LinkedIn
Facebook
Twitter
Whatsapp
Telegram
Copy link

Asia Business Law Journal has recognised 50 up-and-coming Indonesian lawyers who are poised for further success. Lim Miran and Nguyen Yen report

Indonesia’s flourishing economy has sparked an extraordinary wave of young leaders who are driven by an unwavering entrepreneurial spirit and an innate inclination for innovation.

The GDP of the largest economy in Southeast Asia increased by just over 5% in the first quarter of 2023, according to the country’s Central Bureau of Statistics, and Indonesia’s young generation has emerged as a driving force in shaping its entrepreneurial landscape. This includes the legal industry, which has seen a surge in talented young lawyers taking the lead at their firms.

The Indonesian government aims to increase the proportion of young entrepreneurs to 3.95% by 2024. A surge of new law firms in recent years indicates a strong entrepreneurial spirit among young lawyers with an ability to adapt to their profession’s changing landscape.

By embracing technology, seizing opportunities and utilising government support, Indonesia’s young lawyers are transforming the legal industry and contributing to the country’s overall economic growth. They are well positioned to lead the way, driving innovation and meeting diverse legal needs, both locally and globally.

Asia Business Law Journal’s future legal leaders comprise 50 ambitious and energetic lawyers who have garnered recognition from clients, peers and business leaders due to their unwavering commitment to the legal sector. These future legal leaders have exhibited exceptional skills and possess the potential to become prominent figures within Indonesia’s legal community.

Our selected lawyers have successfully handled significant cases for their respective law firms. They have provided solutions that have positioned them as preferred legal advisers for clients, while demonstrating an impressive work ethic.

This article showcases the accomplishments of these upcoming legal leaders, featuring testimonials from clients and colleagues who have nominated them for this prestigious recognition.

Peter CzinkFinance trailblazers

Indonesia’s emerging market with a growing economy has made it attractive for global investors in the banking and finance sector, leading to an increase in demand for financial services, and prompting top legal professionals to come forward as trusted advisers to corporations, financial institutions and individuals.

Deasirina Ariestiati, a manager at Bank DKI in Jakarta, nominates Ahmad Zakaria, senior partner at UMBRA, for “being responsive and communicative” when handling problems in the corporate and capital market fields. “He provides appropriate solutions without violating applicable laws and regulations,” says Ariestiati.

Robert Hasan, a partner at IABF Law Firm, has been recognised as “a truly competent colleague” by Daniel Tumpal Nico, head of investment and advisory at financial service company PPA Kapital in Jakarta, for his competence, knowledge and valuable contributions to successfully accomplishing projects.

“We have worked together on several projects and I found Robert is a truly competent colleague,” says Nico. “His knowledge and professional experience were valuable and played a significant part in accomplishing our assignment.”

Fenny Herlina, executive corporate director at integrated marketing communication agency Navaplus Group in Jakarta, also recommends Hasan as a “reliable lawyer with a fast response”.

Hasan is commended by another client, Indra Cayadi, president and director at valve service and maintenance company Varley Indonesia in Jakarta. “He provides systematic and great support to our company in the pre-IPO process,” says Cayadi.

For Luthfi Dunav Herzegovian, CEO of social investing platform Investly in Jakarta, GHP Law Firm partner Dirgantara Adi is “one of the best lawyers” that he has met. “Dirgantara is a smart and reliable lawyer,” says Herzegovian. “He helps me to grow my startup efficiently. The fintech industry can be very tricky but he has managed to solve all our problems very effectively.”

Luthfi Dunav HerzegovianJanet Tang, chief legal and ethics officer at multinational utility company ENGIE Southeast Asia in Singapore, concurs. “He is not just another lawyer in town,” says Tang. “He has been exemplary in skills, knowledge and speed when advising our company. He has been spot-on in guiding us through different scenarios and tailoring documents to suit our risk appetite.”

Aldies Sageri, associate director at securities company Mandiri Sekuritas in Jakarta, also supports Adi. “We did some work at a very strategic level together and I found him the type of person who really understands every detail and process,” says Sageri. “He is very reliable, able to understand multiple areas in legal activities, and his legal skills are above average.”

