Indonesia > Foreign firms > Law firm and leading lawyer rankings

Allen & Overy is well known for advising on high-profile projects in Indonesia, where it works in tandem with associate firm Ginting & Reksodiputro. The firm is ‘excellent in terms of breadth of knowledge, responsiveness and managing complex issues and discussions’. Chris Moore heads the corporate team and specialises in cross-border M&A, foreign direct investment and joint ventures. Banking specialist Gautam Narsimhan is ‘able to solve complex legal issues by explaining these in their simplest terms’, and recently advised a consortium on the acquisition of Newmont Nusa Tenggara. John Richards assisted a consortium with the financing of Kirana Megatara, and advised Credit Suisse on a loan facility and standby purchase facility for the merger of Ciputra Surya and Ciputra Property with Ciputra Development. Capital markets specialist Jeremy Stoupas assisted the Indonesian government with the update of its $15bn sukuk issuance programme. M&A expert Brendan Hannigan advised KS Orka Renewables on its acquisition of OTP Geothermal, and assisted GO-JEK with its Series D financing round. Projects specialist Jason Humphreys acted for a consortium on the project finance for Bumi Suksesindo. Senior associate Scott Lovell is experienced in complex transactions. Associate Chuan Wei Kong has ‘come up the curve excellently and very quickly in recent years’.

Herbert Smith Freehills LLP has a strong presence in Indonesia through its affiliate firm Hiswara Bunjamin & Tandjung. Transactions specialist Brian Scott advised BP on the sale of its stake in the Sanga gas field to Saka Energi. He also assisted Pertamina on the wind-down and liquidation of its trading subsidiaries in Singapore and Hong Kong. Natural resources expert David Clinch advised Chevron on the disposal of its Indonesia-based geothermal assets, and represented AC Energy in acquiring an indirect equity interest in UPC Sidrap Bayu Energi, which holds the right to construct a wind power plant in Sulawei. Head of finance Adrian Cheng recently acted for a lender consortium in the extension of the existing credit facility to KrisEnergy. TMT head Mark Robinson advised Softbank on its investment in Grab, which is currently at its Series F funding stage.

At Milbank, Tweed, Hadley & McCloy LLP, banking and finance practice head David Zemans advised AP Investment and Medco Energi Internasional on its joint venture acquisition of Amman Mineral Nusa Tenggara. Projects and energy expert James Murray has ‘a strong approach to finding solutions to problems’. Banking specialist Jacqueline Chan advised Société Générale on an amendment and restatement of a facility agreement between the client and Fareast Green Energy. Naomi Ishikawa jointly heads the capital markets practice and recently assisted Lippo Karawaci with its offering of a USD-denominated bond. Giles Kennedy – also joint head of the capital markets practice – advised Bukit Makmur Utama on a concurrent issuance of high-yield notes and entry into a loan and revolving credit facility. Special counsel Pablo Malay is also a key figure.

White & Case Pte. Ltd. is noted for its work on big-ticket mandates in the region, and clients include Credit Suisse, Deutsche Bank and Morgan Stanley. Barrye Wall heads the Indonesia practice, and recently acted for XL Axiata on the sale of 2,500 units of its telecoms towers to Profesional Telekomunikasi Indonesia. Capital markets head Kaya Proudian recently advised the Indonesian government on its first dual-tranche eurobond offering. Banking and finance specialist Guan Feng Chen assisted Rajawali Corpora with a loan facility to Archi Indonesia. Projects and infrastructure specialist Steve Payne advised Saudi Aramco on a joint venture development agreement with Pertamina. Arbitration specialist Aloke Ray regularly works on complex cross-border disputes.

Ashurst LLP has ‘a high level of efficiency’ in the Indonesian market and works extensively with its local affiliate Oentoeng Suria & Partners. Projects and infrastructure head Andrew Digges advised a consortium on the financing of an alumina refinery project in Kalimantan. Oil and gas expert Daniel Reinbott advised Total and Inpex on negotiations with the Indonesian government and Pertamina on transferring ownership of a gas field. Banking specialist Chin Chuan Chen is particularly active with Chinese clients. Dispute resolution expert Rob Palmer is highly experienced in energy – and power-related disputes.

Baker McKenzie.Wong & Leow is best known for its work in banking and project finance, but is also very experienced in capital markets transactions and dispute resolution. Finance and projects specialists James Huang and Chin Chew are key figures, as is disputes expert Nandakumar Ponniya.

Clifford Chance’s clients in the region include Northstar, Standard Chartered Bank and Star Energy. Matthew Buchanan assisted Nebras Power with its acquisition of a 35.5% stake in Paiton Energy. Banking and finance expert Andrew Brereton advised KrisEnergy on the restructuring of its entire capital structure. Capital markets specialist Johannes Juette acted for an underwriter consortium in the IPO of Prodia Widyahusada. Qudeer Latif specialises in Islamic finance. Corporate specialist Melissa Ng advised Northstar and NSI Ventures on their investment in GO-JEK. Paul Sandosham has particular expertise in oil and gas related disputes. Kabir Singh has extensive experience in cross-border litigation and arbitration. Projects specialist Nicholas Wong advised Maybank Kim Eng on the development of a power plant in Sumatera.

