The Legal 500 - Asia Pacific (2019)
Antitrust and competition - Tier 1
Aviation - Tier 1
Banking and finance - Tier 1
Capital markets - Tier 1
Corporate and M&A - Tier 1
Dispute Resolution - Tier 1
Intellectual property - Tier 3
IT and telecoms - Tier 1
Labour and employment - Tier 2
Projects and energy - Tier 2
Real Estate - Tier 1
Restructuring and insolvency - Tier 2
Shipping - Tier 2
Tax - Tier 1
Leading Lawyers:
Ahmad Fikri Assegaf - Banking and Finance, Capital Markets, Corporate and M&A
Bono Daru Adji - Capital Markets
Chandra Hamzah - Dispute Resolution
Wibowo Mukti - Tax
Zacky Husein - IT and Telecoms
Next Generation Lawyer:
Mohammad Renaldi Zulkarnain - Capital Markets
Carol Lim - Coporate and M&A
Antitrust and competition
For some, Assegaf Hamzah & Partners has 'the strongest antitrust practice in Indonesia'. Chandra Hamzah leads the team and advised Japfa Comfeed Indonesia which was found by the Komisi Pengawas Persaingan Usaha (KPPU) watchdog of operating a cartel. Farid Nasution was recently made partner following a stint at the KPPU. Other key individuals include of counsel Vovo Iswanto, who regularly advises on the competition aspect of transactions, and Asep Ridwan, who is 'a really good litigation partner'.
Aviation
Assegaf Hamzah & Partners' presence in the aviation sector stems from its banking and finance, capital markets and dispute resolution practices. Chandra Hamzah co-heads the team and is an expert in litigation, whereas fellow practice head Eri Hertiawan has extensive experience in ADR. Hertiawan is defending Air Asia in a tort action brought by four customers who were refused check-in and board despite having valid tickets. For capital markets, Bono Daru Adji assisted Garuda Maintenance Facility Aero Asia with its initial public offering on the Indonesian Stock Exchange. In banking and finance, Indira Yustikania advised DBS Bank on financing the acquisition of two aircraft for ICBC Leasing and leased to Garuda Indonesia.
Banking and Finance
Assegaf Hamzah & Partners is 'very good for banking and finance matters' and 'understands what the risks are for foreign lenders investing in Indonesia'. Ibrahim Assegaf helms the team and is 'a very pragmatic lawyer' who 'tells you outright what the risks are in your structure' and 'jumps in on important issues when appropriate'; Assegaf recently advised Indonesia Infrastructure Finance on its $150m loan from The International Finance Corporation. Ahmad Fikri Assegaf is also a key figure and assisted PSN Enam Indonesia with its $154m loan from Export Development Canada. Yanu Wiriasmoko is experienced in handling leveraged buyout deals and structured financings. Also recommended are Indira Yustikania and senior associate Astrid Widyakartika Handaka.
Capital Markets
Assegaf Hamzah & Partners is well known for equity and debt issuances, with clients that include Medco Energi and the Indonesian government. Managing partner Bono Daru Adji helms the team and is an expert in public offerings, refinancings and acquisition finance; he advised ABM Investama on its bonds issuance worth $300m. Ahmad Fikri Assegaf assisted SEA Limited with the Indonesian elements of its US IPO and acted for the Indonesian government on the establishment of its first green sukuk bond. Mohammad Renaldi Zulkarnain is skilled in handling high-yield debt and equity offerings, as well as issuances of sovereign and corporate sukuk bonds. Also recommended is Tunggul Purusa Utomo who is experienced in onshore and offshore offerings.
Corporate and M&A
Assegaf Hamzah & Partners has an enviable client roster that includes Star Energy, Tokopedia and Kohlberg Kravis Roberts. Team head Eko Basyuni advised Toppan Printing on its merger with Plasindo and acted for DKSH on its 60% of shares purchase of Wicaksana Overseas International. Ahmad Fikri Assegaf acted for Kohlberg Kravis Roberts in its acquisition of a 12.64% stake in IndoSari Roti and assisted Sri Rejeki Isman on its collective acquisitions of Bitratrex Industries and Primayudha Mandirijaya. Also recommended are Valerie Ngooi Ming Hui, who is skilled in takeovers, M&A and restructurings, and senior associate Carol Lim.
