign money to flow into Indonesian equity holdings in the next few years by allowing dual classes of shares with multiple voting rights. The updated rules could change the sectoral composition of the equity market, making it more attractive for global participation.

The legal market in the country is also catching up, with more law firms focusing on fintech and capital markets, among other growing trends. The competition seems to be a dynamic of firms with decades of experience against new players with a strong desire to innovate, in addition to a blend of international associations and independent firms providing full-service or specialised practices that entice clients with bespoke offerings.

From this perspective, Asia Business Law Journal’s 2021 Indonesia Law Firm Awards presents an interesting mix of traditional independent law firms, big international players and disruptive contenders, a picture reflective of a vibrant legal market.

We have identified four law firms that have proven to be the best in the country, and among them, one firm has risen to the top to be the Law Firm of the Year. In 22 other categories, we have four winners each of equal standing.

Hadiputranto, Hadinoto & Partners (HHP), a member firm of Baker McKenzie, was established in 1989 by senior partner Sri Indrastuti Hadiputranto and the late Tuti Dewi Hadinoto. The firm grew into one of the largest in the country with more than 120 lawyers, including 16 partners and two foreign legal consultants.

HPP has built a formidable reputation, having represented some of the biggest domestic and international businesses in corporate and commercial transactions across a broad range of industries. With its international network and resources, the firm navigates the country’s business and legal culture using its solid relationships with Indonesian government agencies and regulators to help clients overcome challenges and achieve their business objectives.

Recently, the firm advised Astra Digital, a subsidiary of Indonesian conglomerate Astra International, in leading a USD80 million financing in the country’s prominent health technology platform, Halodoc. Earlier this year, HHP advised three leading sharia banks – Bank Syariah Mandiri, BNI Syariah and BRIsyariah – when they merged into the country’s largest national sharia bank, Bank Syariah Indonesia. In November last year, HHP also advised Grab as a lead investor in a USD100 million series B fundraising in the country’s leading e-wallet, LinkAja.

In the previous month, the firm also assisted Indonesia’s major food company, Indofood, in acquiring instant noodle maker Pinehill, a British Virgin Islands company, for USD3 billion.

“Choosing HHP was not a difficult task, considering they have been established for a long period of time with so many success stories,” says Aditya Suryatin Sarwono, legal manager at Herbalife in Jakarta. “I have been working closely with [HHP partner] Riza Buditomo and his team for the last three years,” says Sarwono.

“They have helped us in several sectors, but mostly in the direct selling industry of Herbalife Nutrition. Their long-term partnership with Baker McKenzie gives us the confidence that we are in good hands.”

Ali Budiardjo Nugroho Reksodiputro (ABNR) is the longest-established law firm in Indonesia, and has pioneered the development of international commercial law in the country following the reopening of its economy to foreign investment after a period of isolationism in the early 1960s.

Supported by 21 partners and six counsel, ABNR offers the experience and expertise to simultaneously handle large and complex transnational deals across a range of practice areas and in various sectors. More than 40{e421c4d081ed1e1efd2d9b9e397159b409f6f1af1639f2363bfecd2822ec732a} of the partners are women, reflecting the firm’s commitment to providing equal opportunity to all of its personnel.

ABNR has a track record of assisting foreign and domestic clients in navigating Indonesia’s regulatory landscape. In March, the firm acted as counsel to Singapore-based healthcare private equity fund Quadria Capital for its USD225 million acquisition of Indonesian healthcare provider Medikaloka Hermina. The firm also assisted the Government of Singapore Investment Corporation (GIC) for the competition aspects of a large number of international transactions with competition implications in Indonesia.

On labour matters, the firm recently advised Merck Sharp Dohme Pharma, the Indonesian subsidiary of US-based Merck Sharp & Dohme, in recruiting 6,000 workers and dealing with immigration issues. The firm also advised an Indonesian subsidiary of Taiwan-based Pegatron Corp, an assembler for Apple, Microsoft and Sony, when it employed 1,000 Indonesians at a production facility on Batam Island.

