HHP Law Firm, the Indonesian member firm of Baker McKenzie, has named Ponti Partogi as its new managing partner, replacing Mita Guritno.
In his first 12 months in charge, Partogi said it was important for the firm to be well-placed to assist clients amid geopolitical tensions and market volatility.
“Continued uncertainty may affect business confidence and decision-making processes. At the same time, periods of market volatility often increase demand for sophisticated legal and strategic advice as businesses seek support in adapting to changing market conditions, navigating regulatory developments, executing critical transactions, managing risks and if relevant, resolving disputes,” he told Asia Business Law Journal.
“In this environment, our priority at HHP Law Firm (Indonesia) will be to remain close to our clients, anticipate their evolving needs and help them navigate complexity with confidence.”
Partogi, who has 20 years of experience, said one of his longer-term goals was to further solidify HHP Law Firm’s reputation in Indonesia when it came to advising clients on complex, high-value matters.
“Over the longer term, I would like HHP Law Firm to further solidify its position as the leading law firm in Indonesia and the firm of choice for clients facing their most complex, strategic, and high-value matters. Achieving this will require us to remain focused on legal service excellence while continuing to adapt to the changing needs of clients and the increasingly dynamic business environment,” he said.
Technology will continue to play a growing role in the legal profession, but Partogi said that while leveraging such advancements was important, it should not supplant lawyers’ professional judgement.
“Technologies should not replace the judgment, experience and trusted relationships that define our profession; rather, they should enable our lawyers to assist clients more efficiently with deeper insights and devote more time to the complex strategic issues that matter most to our clients,” he said.
Partogi said HHP Law Firm had several burgeoning practices, with M&A, capital markets, banking and finance, and projects at the core. In addition, dispute resolution continues to be one of the firm’s busiest practice areas.
“Our transactional practices – particularly M&A, capital markets, banking and finance, and projects – will remain at the heart of HHP Law Firm’s offering. We expect continued growth in these practice areas, as Indonesia remains an attractive investment destination and continues to require significant funding for infrastructure, energy transition, digital economy, and strategic corporate transactions,” he said.
As for practice areas on the rise, Partogi said tax and customs, along with IP and technology, are showing plenty of promise.
“We see significant potential in tax and customs. Businesses are facing an increasingly complex tax and customs environment, including heightened enforcement, particularly relating to affiliate transactions and transfer pricing issues, which lead to disputes and litigation,” he said.
“Perhaps the most exciting growth area is intellectual property and technology. The rapid expansions of the digital economy, artificial intelligence, data-driven businesses and innovative consumer brands have vastly expanded the need for robust IP protections. At the same time, awareness of IP rights and the value of intangible assets continues to rise, creating new opportunities for both advisory and contentious work.”
Looking forward, Partogi expects growing demand across several of the firm’s advisory practices, including employment, compliance, data protection, ESG expectations, corporate governance requirements and regulatory advisory services.
