Partner Chandra M. Hamzah co-founded Assegaf Hamzah & Partners in 2001. Besides being a respected litigator, he is also well-known as a staunch opponent of corruption.  

Upon graduating in law from the University of Indonesia in 1995, Chandra commenced his professional career with the Jakarta Legal Aid Foundation. He earned his spurs as a litigator with a number of other prominent Jakarta law firms prior to Assegaf Hamzah’s establishment.

He is well-known for his anti-corruption credentials, which include serving as a commissioner of Indonesia’s Anticorruption Commission from 2007 to 2012.  Since his return to Assegaf Hamzah, he has been instrumental in establishing our anticorruption compliance practice, which provides advice on compliance with both Indonesian and overseas anticorruption legislation, such as the US Foreign Corrupt Practices Act and the UK Bribery Act.

Chandra was named a “Leading Litigation Star” by Benchmark Asia Pacific 2013.

Experience

Chandra was intimately involved in advising the Indonesian Bank Restructuring Agency (IBRA) in its efforts to restore the domestic banking sector to health following its virtual collapse in the wake of the Asian Financial Crisis of 1997/1998. In this regard, he represented the agency in a number of high-profile cases between 1998 and 2000. Most notable of these is undoubtedly his representation of IBRA in the Bank Bali case of 1998

In the anticorruption arena, Chandra established his credentials as a member of the Attorney General's Office’s Anti-Corruption Joint Investigation Committee in 2000-2001. Following a tight selection process, including vetting by a select committee made up of respected scholars and practitioners, in 2007 he was appointed by the President, on the recommendation of the House of Representatives, as a commissioner of Indonesia’s anticorruption authority, the Corruption Eradication Commission (KPK), where he later served as vice chairman.

Memberships / Directorships

Prior to his tenure at the KPK, Chandra was very active in Indonesia’s legal professional organizations, including serving as vice chairman of the Central Jakarta branch of the Indonesian Bar Association (IKADIN) from 2003 to 2007, vice chairman of the Indonesian Chamber of Commerce and Industry (KADIN)’s Legal Division (2005-2007), and chairman of the Indonesia Association of Intellectual Property Attorneys (2006 – 2007). He was also one of the founders of the Centre for Indonesia Law and Policy Studies (PSHK) in 1998.