Benchmark Litigation Asia Pacific (2024)

Assegaf Hamzah & Partners (Indonesia)

Commercial and Transactions – Tier 1
Insolvency – Tier 1
Intellectual Property – Tier 2
Labor and Employment – Tier 1

Leading Lawyers:
Ahmad Maulana, Litigation Star (Commercial and transactions, Labor and employment)
Asep Ridwan, Litigation Star (Commercial and transactions)
Chandra Hamzah, Litigation Star (Commercial and transactions)
Eri Hertiawan, Litigation Star (Commercial and transactions)
Yogi Marsono, Litigation Star (Commercial and transactions)
Simon Barrie Sasmoyo, Future Star ( Commercial and transactions)

Analysis:
Assegaf Hamzah & Partners continues to dominate with the largest corporate litigation team in the country and maintains its market-leading presence in dispute resolution. This year, the firm climbs into the top tier for its contentious labour expertise and moves up one rank for its IP litigation strength. Its partners not only regularly feature in landmark home-grown matters but also in unique cross-border work. For example, it is the only Indonesian law firm whose advocates have appeared before the Court of Arbitration for Sport in Switzerland, where it successfully represented the Indonesian Sporthouse Society against the Indonesian Olympic Committee. The firm is part of the Rajah & Tann Asia network.

The disputes team is experienced in both civil and criminal cases across all industry sectors, and has a successful alternative dispute resolution practice. In particular, the firm specialises in aviation, labour and employment, intellectual property, insolvency, and tax and customs disputes.

The firm boasts nationally and internationally qualified mediators and arbitrators, making its alternative dispute resolution offering a go-to for top-end clients. Notably, the firm has an established fraud and forensics investigations practice.

The firm’s co-founder, Chandra Hamzah, and partner Eri Hertiawan co-lead the disputes group. Other key individuals are partners Yogi Sudrajat Marsono, Asep Ridwan and employment expert Ahmad Maulana.
The firm successfully defended Tokopedia in a civil lawsuit regarding data privacy and consumer protection before the District Court and is currently waiting for a decision from the Appeal Court. The team is representing Antam in a case challenging its special mining licence for the exploration of an area in north Bahodopi. It’s also busy defending Indonesia AirAsia Extra against a civil claim brought by four customers. The team continues to work with Garuda Indonesia on its debt and business restructuring, as well as on its lawsuit against Rolls Royce and its subsidiary over the cancellation of a total care agreement valued at $43 million.

On the antitrust front, the firm is representing Salam Pacific Indonesia Lines before the Supreme Court in a defence against the KPPU’s decision on price fixing. Maulana and his team are acting for an investment management company in an ongoing dispute with its ex-director.

Client feedback
“They handled everything professionally, from preparation of response, demurrer and cross-examination to the post-hearing brief.” – Commercial and transactions

Simon Barrie Sasmoyo
“He handled the team and the preparation of the submission professionally and knowledgeably.”

 Christopher & Lee Ong (Malaysia)

Commercial & Transactions - Tier 3
Competition/Antitrust - Recommended
Construction - Tier 3
Intellectual Property - Tier 2
Labor and Employment - Tier 3
Shipping - Highly Recommended

Leading Lawyers:
John Mathew, Litigation Star (Commercial and transactions)

Analysis:
Best known for its competition and shipping expertise, Christopher & Lee Ong also delivers a consistent and respected dispute resolution offering across all major corporate and commercial practice areas and industries. The sizeable team sits at 13 partners with specialties in banking litigation, corporate commercial disputes, construction disputes and adjudication, employment conflicts, shipping disputes and contentious insolvency matters.

The firm enjoys strong relationships with the country’s regulators and is part of the Rajah & Tann network.

Key contacts for disputes related work are commercial litigation partner John Mathew and intellectual property specialist Sri Sarguna Raj.

In commercial and transactions, the firm is representing FGV Prodata Systems (Prodata), a subsidiary of FGV Holdings, in defending a suit initiated by VDSL Technology for breach of contract arising from the Felda Broadband Initiative Project. The firm has filed in the defence of Prodata in resisting the purported claim of VDSL and contended that there was no concluded contract between VDSL and Prodata in respect of the implementation of the project. Another commercial dispute sees the firm acting for the Siemens entities in respect of a claim filed in the Kuala Lumpur High Court by Bank Kerjasama Rakyat Malaysia.

The firm’s recent client roster includes CIMB Bank, Kuwait Finance House, Malayan Banking and PAE National Security Solutions.