Many satisfied clients name ABNR partners for their legal acumen. One of them is Sim Siong-Koon, senior vice president and general counsel of Asia-Pacific, the Middle East and Africa at Electrolux in Singapore, who has been a client since 1995. “I will continue using them until my retirement,” says Sim. “The key reasons are their impeccable integrity, high sense of professionalism and competence with a timely response. These values are embodied in one of their key partners, namely senior partner Agus Ahadi Deradjat.”

Liu Tianfu, chief counsel of reinforcement materials for Asia-Pacific at US-based chemicals and performance materials company Cabot Corporation in Shanghai, says the company trusts ABNR for a wide range of legal matters. “Led by [partner] Giffy Pardede, the ABNR team consistently impresses us with their responsiveness, agility, business acumen and focus on client satisfaction,” says Liu. “The quality of their legal services is of international standards, yet at competitive rates – truly one of the best choices in Indonesia for multinational companies.”

Jeremiah Chung, regional counsel at LG International in Jakarta, says ABNR is an excellent full-service law firm. “I have worked with them on a number of different cases, from M&A to disputes,” says Chung. “They provide high-quality service in a cost-efficient manner.”

Assegaf Hamzah & Partners (AHP) was founded by Fikri Assegaf and Chandra Hamzah in 2001, and has been renowned locally and regionally as a top-tier full-service Indonesian firm. With 26 partners and more than 140 fee earners, its exceptional legal expertise and in-depth knowledge have set the standard of excellence for legal services.

To support clients and their cross-border needs in the region, AHP has been a part of the regional strategic alliance of Rajah & Tann Asia since 2014. AHP has been on a fast growth trajectory, working seamlessly with domestic, regional and international firms on both Indonesian and overseas transactions.

In August, the firm assisted Indonesian e-commerce Bukalapak on the biggest IPO in the country to date, with USD1.5 billion raised. In May, the firm also assisted ride-hailing giant GoJek in merging with another Indonesian e-commerce unicorn, Tokopedia, to create a new company, GoTo Group, valued at USD18 billion.

The firm also assisted a private satellite telecoms company in Indonesia, Pasifik Satelit Nusantara, in its public-private partnership (PPP) when financing and preparing the launch of its first multifunctional satellite project, Satelit Republik Indonesia (Satria), worth USD1.5 billion. The firm also advised Deutsche Bank in Singapore, the Hongkong and Shanghai Bank Corporation, and local securities company Mandiri Sekuritas, as the arrangers and dealers in the third issuance of the Euro Medium Term Notes programme by Indonesia state-owned Bank Mandiri, at USD300 million.

“AHP provides excellent service to clients with its skilled partners and associates to accommodate clients’ demands,” says Lamhot Purba, head of the legal department at Indonesian state-owned aluminium smelting company Inalum. “We are satisfied by the execution of task by AHP, especially with their advice and innovation in order to solve client problems.”

Marina Budiman, the chairman of data centre provider DCI Indonesia in Jakarta, is proud to be a longstanding client. “We have seen the firm grow and provide wider legal services, as the partners have been our legal counsel since 1998,” she says. “They have strong and professional teams. AHP gives unparalleled legal services, and I hope they will strive and continue to maintain their strong reputation.”

Amelia Allen, corporate secretary at electronics retailer Erajaya in Jakarta, agrees. “AHP is one of our favourite law firms. They are very helpful and each member is competent in his/her area, responsive, dependable and friendly.”

Makarim & Taira S was established by two Harvard University graduates, Nono Anwar Makarim and Frank Taira Supit, in 1980. The firm has a longstanding reputation among policymakers, regulators and world-leading industry groups for its full-service legal advisory covering corporate law, banking, and litigation and non-litigation matters.

The firm is also favoured as Indonesian counsel by a growing number of leading international firms, and has significant expertise acting as local counsel in international and multinational transactions. To strengthen its regional presence, the firm formed regional legal alliances with blue-chip firms Drew & Napier in Singapore and Shearn Delamore & Co from Malaysia last year.

