Chambers Asia Pacific (2017)
Banking & Finance -Band 1
Ranked Lawyers: Ahmad Fikri Assegaf -Band 2, Ibrahim Sjarief Assegaf - Band 3, Yanu Wiriasmoko - Other Noted Practitioners
Basic facts about the department
- Heads of department: Ahmad Fikri Assegaf and Ibrahim Sjarief Assegaf
- 4 partners
- 14 other qualified lawyers
What the team is known for
A highly reputed team that provides high-level advice to both borrowers and lenders across a range of offshore and onshore bank financings. Known for advising a cohort of major banks, it offers expertise across project, trade and structured finance, as well as sophisticated Shari'a-compliant transactions.
Strengths
One of the team's key strengths is efficiency: "My work is about how fast I can do things. AHP can keep up with what I need" reports one source.
One client also appreciates how well the firm knows its businesses: "They really understand the nature of our business operations."
Work highlights
Assisted CAS Group in negotiating a working capital and term loan facilities agreement with HSBC.
Advised BSI on the USD130 million financing of a gold mine at Banyuwangi in East Java.
Significant clients
ABN AMRO, The Bank of New York Mellon, Bank Mandiri, Bank Permata, CIMB.
Notable practitioners
Ahmad Fikri Assegaf has a broad practice that covers financing work alongside M&A and capital markets. In a recent highlight he advised Export-Import Bank of China on the proposed financing of a 2x600 MW power plant in South Sumatra.
Ibrahim Sjarief Assegaf is described as "amazingly efficient and hard-working" by one client. He advises both domestic and international institutions across a range of financings. Commentators are quick to highlight how much they value his input on their work: "His explanations of structures and legal risks give us understanding and comfort."
Capital Markets - Band 1
Ranked Lawyers: Ahmad Fikri Assegaf -Band 1, Bono Adji -Band 1, Putu Saryastuti -Up and Coming, Tunggul Utomo - Up and Coming
Basic facts about the department
- Head of department: Bono Adji
- 3 partners
- 30 other qualified lawyers
What the team is known for
Maintains its top ranking after working on several high-profile debt and equity issuances. Team is especially noted for handling complex sukuk issuances, high-profile IPOs, and convertible and exchangeable bonds.
Strengths
Clients single out the team's wealth of knowledge: "Each lawyer has an in-depth knowledge of the field they are assigned to."
Additionally, its friendly and approachable attitude is a key strength: "Some firms are not as helpful and friendly when we go to them with issues - we can always go and check things over at AHP."
Work highlights
Assisted the Indonesian government with issues surrounding Series 5 and 6 of the USD10 billion Trust Certificates Issuance Program.
Represented XL Axiata with regards to its issuance of Tranche I of its Sukuk Ijarah Program.
Significant clients
Bank Mandiri, Telekomunikasi Indonesia, Garuda, Indosat, HSBC.
Notable practitioners
Bono Adji is co-managing partner of the team and a well-recognised figure in the capital markets area. His work includes assisting Merdeka Copper Gold in its IPO. Clients appreciate his depth of expertise, with one interviewee lauding him as "the main man for capital markets in Indonesia."
Ahmad Fikri Assegaf is well-versed in handling complex issuances, and is considered a leading practitioner by interviewees. Recently he acted as local counsel to a group of high-profile banks on a USD2 billion issuance as Series 4 of the government's Trust Certificates Issuance Program.
Putu Suryastuti is a dedicated capital markets lawyer with deep experience of the technical and regulatory issues associated with the area. She plays a key role in many of AHP's matters, earning praise from clients for being "smart and firm." Recently, she advised Saratoga Investama Sedaya in relation to Delta Investment Horizon's issuance of USD100 million exchangeable bonds.
Up-and-coming practitioner Tunggul Utomo has a well-rounded practice that spans both M&A and capital markets. In a recent highlight he advised Sumber Alfaria Trijaya on the issue of new shares.
Competition and Antitrust - Spotlight Table
Ranked Lawyer: Rikrik Rizkiyana
Basic facts about the department
- Head of department: Rikrik Rizkiyana
- 3 partners
- 8 other qualified lawyers
What the team is known for
Possesses expertise across a wide range of competition and anti-trust work, including representing clients in major cartel investigations before the Indonesian Competition Commission (KPPU). The team is also well-versed in handling merger filings and internal competition audits.
Strengths
Commentators highlight the helpful overlap between litigation and competition work at the firm: "They have a lot of litigators who also handle competition."
Work highlights
Advised Japfa Comfeed Indonesia with regard to a KPPU investigation into anti-competitive practices concerning the arrangement and production of chicken stock.
Acted for Indosat during an appeal of the offline SMS cartel finding before the District Court and Supreme Court.
Significant clients
Asahimas Chemical, Asahi Glass, Danone Asia, Goodyear Indonesia, Itochu.
Notable practitioners
Rikrik Rizkiyana is notable for the breadth and depth of his experience, having previously worked for the KPPU. His recent work includes filing the pre-merger consultation of Holcim's acquisition of shares in Lafarge.
Corporate/M&A - Band 1
Ranked Lawyers: Ahmad Fikri Assegaf - Band 1, Bono Adji - Band 2, Eko Basyuni -Band 4
Basic facts about the department
-Head of department: Eko Basyuni
-6 partners
-19 other qualified lawyers
What the team is known for
Frequently cited as a market-leading firm in this area, owing to
its activity on some of the largest and most complex M&A transactions in the region. Advises major Indonesian clients and prominent international companies on joint ventures, foreign direct investment and private equity.