Freshfields Bruckhaus Deringer works extensively in Indonesia, particularly on big-ticket M&A deals. Gavin MacLaren is well known for M&A and projects work in Indonesia, and recently advised Rosneft on a joint venture with Pertamina relating to an oil refinery in East Java. He also acted for ConocoPhillips in the sale of its Indonesian subsidiary, represented Inpex in the sale of its shares in Inpex Natuna, and advised Mandala Energy on its acquisition of the Merangin and Sumbagsel production sharing contracts in the South Sumatra Basin from ASX-listed Cooper Energy. Philip Morgan advised Saka Energi on its issuance of senior unsecured notes.

Jones Day’s Indonesian practice is split between its Hong Kong and Singapore offices, and has clients that include Citigroup, EY and the Indonesian Petroleum Association. Public sector specialist James Harris recently assisted the World Bank with assessing the key constraints to Indonesian PPP projects. Jeffrey Maddox specialises in capital markets matters. Transactions specialist Ben McQuhae advised Saka Energi Indonesia on its acquisition of a 37.82% interest in the Sanga-Sanga gas production block in East Kalimantan from BP. Energy specialist Darren Murphy advised TonenGeneral on the oil and gas elements of its merger with JX. Of counsel Paul Kuo has extensive experience in banking matters.

Latham & Watkins LLP has built a reputation for its work on corporate and finance transactions in the region. Key figures include corporate specialist Michael Sturrock, finance expert Timothy Hia and project finance-focused Clarinda Tjia-Dharmadi.

Linklaters has a strong track record of working in Indonesia, aided by its association with local firm Widyawan & Partners. Christopher Bradley and Tessa Davis head the projects and energy practice, which recently advised BP on the Tangguh Expansion Project (Train 3). The banking practice is led by Philip Badge, who acted for Crédit Agricole on a guarantee facility for Pertamina. M&A specialist William Kirschner was instructed by Farallon Capital on its Series D investment in GO-JEK. Capital markets specialist Hyung Ahn assisted PLN with its GMTN programme and inaugural drawdown. Alexander Harmse is based in the firm’s Amsterdam office but is very active in capital markets matters in the region.

Norton Rose Fulbright is heavily involved in Indonesian matters, enhanced by its association with TNB & Partners. Jeff Smith heads the practice, and recently acted for the IFC in advising PLN as the state-owned entity on the development of a 2,000MW Central Java IPP. Finance specialist Nick Merrett advised a consortium on a bid to the state-owned electricity company PLN and the subsequent development of a 250MW gas-fired power plant. Yu-En Ong advised lenders on a syndicated loan facility to Tower Bersama. Project finance specialist Stephen Begley is also a key figure.

Shearman & Sterling LLP is ‘top drawer in all respects’, with ‘significant depth and breadth of experience’. Bill McCormack is ‘always calm’, ‘very personable’ and ‘functions very well under extreme pressure’. He recently assisted a consortium with a greenfield coal-fired IPP in Central Java and advised another consortium on the 1,600MW Java 1 power plant in West Java. Capital markets specialist Andrew Schleider advised Listrindo Capital on the offering of fixed-rate, high-yield senior notes guaranteed by Cikarang Listrindo.

Gibson Dunn’s practice has a strong emphasis on energy and infrastructure projects in Indonesia. Energy projects expert Brad Roach recently advised a consortium of energy companies on its bid to develop the Jawa 1 Project, which is a liquefied natural gas project in West Java. Jamie Thomas specialises in cross-border finance and restructurings and assisted Ramba Energy on its financing from Mercuria for the development of Indonesian oil fields.

Hogan Lovells Lee & Lee’s corporate and finance practice is heavily involved in Indonesia. Banking specialist Alexander McMyn advised Pertamina subsidiary Pertamina Internasional Eksplorasi dan Produksi on a bank guarantee facility from Crédit Agricole Corporate and Investment Bank. He also advised Bank CIMB Niaga and HSBC on secured capital expenditure and trade facilities for Softex Indonesia. Capital markets expert Andy Ferris assisted The Bank of New York Mellon as trustee regarding defaulted guaranteed secured notes from Bumi Investment and Bumi Resources. Energy and infrastructure expert Alex Wong advised PLN on the procurement and development of the 800MW Jawa-3 CCGT Power Plant. Corporate specialist Stephanie Keen represented Navis Capital Partners in a majority stake sale in Classic Stripes Private to Kishore Musale.

K&L Gates’ practice is headed by Lian Yok Tan, who recently assisted ANTAM with an engineering, procurement and construction contract for its East Halmahera ferronickel plant construction project. He also acted for ISDN Holdings on the engineering, procurement and construction of mini hydropower plants.

Sidley Austin LLP has a broad practice in Indonesia, with a strong emphasis on capital markets, M&A and project finance. The firm has ‘a pragmatic’ and ‘down-to-earth’ approach. Capital markets expert Matthew Sheridan advised Pan Brothers on the issuance of senior notes and assisted Smartfren with the restructuring of debt. M&A expert Charlie Wilson is ‘very dedicated’ and was instructed by Medco Energi Internasional on its acquisition of a controlling stake in Amman Mineral Internasional. Project finance and infrastructure specialist David Garstide assisted a bidder with the acquisition of Chevron’s geothermal assets in Indonesia.