Recently, the firm assisted mining company Indotan Halmahera Bangkit in acquiring Newcrest Singapore Holdings, which operates the Gosowong gold mine in Indonesia.

Gita Anggraini, legal and compliance senior manager at Cirebon Power Group in Jakarta, which has been a Makarim client for more than 15 years, is especially pleased with the work quality of partners Rahayu Hoed and Vincent Lie. “They are highly responsive and always available to meet our needs and provide us with confidence that matters are being handled well and in our best interests as a client,” says Anggraini.

“Despite the complexities and unprecedented situations that work may bring, they have proven that they have the ability to meet our expectations. It is fair to say that when it comes to high value, complex and groundbreaking work, experience does matter, and that is something that a long-established firm like Makarim & Taira S owns.”

Aulia Wiratama, general counsel at mining company Ceria Nugraha Indotama in Jakarta, praises another partner at the firm, Heru Mardijarto. “Heru and his team were assisting us in developing our projects and we found that their level of understanding on Indonesian construction law was exceptional,” says Wiratama. “It was such a privilege to be able to work with them.”

Ignatius–Andy Law Offices is a boutique law firm established in 2004 that focuses on antitrust issues, dispute resolution, debt restructuring, and corporate and commercial matters. The founder, Ignatius Andy, has also been acting as an expert witness in various international courts and arbitration proceedings.

The firm has an enviable list of clients including major Indonesian companies such as Salim Group and Astra Group, as well as multinationals like Coca-Cola, Unilever, Kraft Foods, Nestle, Carrefour, Citibank, GlaxoSmithKline, the World Bank, Prudential and Pfizer.

Dentons HPRP has a history dating back to 1953 as the law office of Mr L Hanafiah, the country’s first post-independence law firm. After reorganisations in 1990 and 2004, the firm emerged as Hanafiah Ponggawa & Partners (HPRP), and then formed an alliance with Dentons to be rebranded as Dentons HPRP in late 2018.

In June, the firm assisted US-based investor Accial Capital in a USD12 million funding for Investree, a B2B lending platform for Indonesian small and medium-scale businesses. It also advised Mass Rapid Transit (MRT) Jakarta in its partnership with a consortium for developing MRT Jakarta Phase 2A, an extension of the rapid transit system in the capital.

Previously in March, the firm represented Singapore-based Onstar Express, the holding company of Indonesian logistics startups SiCepat, in a USD170 million series B round.

“Dentons have a very good portfolio in corporate action matters and litigation,” says Wahyu Shafaat, senior analyst and legal counsel in litigation and license at state-owned gas company Pertamina Gas.

“Unlike any other general litigators, Dentons HPRP builds the lawsuit as tough as its legal due diligence – deep, detailed and considering many legal bases related to the case.”

Nurjadin Sumono Mulyadi & Partners (NSMP) was founded by Iwan Nurjadin, Ilya Utama Sumono and Mulyadi in 2006. The trio brought their respective broad experience and unique expertise at handling complex and sophisticated transactions.

NSMP serves domestic and international clients, and is driven by rapid and constant development in economic, social and technological fields. This effort was bolstered by a co-operation with London-headquartered Bird & Bird in 2014, and Singapore-based Wong Alliance in 2010.

“NSMP works quickly, efficiently, is extremely tidy, not afraid to tell us if we are wrong, and always there to suggest better solutions for a great result,” says Satish Mahtani, president and director of airline entertainment provider Dua Surya Dinamika in Jakarta.

“In short, they are extremely reliable, dependable and noteworthy. In simple words, they are the best, and deserve to be in the top three in Indonesia.”

Tal Etshtien, CEO of SGQ Indonesia Holding Company in Singapore, says NSMP has “an exceptional understanding of the ever-changing legal landscape in the Indonesia jurisdiction, as well as the sensitivities of Asean political and legal implications. It is critical to have such counsel in doing business in Asean in order to protect and grow one’s business interests.”

