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Indonesia
Why consider us?
With our long-standing experience in Indonesia, our strength is in advising you whether you are looking to invest in Indonesia, or if you are based in Indonesia and looking to invest globally. While our firm does not maintain a physical presence in Indonesia, our multi-disciplined and multi-jurisdictional team is well equipped to advise you on the structuring of your investments via financial centres like Singapore and Hong Kong to ensure both economic and tax efficiency.To meet the needs of our clients on the ground in Indonesia, we offer a full suite of legal services through our association with KARNA Partnership, a dynamic and multi-service law firm based in Indonesia. This brings a wealth of local expertise and knowledge that complements our international reach.
We can offer clarity on the nuances of Indonesian regulations, operating environment, economic programmes and tax policies, in addition to being proficient in Bahasa Indonesia. With our global network, you can depend on a deep bench of expertise in transactional matters and practical on-the-ground knowledge and experience when you work with us.
Association with KARNA Partnership
In a significant move to further enhance our offering, Withers' association with KARNA Partnership, a dynamic multi-service law firm based in Indonesia, has brought additional depth of local expertise and knowledge.
The association bolsters our capacity to deliver comprehensive legal advice, both within Indonesia and internationally. As associated firms, Withers and KARNA Partnership work closely to expand the range of cross-border advice available to our respective clients by sharing knowledge and expertise, collaborating on marketing efforts, making mutual referrals and developing joint training programmes.
How can we help?
Foreign investments into Indonesia
Working with local partners, we can provide effective legal solutions to ownership structure and help you navigate foreign direct investment regulations. Our tax specialists can guide you towards arriving at an optimum tax structure both from the point of view of the jurisdiction of investment and the jurisdiction of remittance.
Outbound Indonesian investments
We can advise on mergers and acquisitions, private equity investments, leveraged buyouts, joint ventures and other corporate transactions. With offices across 16 countries, including all major financial centres including Singapore, Hong Kong, London and New York, we have considerable experience to guide you through the complex negotiations necessary to complete a cross-border merger, acquisition or disposal, whether you are an institutional investor or a leading Indonesian group.
Private client and tax
As the largest international private client practice in the world, we can help you with estate planning. This includes advising on wills, trusts, family governance/constitution and family/shareholders’ agreements. We can also assist you in establishing family offices, private trust companies, family charities and foundations.With offices across Asia-Pacific, Europe and the United States, you will benefit from coverage that other law firms in this area cannot match. We can help you achieve success, as our clients have in various fields. They range from senior executives to multi-generational families, to owners, managers and investors in private capital, as well as some of the world’s wealthiest people. We have advised 70% of the UK Sunday Times Rich List, 35% of the UK Sunday Times Top Philanthropists, 25% of Forbes 400 List of the Wealthiest Americans, 52% of the Singapore Forbes Rich List, 35% of the Hong Kong Forbes Rich List and 35% of the Asia Forbes Richest Families List.
Immigration
We can help you with immigration issues such as acquiring citizenship or residence in key jurisdictions including Singapore, Hong Kong, US, UK, Italy as well as second passports via citizenship by investment programmes. Our experience in this area includes assisting successful entrepreneurs, high net worth individuals (HNWIs), and family offices.
Dispute resolution
By combining local and international litigation expertise with strategic and commercial advice, our strength is in helping you to achieve the best outcome. Our experience extends to almost all areas almost all areas of litigation, including asset recovery, company disputes, contract disputes, energy, insurance, fiduciary, professional negligence, health and safety, restructuring and insolvency.We will work hand in hand with you anywhere in the world to resolve international arbitration matters, including major commercial and investor-state disputes across a wide range of sectors.
Financial services regulations
From setting up an investment fund or a digital bank; to navigating the regulatory complexities of the payments system, we can scope out the extent to which regulations apply to your business and guide you through exemptions from regulation. You can also depend on us to assist you in applying for appropriate approvals from regulators.Our considerable experience allows us to ensure that you are in compliance with regulations in different jurisdictions. This includes the UK Financial Conduct Authority, Monetary Authority of Singapore, Securities & Futures Commission of Hong Kong, the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission and the Indonesia Financial Services Authority (OJK).
