Hall Of Fame

Next Generation Partners

Firms To Watch: Labour and employment

Led by Ivan Baely, IABF Law Firm (IABF) has experience in both disputes relating to termination and in non-contentious matters around employee transfers and drafting of employment documents.

Labour and employment in Indonesia

ABNR Counsellors at Law

ABNR Counsellors at Law assists multinational and domestic clients with a range of employment matters, representing employers in relation to contentious work such as employment and industrial disputes, and terminations, and advising in respect of employment contracts, immigration, TUPE transfers, and regulatory issues. Its client list spans sectors including life sciences, telecoms, manufacturing, finance, media, and retail. Indra Setiawan leads the team which also includes Sahat Siahaan and Ulyarta Naibaho who focus on contentious matters. Ridzky Amin is also noted.

Practice head(s):

Indra Setiawan


Other key lawyers:

Sahat Siahaan; Ulyarta Naibaho; Ridzky Amin


Key clients

PT TelkomIndonesia (Persero) TBK


SAAB


Hyundai


Merck & Co Inc.,


ByteDance


Tencent


Novartis


Bayer


Cabot


Daimler AG


Volvo


PT Merck Sharpe Dohme Indonesia


PT Mineral Industri Indonesia (Persero)


Uniqlo


Work highlights


Assegaf Hamzah & Partners

Assegaf Hamzah & Partners works closely with its dispute resolution team to handle employment disputes; its recent caseload also includes advising on employment contracts, outsourcing, redundancy, labour unions, and the employment of foreign workers. As part of the Rajah & Tann Asia network, it draws on regional resources to assist multinational clients with regional employment issues. Ahmad Maulana is a key name to note, combining general dispute expertise with experience in employment matters. Muhamad Kamal Fikri has a broad dispute expertise that extends to mediation and arbitration.

Practice head(s):

Ahmad Maulana


Other key lawyers:

Muhamad Kamal Fikri


Testimonials

‘Assegaf Hamzah & Partners possesses a depth of knowledge on the labour and employment regulatory framework and its implementation that sets them apart from most top-tier firms. Its close engagement with regulatory authorities provides clients with an accurate view from the regulator’s perspective, delivering invaluable insights that guide strategic decisions. What truly distinguishes AHP is its ability to understand the intricacies of the industry landscape and practices, allowing it to offer advice that not only aligns with regulatory requirements but also addresses our unique business needs. Moreover, AHP’s commitment to excellent delivery and rapid turnaround time ensures that we receive timely, top-notch legal counsel.’

‘Ahmad Maulana’s profound expertise in labour and employment practices is unmatched, providing us with guidance in navigating complex regulatory frameworks and implementations. His depth of expertise has provided us with helpful regulatory advice and has helped us make strategic decisions. Beyond this, Ahmad possesses an unparalleled understanding of industry dynamics, offering tailored advice that harmonizes with our business needs. His swift turnaround times showcase his reliability as a counsel and by making himself readily available during our critical times and for urgent matters. Ahmad often goes beyond the traditional role of a legal advisor which makes him a great business partner. When working with Ahmad Maulana, we not only gain access to a legal expert but also a trusted ally who is there to navigate challenges and seize opportunities alongside us.’

‘AHP’s team is very responsive to our inquiries. Their level of service is of a top-tier law firm, provided in a thorough and timely manner and catered to our needs.’

‘Ahmad Maulana’s familiarity with the provisions of employment law, including the practical aspect, has helped us greatly in navigating the complexity of the issue and preparing a prudent decision.’