TNB & Partners opened in January 2016 through a partnership with Norton Rose Fulbright in Australia. While its core strength has been handling corporate and banking and finance transactions, the firm also has strong aviation and dispute resolution practices.

TNB recently changed its leadership, and Tasdikiah Siregar, head of banking and finance, was succeeded by head of the dispute resolution practice, Kresna Panggabean, as managing partner.

Ginting & Reksodiputro, in association with Allen & Overy, was established by partners Daniel Ginting and Harun Reksodiputro in 2010. Its strong integration with the UK’s magic circle has tapped access to global resources, boosting the firm’s offering for domestic, foreign, and multinational clients.

The firm has four partners and a foreign legal consultant to help businesses navigate complex cross-border transactions in Indonesia. Recently, it advised the country’s e-commerce unicorn, Tokopedia, in a merger with another unicorn and multi-service tech platform, GoJek.

Trisula Dewantara, Tokopedia’s vice president, says: “Ginting & Reksodiputro has been assisting us in numerous corporate actions such as fundraisings, M&A, and recently they were also involved in our historical deal with Gojek.”

“In a way, the firm grew with us as the client, as they were involved in various stages of our development,” says Dewantara. “As a part of the Allen & Overy global network, we are also able to bring in expertise from various areas of practices around the world as needed.”

Naveen Gupta, the Jakarta managing director of Kuala Lumpur-headquartered private equity firm Creador, specifically praises partner Sugianto Oesman for his assistance in the past 12 years.

“Whenever needed, we have seen Sugi and his team work tirelessly to support our deals,” says Gupta.

“In a recent transaction, when our team was short-staffed, Sugi deployed additional resources to support us and ensure timely deal completion. While Sugi is a very strong legal mind, he also brings the practical approach, given his business understanding, and adds value to structuring.”

Makes & Partners is an independent law firm specialising in corporate and commercial, financial services and dispute resolution. Established in 1993 by Yozua Makes, the firm rose in status with the support of a partnership with Singaporean firm WongPartnership since 2014.

The firm has 30 lawyers, including six partners and two foreign attorneys, working closely with clients in a number of high-profile transactions. Earlier this year, Makes was directly appointed by Indonesian President Joko Widodo to be a member of the supervisory board of the Indonesian Investment Authority, the sovereign wealth fund tasked to manage the government’s investments.

“Makes & Partners is known for their capability to think out of the box,” says Irfan Ghazali, vice president and corporate secretary at telecoms tower operator Sarana Menara Nusantara in Jakarta.

“They not only know the law, but also understand the rationale behind it, which often helps the client in determining the approach to their transaction. Iwan Setiawan, the capital market partner, has a long and proven track record in the completion of various landmark capital market transactions in Indonesia.”

Melli Darsa established Melli–Darsa & Co in 2002. The firm has been a member of PricewaterhouseCoopers (PwC) in Indonesia since 2017, and specialises in investment law, M&A, financing and securities.

Melli Darsa & Co focuses primarily on the banking and financial industry, and has shifted towards state-owned clients in the past 15 years. With four partners, the law firm’s expertise is highly regarded for complex legal work, and in identifying and mitigating legal risks, as well as ensuring compliance.

Hiswara Bunjamin & Tandjung has a longstanding association with Herbert Smith Freehills, ensuring its clients a combination of local knowledge and international expertise in commercial law, and helping global companies to navigate the regulatory challenges of working in Indonesia.

The law firm’s corporate practice receives high praise from its peers, as well as several in-house counsel. In May, It advised two major shareholders of Indonesian unicorn Tokopedia in its merger with Gojek, and in July, the firm advised ride-hailing platform Grab in its partnership with Indonesian conglomerate Emtek. Last October, the firm advised Indonesian telecoms operator Telkomsel on a IDR10.3 trillion (USD700 million) sale and leaseback of 6,050 telecoms towers to Mitratel, a local provider of telecoms infrastructure.

