Mr Maher Sasongko > ABNR Counsellors at Law > Jakarta, Indonesia > Lawyer Profile

ABNR Counsellors at Law
GRAHA CIMB NIAGA, 24TH FLOOR
JL JENDERAL SUDIRMAN KAV 58
JAKARTA 12190
Indonesia
Maher Sasongko photo

Position

Partner

Career

Maher, who has been with ABNR since 2011, was made partner in January 2023. His main areas of professional practice encompass banking and finance, project finance and development, mergers and acquisitions (M&A), and foreign direct investment (FDI).

In banking and finance, he regularly handles both onshore and offshore financing as well as asset securitization. Recent work includes assisting the International Finance Corporation in its USD 150 million loan to an Indonesian state-owned bank; international lenders in their USD 2.05 billion financing for PT Indofood CBP Sukses Makmur Tbk; and international lenders in their USD 200 million loan to an Indonesian pulp and paper company. In asset securitization, he handled securitization of cash loan agreements by means of risk funded participation and currently involves in the formation of collective investment contract over e-commerce loans.

Maher was also a member of the steering committee for the development and launch of an English law-governed Asia Pacific Loan Market Association (APLMA) standardized legal template for Indonesian offshore loans.

In project finance and development, he has and continues to advise lenders on project financing, including Cirebon Expansion Project, Muara Laboh and Rantau Dedap Geothermal Projects, Kalsel Coal-Fired Power Plant, and Tayan Bauxite Plant Project in West Kalimantan.  He is currently assisting the government of Indonesia and international lenders in public-private partnership development projects as well as sponsors in the development and construction of waste to energy power projects in Jakarta.

Maher was a key member of the ABNR team that handled the Indonesian law aspects of M&A deals in various sectors, including: (i) advising on the merger of ride-hailing entity Uber’s Southeast Asia operations with Grab Inc. and (ii) advising Fullerton Health Group on investment from PT Pyfa Investama Medika in multiple healthcare facilities in Indonesia.

In FDI, Maher has advised on many aspects of doing business for foreign investors in Indonesia, including use of the government’s recently established online investment licensing portal (OSS), and regulatory and compliance issues.  His recent FDI assignments include advice to a UK company on how to establish a local waste processing company, and similarly to a French company for a local technical services business.

Maher graduated in 2011 from Padjadjaran University, Bandung, where he majored in International Law. In 2015, he earned an LL.M degree with merit in international commercial law from University College London (UCL), England.

Lawyer Rankings

Indonesia > Banking and finance

(Next Generation Partners)

Maher SasongkoABNR Counsellors at Law

The ‘attentive and reliable’ team at ABNR Counsellors at Law covers an impressive range of borrower and lender instructions, showcasing particular strength in greenfield and brownfield energy and infrastructure financings. The firm’s roster of clients include major Asian banks, international financial institutions, and investment banks. Practice head Emir Nurmansyah also heads the firm’s project finance and development offering and is noted for his work in the energy, infrastructure and maritime arenas. Ayik Candrawulan Gunadi, Nurdin Adiwibowo and Serafina Muryanti are further key names for projects work and handle greenfield financings and acquisition finance. Ammalia Putri provides financial services regulation compliance expertise, while Monic Devina has recently been active on acquisition finance and M&A in the banking sector. Maher Sasongko continues to be sought out for his broad practice.

Indonesia > Projects and energy

Offering ‘a deep understanding of the Indonesian legal landscape combined with the quality and rigor expected of an international law firm’, ABNR Counsellors at Law is instructed by lenders, sponsors and developers on complex, marquee financing, construction and acquisition deals, acting on an impressive array of energy and infrastructure assets. Whilst the firm has witnessed an uptick in digital infrastructure projects, transport-related mandates continue to key feature of its varied deal sheet, including large-scale rail, toll road and bridge projects. Emir Nurmansyah leads the group and acts for lenders on greenfield and brownfield financings. Another experienced project finance practitioner, Ayik Candrawulan Gunadi has been recently active in the mining and minerals sector, while Ammalia Putri, Serafina Muryantis, and Maher Sasongko’s practices balance financings and acquisitions.