Legal maestros

Increased automation and digitalisation have changed the way legal services are conducted. Future legal leaders are required to have the ability to handle complex legal cases in an ever-changing business environment.

Tiur Henny Monica, a partner at MIP Law Firm, is one of them. She is applauded by Sandhy Ramadiansyah, a senior legal manager at retail company Pasaraya Toserba in Jakarta.

“She is not only advising the legal stance but, more importantly … she is willing to listen and extend consideration for the best results,” says Ramadiansyah. “Her advice is comprehensive, not only from a legal perspective but also always in a pragmatic and entrepreneurial approach.”

Yosua Gunawan, director at private laboratory Innoquest Indonesia in Jakarta, says his go-to lawyer is Agung Santoso, a partner at Armand Yapsunto Muharamsyah & Partners. “Agung has been very instrumental in our company set-up,” says Gunawan. “He also shares his professional advice in several company events.”

Praising peers

In today’s increasingly boundary-less world, many international lawyers find their Indonesian counterparts proficient, knowledgeable and devoted to the legal field. The country’s young legal professionals are also respected by lawyers worldwide for their unwavering commitment to their client’s needs.

Mayer Brown’s partner in Singapore, Justin Tan, says Yohanes Masengi, a partner at GHP Law Firm, stands out from the crowd. “Yohanes is a leading lawyer in the natural resources space, particularly with minerals mining and processing,” says Tan. “He clearly knows the sector well.”

Peter Czink, finance director at Swiss multinational chemical company Givaudan in Jakarta, agrees. “Masengi is a reliable individual who always provides the required support instantly, which is a great help for our organisation as we have to navigate the maze of the local regulatory environment,” says Czink.

“He clearly has a thorough understanding of the legal framework in Indonesia and he is always ready to help, or can mobilise the right person from his team to ensure that no questions remain unanswered.”

Masengi’s colleague, partner Nur Eka Pradata, is praised by Kylie Peh, a partner at Singapore law firm WongPartnership. “Pradata is an outstanding practitioner in his field,” says Peh. “His advice is clear and concise, and he is very professional.”

Agus Utomo, a director at risk adviser and insurance broker Willis Towers Watson in Jakarta, also commends Pradata for “his strong knowledge of Indonesian regulatory structure and his guidance in solving our problems”.

Says Utomo: “Having experienceworking together with Nur Eka Pradata, we have comfort because he has a strong knowledge of Indonesian regulatory structure and he can guide us in solving our problem.”

Agus Utomo

Another partner at GHP Law Firm, Gista Latersia, is recommended by Zhong Lun Law Firm partner Maria Hou in Beijing, for “being very professional, supportive and responsive”.

Bima Sarumpaet, a partner at MacalloHarlin Mendrofa Advocates, is recommended by Hsian Siong Yong, the founder and proprietor at Hsian & Co in Kuala Lumpur.

“He has extensive experience working on property, including hospitality matters, and corporate M&A transactions, acting for both international and Indonesian clients, and assisting them on complex transactions,” says Hsian. “I would not hesitate to recommend Bima to clients requiring assistance with matters in Indonesia.”

Hsian Siong YongNien Rafles Siregar, managing partner at Siregar Setiawan Manalu, is nominated by Kotaro Fuji, a partner at Nishimura & Asahi in Tokyo. “He specialises in restructuring and insolvency in Indonesia,” says Fuji.

Singapore-based corporate partner at international law firm, who wants to remain anonymous, has this to say about Vera Noviani Harwanto, an associate at Nurjadin Sumono Mulyadi & Partners in Jakarta: “She is a responsible and very sharp lawyer who can understand the nuances of transactions.”

Maria Hou

Fransiscus Rodyanto, a partner at SSEK, is hailed by Yoshikazu Noma, partner at Japanese law firm TMI Associates in Tokyo, for “providing the most appropriate solutions”.