“We have been working together for several years on some projects, especially related to M&A,” says one compliance officer at an Indonesian multinational telecoms conglomerate in Jakarta, who did not want to be named. “In my experience, Hiswara Bunjamin & Tandjung always gives the best services to finish the project, and are reachable anytime we need their team to stand by.”

Walalangi & Partners, which is associated with Nishimura & Asahi, is a boutique law firm set up in 2017. Founded by managing partner Luky Walalangi, the firm’s specialties are advising on inbound investment, especially from Japan, apart from M&A and capital markets work.

Recently, the firm advised Mitbana, a joint venture company of Japan’s Mitsubishi Corporation and Singapore’s Surbana Jurong, in its partnership with Indonesian real estate developer Sinarmas Land to develop the first interconnected multi-modal transport complex in Jakarta. The firm also assisted Tokyo Gas Asia, a wholly owned Singaporean subsidiary of Tokyo Gas, in its acquisition of oil and gas companies Super Energy, Energy Mina Abadi, Gasuma Federal Indonesia and Bahtera Abadi Gas.

AKSET was founded in 2010. The law firm has a solid track record in all corporate practice areas, and is recognised internationally for its capital investment, project finance, M&A, natural resources and energy sector work.

In 2019, the firm entered a non-exclusive co-operation with South Korean law firm Shin & Kim, and established a Korean desk. The firm’s clientele includes international companies such as Google, Sony and NTT, as well as homegrown unicorns such as Gojek, Traveloka and Tokopedia.

Guido Hidayanto & Partners is a full-service law firm founded in 2016, which draws on the experience of legal experts with an extensive local and sectoral expertise in the region.

For the past few months, the firm has been hiring new associates and partners, and increasing its capabilities for a broader litigation spectrum by hiring criminal litigation specialist Daniel Heru Simorangkir as a partner. Currently, the firm has 30 fee earners and 12 partners.

Established in 1971, Mochtar Karuwin Komar brings to bear more than four decades of experience and insight spanning almost the entirety of Indonesia’s modern commercial development. The firm has extensive experience drafting and advising in all areas of Indonesian commercial law, and has a particular strength in project, finance and regulatory matters.

Ivan Almaida Baely & Firmansyah (IABF) was established in 2003, advising and representing clients in civil and commercial litigation, both domestic and international. IABF has a strategic alliance with Bryan Cave Leighton Paisner to service global clients’ legal interests in Indonesia, where international firms are not currently permitted to operate.

The firm recently advised a state-owned airport operator, Angkasa Pura II, in its debt restructuring of IDR11.5 trillion and new loan facilities from various state-owned banks for IDR3.5 trillion.

“IABF has assisted me in several companies and projects since 2011,” says Nano Aryono, the director of corporate strategy and business development at airport support company Cardig International in Jakarta. “We are very satisfied with their work. Their legal and commercial knowledge and their problem-solving approach have assisted us in achieving the best commercial business outcome,” he says.

Iwan Murty, CEO of Research and Business (RB) Consulting in Jakarta, says that IABF has been helpful in navigating any legal issues in contracting, along with the associated risks. “Ivan [Baely, managing partner] and his team always present clear options, with the pros and cons,” says Murty. “At the end, if it is not fundamental, they will always respect my decisions and make sure that whatever decisions I make, I will still be protected legally.”

UMBRA was only established four years ago but has made big waves in the Indonesian legal industry. The managing partner, Pramudya Oktavinanda, started the firm with only three lawyers, and now has 50, including nine partners and a counsel.

The firm has run more than 300 deals with a total value of at least USD27.5 billion from clients consisting of state-owned enterprises, and local and international private corporations. It recently advised state-owned utility company Perusahaan Listrik Negara (PLN) in a share sale and purchase agreement with Chevron for the acquisition of electricity distributor Mandau Cipta Tenaga Nusantara.