Gatmaytan Yap Patacsil Gutierrez & Protacio (C&G Law) (Philippines)

Commercial & Transactions - Tier 2
Government and Regulatory - Other Notable Firms
International Arbitration - Recommended
Labor and Employment - Tier 2
Tax - Other Notable Firms
Leading Lawyers:
Anthony Mark Gutierrez, Litigation Star (Commercial and transactions, Tax)
Ben Dominic Yap, Litigation Star (Commercial and transactions, International arbitration)

Analysis:
Gatmaytan Yap Patacsil Gutierrez & Protacio (C&G Law) – a member firm of Rajah & Tann Asia – has a strong domestic and international arbitration practice. The firm’s litigation experience covers a diverse range of subjects, such as contractual disputes, product liability, tax and enforcement of foreign judgments and arbitral awards.

Ben Dominic Yap, managing partner of the firm, specialises in litigation and arbitration with expertise in corporate and energy matters. Other key contacts include Jesus Paolo Protacio – a specialist in civil and commercial litigation as well as labour, criminal and general disputes – and tax specialist Anthony Mark Gutierrez.

In an ongoing commercial dispute, the firm is representing Giga Ace 4 in a lawsuit to recover a substantial sum of more than PHP228 million ($4 million) under an insurance policy. This case holds significant importance due to the substantial claim amount and the involvement of entities from two of the Philippines' largest conglomerates, with Giga Ace 4 being part of the Ayala Group of Companies and Malayan being part of the YuchengcoGroup of Companies.

Aice Brands Ice Cream Philippines, Metro Rail Transit Corporation, Standard Chartered Bank, STEAG State Power and TeaM Energy Corporation worked with the firm in the past 12 months.

Client feedback
"Delivers excellent drafting of documents such as pleadings, letters, contracts, etc, along with exceptional legal advice." – Energy

"Communicates clearly and efficiently." – Labour and employment

"Effectively manages litigation within budget while demonstrating exceptional commercial and legal acumen." – Labour and employment

Vladi Miguel Lazaro
“He is well versed on the subject-matter of our industry (energy sector), he is very articulate, and he explains complex matters very well. He pays attention to details, meets even very tight deadlines and is very accessible.”
“He is very knowledgeable and commercially minded.”

Rajah & Tann Singapore LLP (Singapore)

Commercial & Transactions - Tier 1
Construction – Tier 1
Family & Matrimonial - Tier 2
Insolvency - Tier 1
Intellectual Property - Tier 2
International Arbitration (Domestic) - Tier 1
Labor and Employment - Tier 1
Private Client - Highly Recommended
Shipping - Tier 1
White Collar Crime - Highly Recommended

Leading Lawyers:
Adrian Wong, Litigation Star (International arbitration, Commercial and transactions)
Andre Yeap, Litigation Star (International arbitration, Commercial and transactions)
Avinash Pradhan, Future Star
Chua Beng Chye, Litigation Star (Insolvency)
Chee Siong Sim, Litigation Star (Construction)
Elaine Tay, Litigation Star (Insurance)
Francis Xavier, Litigation Star (International arbitration, Commercial and transactions)
Hamidul Haq, Litigation Star (White collar crime)
Jainil Bhandari, Litigation Star (Shipping)
Jansen Chow, Future Star
Jonathan Yuen, Litigation Star (Labor and employment)
Kee Lay Lian, Litigation Star, Top 100 Women in Litigation (Private client, Family and matrimonial)
Kelvin Poon, Litigation Star (International Arbitration)
Kendall Tan, Litigation Star (Shipping)
Lau Kok Keng, Litigation Star (Intellectual property)
Lee Eng Beng, Litigation Star (Commercial and transactions, Insolvency)
Leong Kah Wah, Litigation Star (Shipping)
Murali Pillai, Litigation Star (Labor and employment)
Ng Kim Beng, Litigation Star (Construction)
Patrick Ang, Litigation Star (Commercial and transactions, Insolvency)
Sheila Ng, Future Star (Insolvency)
Sim Kwan Kiat, Litigation Star (Insolvency)
Simon Goh, Litigation Star (Insurance)
Soh Lip San, Litigation Star (Construction, Dispute resolution)
Sheng Rong Tng, Future Star
Thong Chee Kun, Litigation Star (White Collar Crime)
Toh Kian Sing, Litigation Star (Shipping)
Vikna Rajah, Litigation Star (Private client)
Vikram Nair, Litigation Star (International Arbitration)
Winston Kwek, Litigation Star (Shipping)

Analysis:
Rajah & Tann is a full-service firm with roots in dispute resolution. The firm enjoys a reputation for litigation and has the largest practice in Singapore and Southeast Asia. It is a go-to choice for many clients in complex, cross-border disputes. The firm has the highest number of senior counsels, with a total of eight in Singapore, which gives it the strongest advocacy power in the region. The court hearing statistics alone reflect the strength the firm has in the market, with the highest number of hearings in 2022, at 462 cases – a significant lead on the closest competitor. The team has also secured the highest number of SICC judgments, as of November 2023, with more than a third of the total. The firm has an excellent track record of securing landmark decisions and victories for its clients across a wide range of practice areas. Market watchers commend the firm’s expertise, particularly in sectors such as energy, financial services, shipping and construction.