Key clients

PT Shiseido Cosmetics Indonesia


The British Institute


PT Ecolab International Indonesia


PT Citra Prima Container


Coupang LLC


PT Haidilao Indonesia Restaurants


Deutsche Gesellschaft für Internationale Zusammenarbeit GmbH


PT Surya Toto Indonesia Tbk


PT Ken Lee Indonesia


Mori Lee LLC


World Wide Technology LLC


Microsoft Inc


PT Khasanah Putera Jakarta Medica


PT Tripatra Engineers and Constructors


AICE Group


Asian Development Bank


British Standards Institution


Ebara Corporation


Imerys Asia Pacific Group


NYK Line Indonesia


Work highlights


  • Assisted PT Surya Toto Indonesia Tbk. in the process of dispute settlement during an employment termination and with the preparation of the mutual settlement agreement with the terminating employees.
  • Advised PT Haidilao Indonesia Restaurants on the drafting of employment agreement templates and on the employment of a foreign board of directors.
  • Assisted PT Citra Prima Container in the process of dispute settlement during an employment termination and reviewed draft of indefinite and definite employment agreement.

Hadiputranto, Hadinoto & Partners, a member firm of Baker McKenzie

Hadiputranto, Hadinoto & Partners, a member firm of Baker McKenzie‘s team is noted for its ‘extensive expertise across a wide range of employment law topics, its sophisticated grasp of business needs for multinational companies and its practical approach.‘ With capabilities across both employment litigation and advisory matters, the team assists a diverse array of clients. Alvira Wahjosoedibjo has a particular sector focus in tech, life sciences, and finance. Rinaldo Aditya is recommended for terminations and employment disputes. Associate Yesi Samosir is also noted.

Practice head(s):

Alvira Wahjosoedibjo; Rinaldo Aditya


Other key lawyers:

Yesi Samosir


Testimonials

‘The Indonesia labour and employment team is unique due to their extensive expertise across a wide range of employment law topics, their sophisticated grasp of business needs for multinational companies and their practical approach to advising.‘

‘Alvira Wahjosoedibjo has made effort over the years to familiarise herself with her client’s particular context. She regularly delivers high quality, detailed and practical advice. I obtain a lot of value from face-to-face discussions with her on various topics to assist me to stay informed on current legal developments, on the ground issues and obtain general market context.‘

‘Yesi Samosir has excellent drafting skills and is very responsive to urgent requests. In addition, she identifies legal issues with draft documentation and provides commercially focused legal solutions to various employment-related issues.‘

Work highlights


Hiswara Bunjamin & Tandjung in association with Herbert Smith Freehills

Hiswara Bunjamin & Tandjung in association with Herbert Smith Freehills covers the full spectrum of employment work, handling contentious and non-contentious employment matters. Drawing on the wider Asian presence of Herbert Smith Freehills LLP, the team is well-placed to handle both local and regional matters for major international companies. The team is now led by Prawidha Murti who joined from Oentoeng Suria & Partners in association with Ashurst following the departure of David Siagian in October 2022. Tedy Rachmanto is also recommended.

Practice head(s):

Prawidha Murti


Other key lawyers:

Tedy Rachmanto; Santi Darmawan


Testimonials

‘I had the pleasure to engage the employment team and it was a great experience to work with them in fulfilling the company’s business requirements as we are setting up in Jakarta Indonesia.‘

‘I would like to personally thank Tedy Rachmanto from the employment team for his timely response in all my queries. His first class service towards the short notice requests enabled the company to meet the necessary business requirements and adhere to local employment laws. I look forward to working with Tedy and the team again as the business expands in Indonesia.‘

‘Our go-to firm in Indonesia given their association with HSF.‘

Work highlights


Makarim & Taira S.

Makarim & Taira S. provides ‘excellent services both for litigation and corporate matters’ and has a notable track record in handling mass redundancies and issues arising from employee misconduct. Employment disputes related to M&A transactions is another strength of the team. Co-head Lia Alizia is highly experienced in employment litigation, while co-head Rahayu Ningsih Hoed focuses on mass redundancy work. Harris Toengkagie is noted for mass terminations and settlement of labour disputes.