The firm also advised Akuo Energy Indonesia, a subsidiary of Paris-based renewable company Akuo Energy, in developing a 16MW floating solar power plant project in Krenceng reservoir, Banten province. In a landmark deal, the firm advised Indonesian wireless network provider Telkomsel in a USD450 million equity investment to GoTo, a new tech giant formed in a merger between Gojek and Tokopedia.

Lubis Ganie Surowidjojo (LGS) is a full-service firm with more than 100 lawyers. Since its establishment in 1985 by Timbul Thomas Lubis, Mohamed Idwan Ganie and Arief Tarunakarya Surowidjojo, the law firm has flourished as one of Indonesia’s largest.

LGS has been involved in some of the largest and most complex commercial transactions in the country. In 2019, the firm signed an alliance with one of the big four professional services firms, KPMG, after finishing an association with the UK’s Clyde & Co in 2013.

SSEK Legal Consultants was established in 1992 by four renowned female lawyers – Dyah Soewito, Retty Suhardiman, Ira Eddymurthy and Agustina Kardono – to form Soewito Suhardiman Eddymurthy Kardono (SSEK), one of the largest independent firms and one of the most highly regarded in the country.

As a full-service firm, SSEK specialises in assisting cross-border transactions and multinational companies doing business in various sectors, including fintech and e-commerce, which many global investors and private equity houses are eyeing the country for. The firm is also well known in major oil and gas, mining and shipping sectors.

“SSEK Legal Consultants is a sophisticated law firm in oil and gas projects, and they do the assignment as if they are internal legal counsel for the client,” says Wahyu Shafaat, at Pertamina Gas in Jakarta.

Januar Jahja & Partners has grown from a small startup practice in 1986 to a leading Indonesian IP firm with more than 25 attorneys and staff. The boutique IP firm has represented clients from all over the world, including international and domestic businesses from a wide range of backgrounds.

Trademarks, patents, copyrights, industrial designs and IP litigation are the main practice areas for the firm. Prudence Jahja, the managing partner, is widely regarded as one of the leading IP lawyers with specialisations in trademark prosecution and litigation, enforcement matters, infringement matters and website takedowns.

K&K Advocates is well known for dealing with the registration and enforcement of copyrights, patents and trademarks in Indonesia, and its knowledge of IP principles in a regulatory context is sought after by multinational clients. The renowned boutique IP firm recently expanded its services to other practice areas including corporate and technology, and dispute resolution.

Meanwhile, the firm’s growing corporate practice covers investments, government procurement and transactions in many commercial sectors including technology, media and telecoms. Adopting a holistic approach that covers the entire regulatory and enforcement spectrum, the firm has acted as a nexus between businesses and regulators in the development of a stronger regulatory infrastructure in the country.

Roosdiono & Partners is a full-service corporate law firm founded in 1999 by senior partner Anangga Wardhana Roosdiono. The firm established a partnership in 2005 with ZICO Law, a network of independent legal service providers in Asean, to offer bespoke advice in serving cross-border clients.

The IP practice group at the firm has recently seen an increase in patent prosecution work, mainly advising Chinese electronics manufacturer Oppo and telecoms company ZTE. It also helped the owner and founder of Hot Star Large Fried Chicken Taiwan to win a trademark case against a domestic company licensed to use the mark Hot Star in a tussle that reached the Supreme Court. Other notable clients include Warner Bros and DC Comics.

IP specialist law firm Suryomurcito & Co has been an associated firm of London-based international IP firm Rouse since its establishment in 1997. Founded by Gunawan Suryomurcito, the firm is widely recognised for providing sound advice in IP rights protection and enforcement issues in Indonesia and East Timor.

The firm specialises in managing regional IP filings, commercial IP deals, and regional IP enforcement programmes. With its global network, Suryomurcito & Co frequently collaborates with professionals in other jurisdictions to deliver seamlessly integrated solutions across borders and practices. Among the firm’s clients are Davidoff, Prada, Intel and Garuda Indonesia.