Among the firm’s leading lawyers are key senior counsels Eng Beng Lee, Chuan Thye Tan, Andre Yeap, Gregory Vijayendran, Murali Pillai, and Francis Xavier, and partners Adrian Wong, Mark Cheng, Vikram Nair, Kelvin Poon, Patrick Ang, and Chuan Thye Tan, who are known for their work in commercial disputes. Insolvency, international arbitration and shipping specialist Kian Sing Toh is another notable figure, alongside IP-focused Kok Keng Lau, construction experts Chee Siong Sim and Lip San Soh, private client co-head Chandra Mohan, employment specialist Qinghui Luo and white-collar crime expert Hamidul Haq.

The Rajah & Tann team is acting for White Energy Company in the assessment of damages related to a nearly $1 billion coal dispute against PT Bayan for breaching joint venture obligations before the SICC.

Rajah & Tann has a strong regional footprint that makes it adept at multi-jurisdictional dispute resolution, with strategic firm alliances across Southeast Asia that allow it to appear in local courts in China, Laos, Vietnam, Thailand, Malaysia, Indonesia, the Philippines, Cambodia and Myanmar.

Client feedback
“Services are great. Planning and strategies are well thought through.”– Banking and financial services

“The team is competent and responsive. The lead lawyer is commercially savvy and offers practical solutions to issues.” – Bankruptcy

“Technically sound, coupled with practical commercial advice.” – Commercial and transactions

“Problem-solving, legal expertise, thinking outside of the box.” – Commercial and transactions

“Strategy; responsiveness; value for money.” – Energy

“Efficient service and prompt action and good advice.” – Family and matrimonial

“Experienced, practical advice.” – Intellectual property

“The firm is very responsive. The analysis was very thorough. They have good case management skills, and their practice is very sophisticated.” – International arbitration

“They provide good legal services to their clients in dispute resolution.” – International arbitration

“Excellent access to partners, clarity of advice, cross-jurisdictional network, speed and quality of turnaround.” – Shipping

“They represent their clients in arbitration with in-depth analysis of their client’s case and efficient handling of the dispute.” – Shipping

“They provide legal documents as well as advice to process the negotiation with the opponents.” – Shipping

Patrick Ang
“Commercially savvy and offers practical solutions to issues.”

Chua Beng Chye
“Good listener, positive and good at providing construction solutions in his area of expertise.”
“Good strategic thinker, very dedicated and very professional.”

Jainil Bhandari
“Jainil has developed a very strong relationship with our company since we started working with him three years ago. He is always accessible and provides astute, clear and legally strong advice in a commercial way.”
“He is industrious, careful and efficient.”
“He provides good legal submissions.”

Jansen Chow
“Prompt responses, quick reaction, creative solutions, deep knowledge.”

Kok Keng Lau
“Very sound, and his area of specialisation fits our company’s needs well.”

Kee Lay Lian
“She is a responsible, passionate and patient lawyer who listens to understand what you require. She is also a knowledgeable lawyer who understands and does her work well.”

Kelvin Poon
“Kelvin was a solid team leader, and he had a very strong team under him, led by David Tan. Kelvin knew when to delegate but stayed informed and on top of the case.”

Adrian Wong
“Technically excellent, practical advice, smart, friendly and quick.”

Andre Yeap
“Andre is an experienced lawyer. He listened to us and provided an effective strategy that landed us a favourable result.”

R&T Asia (Thailand) Limited

Commercial & Transactions - Tier 2
Government and regulatory – Tier 2
Intellectual property – Tier 3
Labor and employment - Tier 2
Trade and customs - Tier 1

Leading Lawyers:
Krida Phoonwathu, Litigation Star (Commercial and transactions)
Supawat Srirungruang, Litigation Star (Trade and customs)
Surasak Vajasit, Litigation Star (Commercial and transactions)

Rajah & Tann LCT Lawyers (Vietnam)

Commercial & Transactions - Tier 2
Energy and construction - Tier 1
Intellectual Property - Tier 2
International Arbitration – Highly Recommended
Labor and employment - Recommended

Leading Lawyer:
Chau Huy Quang, Litigation Star (Commercial and transactions, Construction)
Logan Leung, Litigation Star (International arbitration)
Vu An Khoa Quach, Future Star (Commercial and transactions)