Practice head(s):

Lia Alizia; Rahayu Ningsih Hoed


Other key lawyers:

Harris Toengkagie


Testimonials

‘Very knowledgeable and prompt.‘

‘They provide spot-on advice within urgent timelines.’

‘Harris Syahni Toengkagie has extensive experience in labour and employment matters, as demonstrated through his advice on how to effectively handle issues with a practical approach by keeping compliance with the laws and regulations as a top priority. Harris can also allocate proper team members, so the work can be done in an efficient manner.‘

‘They provide excellent services both for litigation and for corporate matters.’

‘Harris Syahni Toengkagie is an excellent lawyer. He is very clear and concise in providing legal advice and solutions to our legal issues.‘

Key clients

PT ABC President Indonesia


Arnott’s Biscuits Ltd.


PT Autoliv Indonesia


PT Avient Colorants Indonesia


Bird & Bird


Clyde & Co.


CMS Holborn Asia


Cogencis


DLA Piper


Drägerwerk AG & Co. KGaA


PT Draeger Medical Indonesia


PT Draegerindo Jaya


Drew & Napier


PT Gold Coin


Hibiya Nakata


Jackson Lewis P.C.


King & Spalding LLP


KONE PTE. LTD


LG Electronics Inc


London Stock Exchange Group


Refinitiv Limited


Nathan Associates


Pinsent Masons LLP


Seyfarth Shaw LLP


PT Sony Indonesia


Soemadipradja & Taher

Soemadipradja & Taher is active in terminations and related disputes, in addition to advising on non-contentious employment matters. The team has a particular focus on assisting foreign entities in their Indonesian employment mandates. Retno Muljosantoso advises on corporate and finance matters in addition to her employment practice, being well-placed to handle complex employment mandates for corporate clients across a range of sectors. Rahmat Soemadipradja is another key contact.

Practice head(s):

Retno Muljosantoso


Other key lawyers:

Rahmat Soemadipradja: Dimas Koencoro Noegroho; Anindita Hapsari; Robert Reid


Testimonials

‘The team is knowledgeable and invests time in understanding our needs. They are open and transparent in providing advice, ensuring we obtain objective opinions and recommendations.‘

Key clients

Millenium Challenge Corporation


Amazon Web Services


Rockwell Automation Southeast Asia Pte Ltd


PT RungePincockMinarco


PT Major Drilling


Newmont Australia


Lewis Silkin LLP


Coface Greater China Services Limited


Coca Cola Europacific Partners


Work highlights


  • Advised the Millenium Challenge Corporation on an overhaul of a professional services agreement to engage the professional contractors of a trust fund entity.
  • Advised Amazon Web Services on occupational health and safety requirement under Indonesian Law.
  • Advised Rockwell Automation Southeast Asia Pte Ltd on termination policies.

Sudjono & Rekan Law Offices

Employment boutique firm Sudjono & Rekan Law Offices handles a balanced mix of contentious and non-contentious employment matters and has experience representing clients in negotiations with labour unions. Managing partner Hernoko Wibowo‘s recent highlights include advising on the termination of employees, and employment aspects of corporate transactional work.

Practice head(s):

Hernoko Wibowo


Key clients

PT Toyota Astra-Motor


PT Prime Consultancy


Viega Holdings Gmbh & Co. Kg


PT Anugrah Pharmindo Lestari


PT Mitsubishi Electric Automotive Indonesia


PT Adi Sarana Armada Tbk


PT Batuta Chemical Industrial Park


PT Hero Makmur Primatama


PT Dsv Transport Indonesia


PT Honda Prospect Motor


Tech Mahindra Ltd.


DHL Logistics


PT Indoporlen Refractories


Altilium Group Ltd.


PT Internusa Keramik Alamrasri


PT Intikeramik Alamasri Industri Tbk


Work highlights


  • Advising PT Prime Consultancy on the termination of employments.