AFFA Intellectual Property Rights is uniquely positioned to assist local and international clients in handling complex IP matters in Indonesia and East Timor. For the past 21 years, the firm has continually supported these clients protect their IP rights, in addition to assisting local clients with their IP issues abroad.

The firm is led by managing partner Emirsyah Dinar, and supported by more than 60 experts from a variety of backgrounds including law, economics, information technology, biology, biotechnology, mechanical engineering, chemical engineering and pharmaceuticals.

IP specialist law firm SKC Law has gained impressive recognition for its work in anti-counterfeiting and IP protection. The firm was founded in 2011 by Purnomo Suryomurcito, Nidya Kalangie and Andrew Conduit, and has been advising leading multinational corporations on patents, trademarks and design prosecutions.

Well placed to advise clients on the commercialisation of IP assets, the firm counts prominent global automotive brands such as Honda and Yamaha among its clientele, as well as leading Indonesian e-commerce and retail manufacturing businesses such as FIFA and Nike.

Frans Winarta & Partners was founded in 1981 by litigator and arbitration lawyer Frans Winarta, and since then has risen into one of the top law firms in Indonesia by providing services in corporate and commercial law, investment law, IP, labour and employment law, civil and criminal litigation, commercial arbitration and alternative dispute resolution.

The five-partner firm has gained a reputation for having an excellent understanding of key issues, from a legal and a commercial perspective. In addition to outstanding recognition in litigation and dispute resolution, the firm established an affiliate, Winarta IP Practice, in 2005 to cater to its ability in the registration of IP rights to national and multinational private companies, government institutions, state-owned enterprises and high net worth individuals.

Established in 1991, Soemadipradja & Taher assists national, foreign and multinational clients to achieve their business objectives in Indonesia. The founding partners, Rahmat Soemadipradja and Hafzan Taher, are specialists in corporate and commercial transactions, litigation, dispute resolution, energy and natural resources.

Through the collective expertise of 10 partners at the firm, supported by three counsel and more than 25 associates representing corporate clients, the firm expanded its services abroad by forging a strategic alliance with Singapore-based Allen & Gledhill in 2019.

Soemadipradja & Taher recently advised manufacturing company Astra Honda Motor (AHM) in a litigation initiated by the Indonesian Competition Commission for allegedly violating the prohibition on business entities entering into illegal tying and bundling agreements. The case closed with AHM declared not guilty.

Hermawan Juniarto & Partners is broadly recognised as the leading firm in public-private partnerships (PPPs) and infrastructure. Its managing partner, Irawati Hermawan, founded the firm with senior partner Cornel Juniarto, in 2005, as Hermawan Juniarto. The firm changed into Hermawan Juniarto & Partners when it joined the Deloitte Legal network in 2018.

The firm now has more than 25 lawyers to render legal services across banking, corporate and commercial, M&A, capital markets, commercial disputes, restructuring and IP areas. Each practice group is led by a senior partner with more than 20 years of sector-specific experience. Through the years, Hermawan Juniarto & Partners has gained experience working with government offices and agencies, and helping clients in obtaining a deep understanding of policies and regulations.

Considering the firm’s number of clients in corporate matters and the property industry, it is not surprising that Leks&Co is renowned for its real estate practices, both in litigation and non-litigation. The founder and managing partner, Eddy Leks, has extensive experience in construction and real estate projects in Indonesia, making him sought after for his legal expertise in these matters.

The law firm also nurtures its clients by developing online resources on real estate law in Indonesia. Since the pandemic struck, the firm has been busy carrying a legal update webinar on the land law that focuses on new regulations.

“Our work with the firm is mostly in the property sector, especially in the process of projects and company acquisitions,” says Dipa Simatupang, director and CFO at real estate company TJ Silfanus in Jakarta, who has known Eddy Leks for the past five years.

“In regards to acquisitions, be they projects or land or companies, we must be careful in regards to existing laws and the deal structure to mitigate our risks,” says Simatupang. “We are lucky to be supported by Eddy Leks and his team.”

