Asialaw Profiles
The Guide to the legal markets of the Asia-Pacific

The ABNR banking team retains its top tier position as clients acknowledge it is “very knowledgeable in the banking and structured finance field”. Rival firms also admire the ABNR team and say it is “a consistently strong banking practice”.

Leading lawyer Theodoor Bakker, a foreign counsel, is highly regarded as “one of the leading banking lawyers in Indonesia”.

The team this year has been busy advising on the local law aspects of a US$1 billion project financing and development for a geothermal power project in North Sumatra.

Ali Budiardjo Nugroho Reksodiputro is highly regarded for its M&A work in advising on high value transactions. The practice acted as local counsel on the acquisition of a 40% stake in Indonesian coal company Delta Makmur Mandiri last year.

Theodoor Bakker is renowned for his expertise in banking and finance, but he is also a prominent figure on the corporate M&A scene. Fellow foreign counsel is Oene Marseille is a highly regarded corporate practitioner, while partner Emir Nurmansyah has a sterling reputation for his corporate work, particularly on corporate restructurings.

Ali Budiardjo Nugroho Reksodiputro

Acting for corporate clients on dispute settlement negotiations, ABNR regularly appears before relevant administrative and arbitration tribunals. With the combined efforts of the energy and natural resources team, the dispute team represented MMC Oil & Gas Engineering in a dispute concerning the termination of subcontracts with PT Tamarona. The firm also advised PT Perusahaan Gas Negara in a decision by the Dispute Adjudication Board.

Assegaf Hamzah & Partners

Assegaf Hamzah & Partners’ very strong litigation team is at the forefront of competition law developments in Indonesia having acted as counsel to national carrier Garuda Indonesia in a ground-breaking competition law dispute. This saw the District Court overturn the Business Competition Supervisory Commission’s decision that Garuda had taken part in an airline cartel established to maintain fuel surcharges.

Budidjaja & Associates

Housing a strong group of litigators, Budidjaja & Associates enjoys an excellent reputation for disputes work. The firm represented PT JAIC Indonesia, a venture capital consulting business, in its dispute with state owned enterprise PT Istaka Karya (Persero) over Istaka promissory notes.

Hutabarat Halim & Rekan

The firm’s founding partner Pheo M Hutabarat is “an expert in commercial dispute resolution”, says one rival partner. The firm acted as legal counsel to the Lippo Group in connection with the termination of 100 employment contracts of employees of PT Kymco Lippo Motor Indonesia. The matter was heard in front of the Labour Court in Jakarta.

Roosdiono & Partners

Roosdiono & Partners represents clients from various business sectors in settling disputes in connection to Indonesian arbitration, civil and construction law. The firm advised PT Daysun Jaya Satu in filing a lawsuit against PT Archipelago Trading & Service Corporation over the purchase price of a property in Jakarta.

Soewito Suhardiman Eddymurthy Kardono

Soewito Suhardiman Eddymurthy Kardono is very experienced in handling matters for Singapore-based international law firms in conjunction with arbitration hearings for multinational companies. The firm is also adept at handling litigation cases. It acted as Indonesian counsel for PT Aperni Pratama Ocean Line and assisted the Indonesian law firm Kailimang & Ponto in the successful defence during bankruptcy proceedings made by the Korea Securities Finance Corporation.

Ali Budiardjo Nugroho Reksodiputro has the dominant shipping and maritime law practice in Indonesia and manages a complex portfolio of high end shipping work in the region.

The firm represents clients across all areas of the industry, including governments and government-owned carriers, marine insurers, hull and machinery underwriters, freight forwarders and other shipping agents.

The team advised Lonergan Overseas in a claim related to a wreck removal plan when MV Hyundai 105 collided with VLCC Kaminesan. Other notable work includes advising shipping clients on vessel charters in the District Court of Central Jakarta relating to oil spills and the cleanup of wrecks.

Ali Budiardjo Nugroho Reksodiputro

Ali Budiardjo Nugroho Reksodiputro has experience in the representation of all areas of the shipping and maritime industry. The practice is especially skilled in handling cargo claims, liability issues, vessel mortgaging and charter disputes. The team is acting for Lonergan Overseas over claims relating to a wreck removal plan of the MV Hyundai 105 after collision with VLCC Kaminesan in 2004.

Assegaf Hamzah & Partners

The year 2010 saw this firm’s shipping, maritime & aviation practice’s involvement in a number of high profile matters. The team advised International Finance Corporation on its US$35 million loan facility to PT Trada Maritime, which is the largest floating oil storage operator in Indonesia. Another transaction was defending the state airport’s operator PT Angkasa Pura against charges that it operated a monopoly in its warehousing division to the detriment of international cargo airlines.

Makarim & Taira S

Makarim & Taira S is predominantly known for its expertise in the corporate, commercial and finance sectors, but it has significantly strengthened its reputation in the shipping, maritime and aviation sectors. It represented Dubai Aerospace in a purchase and lease back transaction of eight Boeing 737-800 aircraft for PT Garuda Indonesia. The team also advised RBS Aerospace in the lease of two Boeing 737-800 aircraft to Garuda.

Oentoeng Suria & Partners

Oentoeng Suria & Partners has extensive experience in advising on shipping law and shipping transactions. The firm is particularly adept at work covering the structuring and financing of shipping joint venture investments. A notable highlight was advising the Bank of International Indonesia and PT Sillo Maritime Perdana in the acquisition of a cargo ship from a German company. Upon acquisition, the firm supported the setting up of a Maersk subsidiary shipping company in Indonesia.

Roosdiono & Partners

The aviation practice at Roosdiono & Partners continues to grow and is recognised as a trusted legal adviser to ECA lenders and other financiers. The firm advised CIT Aerospace on the aircraft financing of Airbus airlines to PT Garuda Indonesia. Other notable work includes advising AirAsia on aircraft financing.

Soewito Suhardiman Eddymurthy Kardono

SSEK predominantly acts as Indonesian counsel to a number of multinational shipping companies operating in Indonesia. The shipping practice takes particular pride in resolving cabotage (sabotage) issues for shipping companies. In a high profile case, the firm advised PT Arpeni Pratama Ocean Line on the complex debt restructuring of a large shipping company.