Projects
We can advise you from the early stages of project structuring, on risk allocation between different counterparts, bidding procedures and concession agreements, as well as on project bankability and security arrangements. You can also count on us to recommend optimal ways to manage and resolve complex disputes, including with states and regulators, to make sure that your interests are protected. You will benefit from our extensive experience in advising some of the world’s largest energy companies, governments and shareholders on acquisitions, contracts and disputes.
Financing
From borrowing to lending, we can advise you on the entire spectrum of financing needs. You can expect up-to-date knowledge on acquisition finance, Islamic finance (Sharia-compliant investments and issuing of Sukuks), general bank lending (syndicated lending, structured and leveraged finance) and project financing for infrastructure and industrial projects. Should you decide to consider refinancing, we can also assist you in the refinancing and restructuring of existing loans.
Restructuring, refinancing and workouts
Whether you are a director or part of a leadership team, we can work closely with you and your team to preserve value in your organisation and where possible return operations to health and success through restructuring, refinancing and workouts. With over 150 disputes specialists globally across 17 offices, we are well-placed to help where your restructuring has assets held cross-border.
Capital Markets
With multinational teams across the world, we can guide and advise you on seeking IPOs and other fund raising activities in Singapore, Hong Kong, New York, London and other European stock exchanges. On offerings with a US element, you will benefit from our extensive knowledge of Regulation S offshore offerings and exempt offerings into the US under Rule 144A.
Intellectual Property
We can help you through every stage of the development and life cycle of rights such as patents, copyright, trademarks and database and design rights – from creation to enforcement. Our strength is in helping you to protect and commercialize your intellectual property, and helping you to implement tax-efficient licensing and exploitation strategies.
Recognition
Track record
Chocolate confectionary manufacturer in Indonesia
We advised Delfi Limited, a well-known manufacturer of chocolate confectionery products in Indonesia, on the co-branding of their products with Walt Disney characters and the protection of their intellectual property in the co-branding campaign.
Coal-fired power plant in Bali
We acted for PT General Energy Bali, the owner of a coal-fired power plant situated in Bali, as the lead counsel throughout an entire project; and advised an Indonesian company on a joint venture coal-fired power plant project in Indonesia, including project financing.
Dispute over power plants in Indonesia
Successfully represented an Indonesian energy and infrastructure company in an International Chamber of Commerce emergency arbitration to preserve client's multimillion dollar funds in a dispute over power plants in Indonesia.
Lead investor in Indonesian state-owned e-wallet operator
We advised Grab as a lead investor in the US$100 million Series B investment in LinkAja, an Indonesian state-owned e-wallet operator. This was the first investment by a private enterprise into LinkAja, and one of the very rare instances of private investment into Indonesian state-owned enterprises generally. This is also a landmark transaction for Grab and an important part of its efforts to consolidate its position in the Indonesian e-wallet /digital payments space.
Power plant in Bali, Indonesia
We acted for PT PLTG Celukan Bawang, owner of a power plant project located in Bali, Indonesia, as the lead counsel on its joint venture and cooperation with Chinese conglomerate Shanghai Electric Group Co. Ltd, in developing, building and owning a gas-fired power plant in Indonesia valued over US$1.3 billion. These are key projects along Indonesia’s Comprehensive Economic Corridor within the Belt and Road Initiative.
PT Atlas Resources Tbk
We also advised PT Atlas Resources Tbk on the company's non-domestic matters since its inception, from initial fundraising to IPO, and ongoing acquisitions, disposals and financing matters.
Resources Global Development Limited's IPO
We acted for leading Indonesian coal trading business and coal shipping company, Resources Global Development Limited, in its successful initial public offering on the Catalist Board of the Singapore Exchange, which is coincidentally also Singapore’s first IPO of 2020.
Shrimp producer group listed on the IDX
We acted for Blue Ocean Resources Pte Ltd, a subsidiary of PT Central Proteina Prima Tbk, a vertically integrated shrimp producer group listed on the IDX, in a successful application to the Singapore High Court to sanction the restructuring of bonds of an aggregate principal amount of US$325 million by way of a scheme of arrangement.
Winzo Unza Group
We acted for the Wipro Unza Group in a series of trademark oppositions in the Southeast Asia region.