Since its inception in 2004, Hendra Soenardi has been working for international clients and partnering with various global and regional firms on many complex transactions in Indonesia. The firm is primarily known for corporate and M&A, banking, securitisation and structured finance, and commercial dispute resolution.

Recently, the firm advised coal miner Adaro Indonesia, as the borrower, and its parent company Adaro Energy, as the guarantor, in a USD400 million syndicated loan with a consortium of foreign and local banks as counterparties. The firm also acted as counsel to a leading telecoms company in Indonesia as borrower in a USD52 million loan facility for a satellite development project.

“I have been very impressed with the excellent services provided by Hendra Soenardi,” says Yudhistira Setiawan, vice president of legal and risk management at Indonesia Tourism Development Corporation in Jakarta. “The firm speaks with clear language to help their clients easily understand anything. They are also able to help us to capture the unseen risks, as well as to manage the client’s interest by providing us with the best options and recommendations to fit the needs.”

Marshall Pribadi, CEO of digital signature provider Privy Identitas Digital in Jakarta, says: “Hendra Soenardi has anticipated and proactively catered to our needs. We feel a sense of comfort to proceed with our transactions, knowing they have our back.”

Andreas Sheila & Partners (ASP) was launched in 2010 as Irianto Andreas & Partners, by Andreas Harsono and the late Irianto Shalim. In 2017, the firm changed its name to Andreas Sheila & Partners, following the arrival of dispute resolution specialist Sheila Thomasyadi.

In 2021, the firm has expanded its team by more than 50{e421c4d081ed1e1efd2d9b9e397159b409f6f1af1639f2363bfecd2822ec732a} due to increasing work in commercial litigation, bankruptcy and insolvency, corporate and capital market projects. The firm has also promoted a new partner, Eka Prasetia Utama, organically, and hired partner Yoga Mulya to strengthen its corporate and capital market team. In the first five months of this year, the firm completed four new IPO projects as opposed to only one last year.

Timothy Siddik, president director of domestic computer manufacturer Zyrex in Jakarta, applauds the “excellent and professional” work of ASP. “They conducted very thorough due diligence and performed excellent legal service, helping us to be able to pass through the IPO process smoothly and on time,” says Siddik.

Ben Patrick, managing director at fishing lure manufacturer Halco Tackle in Fremantle, Australia, says: “This has been a difficult year, particularly as a lot of business has to be completed remotely. Andreas Sheila & Partners were totally accommodating in assisting us and meeting our tight timeframes.”

Farida Law Office was founded by Ike Farida in 2002, to assist mainly Japanese investors and companies in Indonesia. So far, the law firm has handled more than 2,000 cases from hundreds of Japanese clients.

The firm offers various services including joint venture agreements, shareholder meetings, investment, M&A, legal audits, taxation, insolvency and bankruptcy, and labour disputes.

“Farida Law Office always works with us as a team to solve the problem under the direction of Ike Farida,” says Hiroshi Hagino, president and director of automotive and industrial machinery producer Yasunaga, in Serang city, Indonesia.

“By talking to them, each problem will be solved. From the point of view of the client’s request, Farida Law Office can be said to be the best partner, working to satisfaction and producing the best result.”

Masataka Hongo, president and director of baby and mother care producer Pigeon, also in Serang city, praises the firm for being helpful and available at any time. “Regardless of the current pandemic situation, we have had to go through lots of legal matters,” says Hongo.

“Ike Farida and the team have been always close to us, like a family, not only from legal perspectives but any operational concerns that we need to be aware of. Their service and care are far beyond our expectations.”

Hadromi & Partners was established in 1999, offering a full range of legal services to domestic and international clients. The firm has extensive knowledge on the tax laws and policies of the Indonesian government, and assesses the tax implications of investments, business structures and various transactions, and also represents clients in tax disputes before relevant tax courts.

Iqbal Hadromi, the founder and managing partner, has grown the firm into a reputable legal service provider in Indonesia, recognised locally and internationally. The firm frequently works with international firms on cross-border transactions.

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