The Legal 500

The strong team at Ali Budiardjo, Nugroho, Reksodiputro regularly acts on some of the biggest deals in the market. It recently advised a consortium of Japanese, Korean and Indonesian companies on the local law aspects of a $2.8bn joint liquefied natural gas project in Sulawesi province. Woody Pananto, Theodoor Bakkerand Oene Marseille are recommended.

Hadiputranto, Hadinoto & Partners’s dominance in Indonesian M&A continues unabated. The firm has one of the largest and most experienced teams, consistently acting on a large volume of the most valuable M&A transactions. It recently advised United Tractors in the acquisition of a $26.5m mining concession company, and represented Bank Permata on a $317m acquisition of GE Finance Indonesia.

At Hiswara Bunjamin & Tandjung ‘advice 
is thorough yet practical with a deep 
understanding of the banking industry’. The firm continues to develop relationships with a 
number of private equity houses, and benefits from a close relationship with Herbert Smith (Thailand) Limited. The corporate team advised Cargill on its acquisition of a majority stake in listed local sweetener and starch producer Sorini Agro Asia Corporindo. Other major clients 
include Rio Tinto, BP and Mitsubishi Corporation. David Dawborn, Brian Scott 
and Iril Hiswara are recommended.

Melli Darsa & Co. is noted for its commercial acumen and has good connections with international clients. The firm has previously represented Indonesia Telekom and Infomedia. Name partner Melli Darsa comes highly recommended, and Sugianto Osman is also rated.

The team at Assegaf Hamzah & Partners ‘has really hit its stride over the past few years’. The firm has a good track record in energy and natural resources, and recently advised GDF Suez Energy in relation to the development of two Greenfield geothermal power projects in Sumatra. Ahmad Fikri Assegaf and Bono Daru Adji are recommended.

Makarim & Taira S. recently advised Sara Lee in the sale of its majority shares in the Indonesian-listed PT Sara Lee Body Care to Unilever. Other standout transactions included representing Sumitomo Corporation and GDF Suez in the acquisition and investment in Supreme Energy’s geothermal business. Richard Cornwallis heads the team, and Tasdikiah Siregar is also recommended.

Miranti Malikus-Ramadhani leads a team at Mochtar Karuwin Komar that has excellent knowledge of the mining sector. It recently established subsidiaries for a German turbine company, and advised a major international mining company on international trade and labour matters. The firm benefits from a non-exclusive referral relationship with Clifford Chance.

Linda Widyati and Dezi Kirana head the practice at Soemadipradja & Taher, which 
has seen an uptick in work for insurance 
clients. It worked on some impressive mining deals over 2010/11; highlights included advising Sherritt in its acquisition of a controlling 
stake in Rio Tinto’s nickel concern in Sulawesi. The team also represented Zurich Insurance 
in the acquisition of a local life insurance 
company. Haydn Dare has ‘good legal acumen and very sound commercial appreciation’.

Fred Tumbuan effectively operates as a sole practitioner at Tumbuan Pane, advising on a select number of complex deals. Despite this, he is highly sought after for his ‘towering legal intellect’.

Bahar & Partners has a solid telecoms and technology client base. Managing partner Wahyuni Bahar is recommended.

Hanafiah Ponggawa & Partners has good links with Middle Eastern investors. Al Hakim Hanafiah and Fabian B Pascoal are recommended.

The dynamic new team at Ginting & Reksodiputro in association with Allen & Overy is developing a quality client base and strong market profile. The practice recently advised Indorama Polymer Plc on its acquisition of SK Keris and its subsidiary from Korean company SK Chemicals. Daniel Ginting and Harun Reksodiputro are rated.

Lubis Ganie Surowidjojo has a broad client base that includes mining companies and banks.

Yozua Makes leads a team at Makes & Partners that has developed an impressive client roster in recent years. The team recently advised Matahari Putra Prima in the formation of a strategic alliance between private equity houses MPP and CVC Capital Partners. Iwan Setiawan is also rated.

The ‘consistently exceptional’ Mataram Partners has a solid mining client base and recently advised a Chinese-owned Singaporean company on the purchase of a minority interest in two local mining companies. Other major clients include Trafigura and the Noble Group. Oliver Wright, Andi Zulfikar and Rina Lee are all recommended.

Oentoeng Suria & Partners’ team benefits from an alliance with Blake Dawson and an international client base that includes ArcelorMittal, Korea Resources and Magnur Energy. Highlights included advising LGI Group on a number of transactions related to its investments in the palm oil, mining and shipping sectors. Noor Meurling and Felix Oentoeng Soebagjo are the main contacts.

Soewito Suhardiman Eddymurthy Kardono saw a steady flow of work emanating from acquisitions of mining companies over 2010/11, including acting for Robust Resources in its purchase of a 75% stake in local gold mining company PT Gemala Borneo Utama. Other highlights included advising Toyota Industries on establishing a joint venture with PT Astra Otoparts. Ira Eddymurthy heads the practice, and Susandarini left to establish Susandarini & Partners.

Standout transactions for Widyawan & Partners included continuing to advise News Corporation on its activities in Indonesia, including representing its subsidiary Star TV on its indirect interest in national broadcaster Cakrawala Andalas Televisi and the proposed IPO of Viva Holding Group. The team has a close alliance with Allens Arthur Robinson and gets a large number of referrals through its network.

Brigitta I. Rahayoe & Partners has a good track record on international mining and energy deals. Previous clients have included Oracle, Quicksilver, OzMinerals and the Terex Corporation. In 2011 the firm split from its alliance partner Norton Rose Australia, and Rick Beckmann left the firm to join Susandarini & Partners.

Hendra Soenardi has a good local client roster that has included Jasapower and Adaro Energy. Name partners Eddy Hendra and Soenardi Pardi are recommended.

The newly formed Susandarini & Partners has particular expertise in the insurance sector and benefits from a new alliance with Norton Rose Australia. Susandarini leads a practice that recently advised Louis Dreyfus Commodities on a strategic joint venture in Indonesia with a local conglomerate. Rick Beckmann and Ross Ramsay are also recommended.

Bastaman Enrico Bagus recently advised Century Software Holdings in connection with the proposed acquisition of a local software company. Enrico Iskandar and the newly made-up Bagus Nur Buwono are recommended. Other clients include EMC, Nu Skin and Tune Hotels.

Standout matters for Budidjaja & Associates included advising construction company Swiber Holdings in the sale of its Indonesian subsidiary, and representing drinks manufacturer Forisa in its corporate reorganisation.

Christian Teo heads Christian Teo Purwono & Partners’ team, which recently advised longstanding client Bayan Resources in the acquisition of a mining company. Other clients include Cisco Systems and Dell.

Standout deals for Hadromi & Partners included advising Spanish stainless steel manufacturer Acerinox Group on establishing a local subsidiary. Iqbal Hadromi heads the practice, which has a loose referral relationship with Bond Pearce LLP.

Nini Halim and Inka Kirana head a team at Hutabarat Halim & Rekan that recently advised the Stamford Law Corporation in its acquisition of shares in a local company for IDR78bn. Other highlights included advising Mediacom on the establishment of a joint venture with Rakuten.

Iswahyudi Karim heads a team at KarimSyah that receives instructions predominantly from international clients, and has seen an increase in work related to coal contracts.

Simbolon & Partners is ‘responsive and shows a good level of insight’. The team recently advised Cetco Oilfield Sevices on its corporate structures and local law advice.