PT Artajasa Pembayaran Elektronis
Acted for a consortium of bidders in their competitive tender for a collective controlling interest in PT Artajasa Pembayaran Elektronis. This deal is significant as PT Artajasa Pembayaran Elektronis is one of only four licensed inter-bank switching companies in Indonesia and this client's acquisition of PT Artajasa Pembayaran Elektronis is part of the Indonesian government's wider reform of the digital payments sector in Indonesia.
Chocolate confectionary manufacturer in Indonesia
We advised Delfi Limited, a well-known manufacturer of chocolate confectionery products in Indonesia, on the co-branding of their products with Walt Disney characters and the protection of their intellectual property in the co-branding campaign.
Coal-fired power plant in Bali
We acted for PT General Energy Bali, the owner of a coal-fired power plant situated in Bali, as the lead counsel throughout an entire project; and advised an Indonesian company on a joint venture coal-fired power plant project in Indonesia, including project financing.
Dispute over power plants in Indonesia
Successfully represented an Indonesian energy and infrastructure company in an International Chamber of Commerce emergency arbitration to preserve client's multimillion dollar funds in a dispute over power plants in Indonesia.
Lead investor in Indonesian state-owned e-wallet operator
We advised Grab as a lead investor in the US$100 million Series B investment in LinkAja, an Indonesian state-owned e-wallet operator. This was the first investment by a private enterprise into LinkAja, and one of the very rare instances of private investment into Indonesian state-owned enterprises generally. This is also a landmark transaction for Grab and an important part of its efforts to consolidate its position in the Indonesian e-wallet /digital payments space.
Power plant in Bali, Indonesia
We acted for PT PLTG Celukan Bawang, owner of a power plant project located in Bali, Indonesia, as the lead counsel on its joint venture and cooperation with Chinese conglomerate Shanghai Electric Group Co. Ltd, in developing, building and owning a gas-fired power plant in Indonesia valued over US$1.3 billion. These are key projects along Indonesia’s Comprehensive Economic Corridor within the Belt and Road Initiative.
PT Atlas Resources Tbk
We also advised PT Atlas Resources Tbk on the company's non-domestic matters since its inception, from initial fundraising to IPO, and ongoing acquisitions, disposals and financing matters.
Resources Global Development Limited's IPO
We acted for leading Indonesian coal trading business and coal shipping company, Resources Global Development Limited, in its successful initial public offering on the Catalist Board of the Singapore Exchange, which is coincidentally also Singapore’s first IPO of 2020.
Shrimp producer group listed on the IDX
We acted for Blue Ocean Resources Pte Ltd, a subsidiary of PT Central Proteina Prima Tbk, a vertically integrated shrimp producer group listed on the IDX, in a successful application to the Singapore High Court to sanction the restructuring of bonds of an aggregate principal amount of US$325 million by way of a scheme of arrangement.
Winzo Unza Group
We acted for the Wipro Unza Group in a series of trademark oppositions in the Southeast Asia region.
Experience
Whatever you have inherited, and wherever it is in the world, our leading team of lawyers can help you to protect the value of the asset, manage the tax implications and resolving any disputes.
FoundersFrom advising on tax or global expansion, helping company founders realise their vision is an important aspect of our work.
With complex interests that often span several jurisdictions, highly successful people need seamless advice. With a full-service offering across our offices around the world, we provide just that.
Leaders and senior executivesWe help business leaders to manage their responsibilities at work and home – from advising on employment contracts and regulatory matters, to dealing with tax, wills and prenuptial agreements.
As a private company, you need reliable, efficient service. As the only global law firm focused on private capital, we are here to help you protect your interests at every stage of the lifecycle.
Public companiesPublicly traded companies face many challenges. As a full-service, truly international law firm we offer support with day-to-day operations as well as advice on exceptional situations.
Our team
Joel Shen
Partner | Singapore
Guan Feng Chen
Consultant | Singapore
Chenthil Kumarasingam
Partner | Singapore
Daniel Yong
Partner | Singapore
Shaun Leong
Partner | Singapore
Stacy Choong
Partner | Singapore
Insight
Get in touch
Our website will give you a flavour of the advice we provide - if you would like to talk to us for more information, please contact our client services team who will be happy to assist.