SSEK Law Firm

SSEK Law Firm provides a full-service employment offering that covers both contentious work, such as employment disputes and terminations, as well as day-to-day employment matters. The team supports the firm’s other practices, undertaking the employment aspects of M&A, insolvency, and other mandates. Practice head Syahdan Z. Aziz is recommended, as is Stephen Igor Warokka who leads the immigration and work permit matters.

Practice head(s):

Syahdan Z. Aziz; Rusmaini Lenggogeni


Other key lawyers:

Stephen Igor Warokka; Indrawan Dwi Yuriutomo


Testimonials

‘The team is very strong in employment advisory and employment M&A. They are very experienced and deliver an exceptional level of service, quality and professionalism.‘

‘Syahdan Aziz is my go-to lawyer for employment matters in Indonesia. He is very savvy when it comes to solutions to clients’ employment law issues in Indonesia.‘

‘I was very impressed by the team as a whole. They worked very efficiently to provide excellent advice. They are dedicated and went the extra mile to ensure we had the advice we needed to progress the project confidently and effectively. Great attention to detail as well.‘

‘Syahdan Z. Aziz is a great operator. Very trustworthy and confidently delivers.‘

Key clients

Indonesia Financial Group


Krakatau Steel


Standard Life Aberdeen


Procter & Gamble


Yamaha Motor


General Motors


Nissan Motor Co.


Lockheed Martin


Kohler Group


Grab Holdings Inc.


Work highlights


  • Assisted a Finland-based multinational that manufactures and services power sources in the marine and energy markets in conducting an employment compliance due diligence on their Indonesian subsidiary.
  • Advising a group of Indonesian state-owned enterprises on drafting, negotiating, revising and finalizing three omnibus ministerial regulations to regulate the SOE sector in Indonesia.
  • Represented PT Krakatau Posco as the defendant up to the Supreme Court in a lawsuit filed by former seconded employees.

Widyawan & Partners

Widyawan & Partners’ association with Linklaters provides a platform for multi-jurisdictional employment work, for which Narendra Adiyasa is a key contact, having joined from Hiswara Bunjamin & Tandjung in association with Herbert Smith Freehills in August 2022. The team regularly advises on the employment aspects of share sales or business acquisitions. Adiyasa excels in employment disputes and is supported by Yolanda Hutapea who advises on the employment aspects of corporate transactions.

Practice head(s):

Narendra Adiyasa; Yolanda Hutapea


Key clients

Citibank NA Indonesia


EdgePoint Infrastructure


Centratama Telekomunikasi Indonesia Tbk


Ernst & Young


Platinum Equity Partners LLC


Work highlights


  • Advised Citibank NA Indonesia on a labour union claim against the proposed transfer of employment to the purchaser due to the sale of its consumer banking business.
  • Advising EdgePoint Infrastructure on various employment and incentives related matters in relation to its Indonesia operation through Centratama Telekomunikasi Indonesia Tbk and its group companies.
  • Advising Ernst & Young on the potential separation of a client’s audit business from their non-audit business, focussing on Indonesian operations.

Hanafiah Ponggawa & Partners – Dentons HPRP

Hanafiah Ponggawa & Partners – Dentons HPRP‘s employment offering falls within the firm’s disputes practice, with the team correspondingly specialising in contentious matters including termination, employment disputes, and criminal proceedings against former employees.  Linna Simamora heads the firm’s employment, litigation and intellectual property practice and is recommended for her expertise in industries including airlines, IT, mining, pharmaceuticals, and telecoms.

Practice head(s):

Linna Simamora


Other key lawyers:

Danny Sinaga; Gading Sanyjaya; Timothy Inkiriwang; Sartono


Key clients

PT Zona Edukasi Nusantara (ZENIUS)


Nurjadin Sumono Mulyadi & Partners

Nurjadin Sumono Mulyadi & Partners specialises in industrial relations and associated employment disputes, assisting a range of clients primarily in the FMCG, shipping, and tech industries in negotiating collective labour agreements and handling disputes arising from terminations. Founding partner Ilya Sumono heads the practice with a focus on industrial relations, while Ruben Soeratman is singled for his ‘good mix of in-house and external law firm experience‘.

