Corporate/M&A: Indonesia

Tuti Hadiputranto is "a legend in terms of technical quality," and is admired by her peers for her skill in M&A. She continued to be involved in advising Recapital Group and Bakrie Group on their acquisition of Berau Energy.

Mark Innis heads the firm's corporate and M&A department, and is acclaimed as being "professional and highly experienced." He recently advised Boral on the USD135 million disposal of its cement assets to Siam Cement, including four factories in Indonesia. He also took the lead on representing Mitsui Sumitomo Insurance in its subscription of 50% shares in Sinar Mas' life insurance business, a deal valued at USD823 million.

David Dawborn is a senior international counsel at the firm, and is known for his experience in the energy and resources sector. He was recently joint lead partner advising Mitsubishi on its 20% acquisition of Senoro-Toili, valued at USD260 million.

Iril Hiswara is respected for having an "international attitude" and understanding in servicing clients. He took the lead on advising Mitsubishi on its USD170 million acquisition of a 10% stake in Sumber Alfaria Trijaya. 

A founding partner of the firm, Ira Eddymurthy is praised for her active involvement in transactions, despite her position as a senior lawyer, with sources noting that she is "keen to get stuck in." She was recently joint lead partner advising the Siam Cement Group on acquiring Boral's assets in Indonesia, which include cement and concrete producers and natural resources companies.

Darrell Johnson is a senior legal adviser at the firm, and brings to bear his experience of having lived and worked in Indonesia for more than three decades. He jointly led the team representing SC Johnson in the Indonesian aspects of its global takeover of Sara Lee.

Michael Twomey has been an adviser at SSEK for 20 years and specialises in corporate and M&A law, with particular expertise in the oil and gas sector.

Clients benefit from Michael Carl's previous experience of working in Singapore and Thailand. He has a broad practice, handling not only M&A and commercial matters, but also corporate finance and banking transactions. He recently advised Noonday Asset Management on its financing of the indirect acquisition of CNOOC's interest in Offshore Northwest Java by Energi Mega Persada.

Emir Nurmansyah has a great deal of experience in dealing with corporate restructuring, privatisation and financing, among other matters. In addition to his prowess as an M&A lawyer, he wins praise for his knowledge of banking law.

Foreign counsel Theodoor Bakker has been working in South-East Asia for nearly 30 years. An accomplished lawyer and academic, he has experience of handling commercial and finance transactions, and lectures at the University of Indonesia's Faculty of Law.

Oene Marseille is another foreign counsel, and has been working on Indonesia-related matters for more than a decade. He is particularly skilled at working on cross-border matters, having previously practised in Rotterdam, New York and Singapore.

Ahmad Fikri Assegaf is the head of the M&A department at the firm, and is respected by peers and clients for his deep experience. He represented a Singapore-based private investment company on its acquisition of coal mines in Indonesia.

Bono Adji is an active partner in the firm's M&A department, and is also experienced in capital markets work.

Melli Darsa is the head of the M&A department. In addition to being a first-class capital markets lawyer, she receives praise in the field of M&A for being "very dynamic and knowledgeable." She was the lead partner advising the Haier Group on its acquisition of SANYO Electric's refrigerator and washing machine business in Indonesia, a part of its larger global-wide buyout of SANYO's white goods businesses. The matter was valued at approximately USD28 million.

Linda Widyati is the joint head of the M&A practice, and is thought of as "a stellar lawyer" with great commercial sense. She was recently lead partner advising IFC on an investment into Medco Power, which will be used to finance Medco Power's expansion.

Robert Reid is considered to be a very dedicated lawyer, and "a major pillar of support for his firm." He has a great deal of experience in the mining sector and counts BHP Billiton as one of his clients.

Retno Muljosantoso is well respected for her work in this field, and continues to advise IBM on its operations in Indonesia.

Harun Reksodiputro is one of the firm's top corporate lawyers, and is known for being very responsive and quick to reply to clients' questions. He was lead partner representing Bunge in the acquisition of a significant minority stake in Bumiraya Investindo, a deal valued at USD42 million.

Sugianto Osman is a valued recent arrival to the firm. He has years of experience in the M&A field, and is noted for being able to "take the commercial aspects of negotiations into account, not just the legal and technical aspects."

Arief Surowidjojo is a very high-profile corporate lawyer, and is praised for the length, breadth and depth of his experience. He was the lead partner advising Astratel Nusantara on its USD100 million acquisition of Marga Hanurata Intrinsic.

Abdul Haris Muhammad Rum is commended for his dedication to clients, with sources enthusing: "He is committed, and will deliver results." He recently took the lead on advising Standard Chartered Private Equity on its USD53 million acquisition of Trikomsel.

Richard Cornwallis has a great deal of knowledge regarding Indonesian law. He is respected by peers, one of whom said: "If I were hiring a lawyer for my personal business, I'd hire him."

Yozua Makes is the head of the corporate department, and is prized for his deep experience of this sector: "He wrote the book on Indonesian M&A." He led the team advising Bank Danamon Indonesia on its USD6 billion acquisition by DBS Holdings, a large Singaporean bank, and played the same role in assisting Austindo Nusantara Jaya with its acquisition by Mitra Pinasthika Mustika.

Iwan Setiawan works closely with Yozua Makes in the M&A field, recently as part of the team representing BFI Finance Indonesia in its acquisition of a stake in Trinugraha Capital & Co. He also has experience of working in the capital markets area.

Atik Susanto recently joined the firm from Susanto & Partners. He is a highly regarded practitioner in the corporate sphere, and he is particularly experienced in the handling of acquisitions and investments for mining companies. He was lead partner on J&P Partners' USD200 million acquisition of Avocet Mining's gold mining assets in South-East Asia, including mines in Indonesia and Malaysia.

Fellow co-head Noor Meurling has a great deal of experience in M&A work, and worked in Singapore prior to coming to Indonesia. She is joint lead partner advising GMG Global on its acquisition of multiple plantation assets in Indonesia, and is also representing Howden Broking Group in its acquisition of a majority interest in Accette Broker Asuransi.

Senior partner Widyawan and senior foreign legal adviser David Holme are key points of contact at the firm. Widyawan recently advised Medco Energi Internasional on the tendering and procurement of engineering, procurement, construction and installation contracts for gas production facilities to be conducted by Medco E&P Malaka.