Strengths
Clients value the team's commerciality: "They really understand the way our business works."
Work highlights
Advised Saratoga Investama on the potential purchase of Rajawali Corpora's shares in Express Transindo Utama.
Notable practitioners
Ahmad Fikri Assegaf is "very well known" for his high level of activity in M&A transactions. He is credited for his experience advising both private and public Indonesian companies across a variety of sectors, including banking and mining.
Bono Adji possesses a wealth of experience in the M&A space, advising on a steady stream of domestic transactions, including recent deals in the telecoms and natural resources sectors. "He's a very good lawyer," reports a source, adding: "He assists in most of our transactions."
Eko Basyuni is considered by sources to be a "very smart" lawyer. He has a broad practice that includes banking and finance, capital markets and M&A, and he is especially noted for work on corporate transactions in the telecoms sector.
Dispute Resolution - Band 1
Ranked Lawyers: Eri Hertiawan - Band 2, Chandra M Hamzah - Other noted practitioners
Basic facts about the department
-Heads of department: Chandra Hamzah and Eri Hertiawan
-6 partners
-18 other qualified lawyers
What the team is known for
Maintains an excellent reputation for handling a diverse range of contentious matters, from commercial disputes to competition litigation. Areas of focus include aviation law, tax and IP. Clients further benefit from the firm's membership of the Rajah & Tann Asia Network.
Strengths
The firm is singled out for its pre-eminent position in the market. "Definitely a very strong disputes practice," notes one interviewee.
Work highlights
Successfully represented Indosat Ooredoo before the District Court in relation to USD6 million worth of fines imposed by the KPPU for the alleged operation of a cartel to fix text message prices.
Represented Coca-Cola Bottling Indonesia before the District Court in relation to water pollution and a water extraction licence.
Significant clients
Vale Indonesia, Bank Mandiri, HSBC, World Bank Indonesia, Goodyear.
Notable practitioners
Co-head of department Eri Hertiawan is noted for his expertise in
contentious cases, particularly in relation to banking, corporate and criminal issues. He recently led the team representing Holcim in a land dispute before the Administrative Court and the Supreme Court.
Employment - Band 2
Ranked Lawyers: Ahmad Maulana - Other Noted Practitioner
Basic facts about the department
-Head of department: Ahmad Maulana
-1 partner
-5 other qualified lawyers
What the team is known for
Recognised for advising an impressive range of domestic and foreign clients on a variety of employment issues, including unfair dismissals, fraud and retrenchment. Additionally offers expertise in outsourcing and expatriate matters.
Strengths
The team earns praise from clients who have benefited from its solution-driven advice: "They consider a problem from several perspectives, then suggest solutions to us."
Work highlights
Advised NYK Line on issues pertaining to a working visa for a foreign national who was recently imprisoned in the USA.
Assisted with negotiations between Toyobo Knitting and its employees after the transfer of its rights and obligations to Toyobo Manufacturing.
Significant clients
Vale Indonesia, Holcim Indonesia, HSBC, Lotte Group.
Notable practitioners
Head of department Ahmad Maulana is a key contact for clients.
Projects & Energy - Band 2
Ranked Lawyer: Ahmad Fikri Assegaf - Band 2
Basic facts about the department
- Heads of department: Ahmad Fikri Assegaf, Ibrahim Assegaf and Kanya Satwika
- 4 partners
- 14 other qualified lawyers
What the team is known for
Noted for advising some of the region's largest energy and resources companies, including government entities and export credit agencies. The team advises extensively on project financing and development, and is also experienced in investment and M&A in the oil and gas and infrastructure sectors.
Strengths
Clients appreciate the firm's forward-looking approach: "They're flexible and dynamic - it's a more modern style of Indonesian legal work."
Work highlights
Acted for Korea Export Import Bank on the USD142 million financing of the Semangka hydroelectric plant on the Tanggamus River.
Represented BSI in the USD130 million financing of the Bukittujuh Project.
Significant clients
Guangdong Power Engineering, Indonesia Infrastructure Finance, LNG Japan, Lotte Chemical Titan, Medco Energi International.
Notable practitioners
Ahmad Fikri Assegaf is a "very sensible lawyer" who leverages his cross-practice expertise to advise on complex projects deals for a range of clients. "He does everything," notes one source, adding: "He's a good operator and a good lawyer."
Intellectual Property - Other Noted Firms
Real Estate - Band 2
Telecommunications - Band 1
Basic facts about the department
- Heads of department: Zacky Husein and Bono Adji
What the team is known for
A thriving team that has added a number of blue-chip clients to its roster, attracting recognition for its growing bench strength. It remains well known for its deft handling of M&A in the telecoms sector. The team is also noted for regulatory expertise.
Work highlights
Acted for the Indonesia Infrastructure Guarantee Fund on the Palapa Ring Project, which aims to connect the whole of Indonesia with a fibre optic cable network.
Represented the lenders and facility agents in two revolving credit facilities to Telkomsel, worth USD150 million and USD231 million respectively.
Significant clients
Indosat, Telekomunikasi Indonesia, XL Asiata, Infineon, Tower Bersama.
Notable practitioners
Head of department Zacky Husein is a key contact.