As an affiliate of UK firm Herbert Smith, Hiswara Bunjamin & Tandjung (HBT) possesses a team filled with quality and depth which can draw upon international experience. "Clients go to Hiswara Bunjamin & Tandjung for their dedication as they will find a solution," says a rival partner....
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As an affiliate of UK firm Herbert Smith, Hiswara Bunjamin & Tandjung (HBT) possesses a team filled with quality and depth which can draw upon international experience. "Clients go to Hiswara Bunjamin & Tandjung for their dedication as they will find a solution," says a rival partner.
Leading the team is partner Tjahjadi Bunjamin, praised by peers as a "leading practitioner that takes charge of the team". Another highly regarded partner is Iril Hiswara, described as "very knowledgeable and fundamentally sound".
One of the highlights for the team this year was advising Cargill on its acquisition of a majority shareholding in Indonesian sorbitol, sweetener and starch producer, PT Sorini Agro Asia Corporindo.
Peers and clients believe HBT stands out from other law firms because of the two highly regarded foreign counsels in David Dawborn and Brian Scott. "David Dawborn, his ability as a legal professional and particularly as he is a foreign legal counsel is very good. His understanding about Indonesian law and its intricacies are very helpful in assessing current situation and the anticipated risks," comments a client.
"I certainly think Brian Scott takes a very commercial approach and advice is practical and useful," says another, "if it's a large M&A type transaction, I would go with Hiswara, part of it is because Brian Scott works closely with London and Singapore, he knows how UK entities work with his international experience."
Another notable transaction was advising Banpu, Thailand's largest coal miner on the US, UK, Singapore and Indonesian law aspects of a block trade on the Indonesian stock exchange. This transaction contained a $400 million 8.7% stake in its listed Indonesian subsidiary, PT Indo Tambangraya Megah (ITMG).
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Hiswara Bunjamin & Tandjung headed by partner Tjahjadi Bunjamin is recognised as one of the pre-eminent Indonesian firms for foreign lenders and creditors in financing and debt restructurings. Foreign counsel David Dawborn is active in this area for key clients such as Goldman Sachs, UBS, Deutsche Bank and Morgan Stanley....
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Hiswara Bunjamin & Tandjung headed by partner Tjahjadi Bunjamin is recognised as one of the pre-eminent Indonesian firms for foreign lenders and creditors in financing and debt restructurings. Foreign counsel David Dawborn is active in this area for key clients such as Goldman Sachs, UBS, Deutsche Bank and Morgan Stanley.
Praised by one client for being a "technically strong with good knowledge of Indonesian issues", the team separates itself from the competition because of the two above mentioned individuals.
"Tjahjadi Bunjamin is the partner we entrust for our transactions. He is commercially pragmatic and delivers prompt and sound advice", says a client. A rival law firm partner even went as far in commenting that "he's the go-to lawyer on international work in Indonesia".
"Dawborn is a key individual who has the advantage of having both the international perspective and also local knowledge. He is well respected within the industry," says a senior partner in a rival law firm.
A highlight for the firm this year was advising Industrial and Commercial Bank of China (ICBC), Industrial and Commercial Bank of China (Asia) and PT Bank ICBC Indonesia (ICBC Indonesia) on the ground-breaking Rmb2 billion ($310 million) offshore Sinosure-covered export financing framework arrangement provided to PT Bakrie Telecom (Bakrie).
This transaction involved the first commercial Renminbi loan provided to a company outside of China and marks an important milestone in the internationalisation of the yuan. The proceeds of the facility will be used by Bakrie to finance the purchasing of telecoms equipment from Huawei Technology. ICBC is one of China's 'Big Four' state-owned banks and the largest bank in the world by market capitalisation.
Another notable highlight was advising Credit Suisse on a $1.3 billion facility to Long Haul Holdings and PT Bakrie & Brothers in connection with a share swap transaction between Long Haul Holdings and PT Bakrie & Brothers.
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