Practice head(s):

Ilya Utama Sutomo


Other key lawyers:

Ruben Soeratman


Testimonials

‘The team gives a hands-on service, including its partners and associates.‘

‘They assisted us in various legal issues throughout the years, and we are always pleased with their tremendous support.’

‘Ruben Suratman is amazing at understanding the case and forecasting the result of each option.‘

Work highlights


TNB & Partners in association with Norton Rose Fulbright

TNB & Partners in association with Norton Rose Fulbright has experience in handling employment and labour disputes, while similarly possessing strong transactional capabilities, advising on the employment aspects of complex cross-border M&A. Drawing on its association with Norton Rose Fulbright, it is particularly well-versed in assisting international clients with adapting their global employment policies to Indonesian requirements. Lead Kresna Panggabean is the key contact.

Practice head(s):

Kresna Panggabean


Testimonials

‘Commendable work. Approachable and responsible attorneys. They give comprehensive responses that cover relevant matters which may have not been specifically asked about but are reasonably foreseeable. A reliable team.’

Key clients

Accenture Australia Pty Ltd


AT Kearney Indonesia


Sun Cable Energy


Abt Associates


Amdocs


Bechtel Mining Services


Scope Global Pty Ltd


TDCX Group


Work highlights


  • Advised Accenture Australia on the acquisition of two Indonesian entities engaging in branding and marketing services, adding more than 150 people to Accenture.
  • Advised Amdocs Group in various employment matters, including the preparation and adaption of their global policy to Indonesia and preparation of relevant employment contract templates.
  • Advising Bechtel Mining Services in various employment matters, including the preparation of relevant employment contract templates in Indonesia.

UMBRA – Strategic Legal Solutions

UMBRA – Strategic Legal Solutions handles a full range of employment matters with a particularly strong offering in the area of disputes and terminations. Of note in the team is Melati Siregar, who excels in employment disputes, claims against employees, and terminations. Poppy Cut Rahmasuci and Liyanto Wijaya are also key names to note.

Practice head(s):

Liyanto Wijaya; Melati Siregar; Poppy Cut Rahmasuci


Work highlights


Walalangi & Partners in association with Nishimura & Asahi

Led by transactional practitioner Luky Walalangi, Walalangi & Partners in association with Nishimura & Asahi has a solid offering advising on the employment aspects of corporate matters, particularly for Japanese clients. Disputes and crisis management are also a part of its key offerings. Rainer Faustine Jonathan is another name to note.

Practice head(s):

Luky Walalangi


Other key lawyers:

Rainer Faustine Jonathan


Key clients

Penske Truck Leasing


PING AN


Properti Solusi Manajemen


Resona Bank, Japan


Resona Indonesia Finance, PT


Roblox


Saint-Gobain Indonesia subsidiaries


Secom Co., Ltd.


Showa Denko


Showa Leasing Co., Ltd.


SMBC Nikko Securities Inc.


Squire Patton Boggs Singapore LLP


Superstructure Technologies Pte., Ltd.


TIS Inc.


Tokyo Gas Corporation


Tokyo Tatemono


Toyota Tsusho Corporation


TREC, PT


TTLR, PT


Yamaha Motor, Co., Ltd.


Yamaha Music Indonesia, PT


Work highlights


  • Advising Mizuho Bank, Ltd. in assessing, structuring, and ensuring Indonesian regulatory law compliance of its proposed intergroup employee secondment and cross-border marketing collaboration arrangement.
  • Advising a Japanese trading company in relation to embezzlement allegation against one of its employees.
  • Advising a Japanese conglomeration company following a whistleblowing report on criminal allegations of embezzlement and fraud conducted by a director and local employees.