Dispute Resolution
Assegaf Hamzah & Partners has a diverse disputes practice that handles cases relating to commercial, antitrust, tax and customs, aviation and intellectual property (IP). Chandra Hamzah co-heads the group and advised Japfa Comfeed Indonesia after it was discovered to be operating a cartel. Fellow practice head Eri Hertiawan acted for Sudirman Kurniawan on a tort action against PSL for violation of shareholder rights.
IT and Telecoms
Assegaf Hamzah & Partners's TMT practice focuses on transactions, regulatory, data privacy and cybersecurity matters. Zacky Husein helms the team and has been busy advising a number of international and domestic clients on personal data regulations. Other notable work highlights included Ahmad Fikri Assegaf advising GO-JEK on its series e round of fundraising and Ibrahim Assegaf assisting Oriente Finance with its joint venture with an Indonesian company to set up a technology-based financial institution.
Intellectual Property
With expertise in both contentious and non-contentious IP issues, Assegaf Hamzah & Partners is particularly strong in dealing with trade mark searches, registrations and renewals. Key clients include Paypal, Apple and Indosat. Chandra Hamzah is the name to note and recently advised Les' Copaque Production over the rejection of one of its trade marks.
Labour and Employment
Assegaf Hamzah & Partners specialises in contentious matters. Ahmad Maulana heads up the practice and represented Alpen when it experienced a six-week strike by its workers.
Projects and Energy
Assegaf Hamzah & Partners has traditionally worked on projects involving oil, coal and gas, but has recently experienced an uptick in renewable energy mandates. Ibrahim Assegaf co-heads the department and assisted Asian Development Bank with the financing to Energi Bayu Jeneponto for the development of a wind power plant. He also advised Indonesia Infrastructure Finance which received $150m in financing from The International Finance Corporation for the purpose of financing several infrastructure projects. Fellow practice head Kanya Satwika is also active in the energy and mining sectors.
Real Estate
Assegaf Hamzah & Partners' real estate practice is highly skilled in both contentious and non-contentious issues. Yogi Marsono leads the team and advised cement manufacturer Semen Indonesia on its acquisition of 400 hectares of land in Central Java. Bono Daru Adji is also a key figure and assisted Nirvana Wastu Pratama with its acquisition of Gorontalo Mall and Maqna Hotel Gorontalo through a shares acquisition of the entities' owner and operator, Primerindo Kencana. Also recommended are M&A practice head Eko Basyuni, who is active in real estate transactions, and disputes specialist Eri Hertiawan, who is often instructed in real estate-related disputes.
Restructuring and Insolvency
Assegaf Hamzah & Partners' banking and finance team is regularly involved in restructuring and insolvency deals. The team, led by Indira Yustikania, acted for PT UTAC Manufacturing Services Indonesia in the negotiation and execution of an indenture. The transaction is significant as it allows the company to successfully emerge from Chapter 13 bankruptcy in the US after three years of extended litigation. Ibrahim Assegaf is a key figure, as is disputes practitioner Ahmad Maulana.
Shipping
Assegaf Hamzah & Partners has expertise in both contentious and non-contentious shipping matters. Work highlights include Bono Daru Adji advising the port Nusantara Pelabuhan Handal on its Initial Public Offering and Ibrahim Assegaf assisting Kredi Bankasi with a loan to finance an Indonesian floating powership.
Tax
Assegaf Hamzah & Partners advises on compliance, audits, disputes and appeals in the tax space. Wibowo Mukti heads the practice and was instructed by Clifford Chance LLP to advise on tax matters pertaining to its client's Commerzbank's business activities in Indonesia. Muslimin Damanhuri advised the World Wildlife Fund on the tax implications behind its Indonesian affiliate Alam Bukit Tigapuluh. International tax and transfer pricing specialist Nazly Parlindungan Siregar is also highly recommended.