METHODOLOGY

Indonesia’s Future Legal Leaders is based on extensive research conducted by Asia Business Law Journal. We invited thousands of in-house counsel from Indonesia and around the world, as well as Indonesia-focused partners at international law firms, to nominate outstanding Indonesian lawyers in several categories, including rising stars who are seen as the future leaders of the country’s legal profession.

Nominations were made by professionals at a wide range of Indonesian and global companies, financial institutions and law firms including Ab Initio Software, Addleshaw Goddard, Advance.AI, Affirma Capital Manager (Singapore), Axiata Digital & Analytics, B Braun Medical Indonesia, Bank DBS Indonesia, Bank DKI, Bank HSBC Indonesia, Bank Negara Indonesia, Bank Tabungan Negara, Bayer Indonesia, BCA Digital, Bird & Bird ATMD, BowerGroupAsia, Cabot Corporation, Cardig International, Cecil Abraham & Partners, Clyde & Co, Coca-Cola Europacific Partners, Deheng Law Office, Dentons Rodyk & Davidson, Dentsu, Drew & Napier, East Ventures, East-West Seed, ENGIE South East Asia, Fortius Corporation, Frisian Flag Indonesia, Garuda Indonesia, Givaudan, Glints, Golden Great Borneo, GoPay Indonesia, Guantao Law Firm, Han Kun Law Offices, Herbert Smith Freehills, Hogan Lovells Lee & Lee, Hsian & Co, IBM, IKEA Indonesia, Indonesia Infrastructure Finance, Indonesia Stock Exchange, Indosat, Innoquest Indonesia, Intiland Development, Investly, Jonas Software, JSA, JunHe, Kendall Court, Kereta Api Indonesia, King & Wood Mallesons Singapore, KONE Indo Elevator, Lee and Li, Long An Law Firm, Maersk, Mandiri Sekuritas, Maxim Global, Mayer Brown, McMillan Capital Asia, Medco Power Indonesia, Mega Lifesciences, Merck, Meta, Mitsubishi UFJ Financial Group, MoneyGram, Morrison & Foerster (Singapore), Nagashima Ohno & Tsunematsu, Navaplus Group, NetEase, Nishimura & Asahi, OneAsia Lawyers, Oon & Bazul, Osborne Clarke, Pasaraya Toserba, Paul Hastings, Pertamina, Perusahaan Listrik Negara, Petronas Niaga Indonesia, PPA Kapital, Qatar Airways, Reed Smith, Riot Games, Risland Group, Roojai Indonesia, Sarinah, Seyfarth Shaw, Shearman & Sterling, Shimizu Bangun Cipta Kontraktor, Shin & Kim, Shook Lin & Bok, Signify Commercial Indonesia, Softex Indonesia, Spotify, Squire Patton Boggs, Standard Chartered Bank Indonesia, Suzuki Indomobil Motor, Tilleke & Gibbins, TITAN Group, TMI Associates, United Tractors, Varley Indonesia, Vistra Indonesia, Volvo Indonesia, Willis Towers Watson, Withers KhattarWong, WongPartnership, YKK Zipper Indonesia, Zhong Lun Law Firm.

Thorough editorial research followed the nomination process. Lawyers working at Indonesian law firms were not permitted to make nominations. The final list of future legal leaders reflects the nominations received and references provided by those who made nominations, combined with the Asia Business Law Journal editorial team’s more than 30 years of collective experience when documenting and analysing Indonesia’s legal market.

All Indonesian private practice lawyers who are currently associated with Indonesian law firms were automatically eligible for inclusion in the nomination process and, as always, there were no fees or other requirements for entry.

The names and photographs of all 50 future legal leaders are published on the following pages. Each lawyer was given the opportunity to include their biography and contact details, for which a publishing fee was charged.

It is important to note that, while the compilation of the future legal leaders was based solely on independent editorial research, the biographies and contact details that appear alongside many of the listings have been written by the participating lawyers and the content has not been independently verified by Asia Business Law Journal.


LinkedIn
Facebook
Twitter
Whatsapp
Telegram
Copy link