Ahmad Irfan Arifin
Partner
Dispute Resolution Practice Group
Ahmad Irfan Arifin is a seasoned trial and arbitration lawyer who brings 20 years of experience in assisting and representing clients before Indonesian courts, domestic and international arbitration. He graduated from the Faculty of Law of Catholic University of Parahyangan, Bandung and obtained his master degree from the Boalt Hall School of Law, University of California at Berkeley where he received an award for best advocacy in legal research and writing. During that time he also worked as a counsel in an international law firm based in San Francisco.
Ahmad Irfan Arifin specializes in commercial disputes, criminal and administrative litigations arising across a range of sectors, including infrastructure and construction, natural resources, technology, telecommunication, trade and manufacturing. He has vast experience in advising and representing clients before arbitration conducted in Jakarta, Singapore, Hong Kong, Paris, London and Houston under the rules of key arbitral institutions including the ICC, SIAC, HKIAC, LCIA, BANI, ICSID and UNCITRAL Rules.
Over the years, he has been known as a leading lawyer in managing many high-profile cases involving international corporations, most notably in defending a Japanese major contractor in a joint venture and construction related disputes worth US$1.4 billion, which is recorded as one of the biggest civil claims to have ever brought against a Japanese investor before the Indonesian courts.
Throughout his career, Ahmad Irfan Arifin has obtained a number of achievements due to his high quality of work and professionalism in providing legal services in dispute resolution work areas. These achievements include being a winner of the Client Choice Award 2019 for Litigation Category by Lexology, a leading legal publication based in London.
Ahmad Irfan Arifin has been frequently invited as a panellist in international legal seminars and conferences held in Jakarta, Singapore, Kuala Lumpur, Tokyo and London. Since 2019 Ahmad Irfan Arifin has also been entrusted as an Expert Panel in one of the most prestigious international legal publications based in London, The Dispute Resolution Review.
The following are samples of his works and major representations:
Commercial Arbitration and Litigation
1. A global pharma company based in Switzerland in a successful representation against its Indonesian Distributor before the Singapore International Arbitration Centre (2019-2022).
2. A global pharma company based in London in a dispute against an Indonesian distributor brought before the Singapore International Arbitration Centre including its successful efforts in obtaining anti-suit injunction issued by the Singapore High Court (2016).
3. A subsidiary of an Indonesian biggest coal conglomerate in its successful representation against its contractor
4. An Australian based EPC contractor in an arbitration claim arising out of a construction of an Indonesian manufacturing plant owned by a Swiss multinational food and drink processing conglomerate corporation before Badan Arbitrase Nasional Indonesia (BANI).
5. A London based mining company, in several shareholders disputes against an Indonesian conglomeration before the London Court of International Arbitration (LCIA).
6. A major Indonesian mining company in its successful defence on an arbitration worth USD 55 million brought by an Indonesian State-Owned Company before Badan Arbitrase Nasional Indonesia (BANI).
7. A major international coal trader in an arbitration worth USD 35 million brought before BANI Arbitration against an Indonesian coal company.
8. A US based production sharing contractor in its successful defence against an arbitration claim worth USD 85 million brought before the Singapore International Arbitration Centre.
9. The biggest Indonesian biggest mining company, (a state-owned company), as the plaintiff in 4 (four) proceedings before the Kendari State Administrative Court with regard to the overlapping mining permits issued by the North Konawe Regent.
10. A major US oil and gas company in an arbitration brought before the Hong Kong International Arbitration Centre (HKIAC) against an Indonesian shipper under a Gas Transportation Agreement.
11. A Japanese International construction company, in a series of lawsuits worth USD 1.4 billion by its former Indonesian partner on the dispute arising out of the MRT project of Jakarta (2013-2018).
12. A Japanese-Indonesian Joint Operation Body with regard to a construction claim of USD 65 million filed against an Indonesian employer at BANI.
13. A Japanese international construction company in its successful defence in an annulment proceedings against an arbitration award brought by an Indonesian government before the South Jakarta District Court.
Criminal Investigation and Litigation
1. A Japanese international construction company in an investigation related to fraud and forgery of writings allegation before the Jakarta Regional Police Office.
2. A Japanese international property company in an investigation on the alleged violation of Consumer Protection Law before the Jakarta Regional Police Office).
3. An international pharmaceutical company based in Switzerland on the alleged violation of Information and Electronic Transaction Law before the Jakarta Regional Police Office.
4. A Japanese international steel producer/manufacturer on the alleged violation of SNI certification before Banten Regional Police Office.
5. The Jakarta Post on the allegation of blasphemy over an editorial caricature before the Jakarta Regional Police Office (Polda Metro Jaya).
6. A US production sharing contractor in an investigation brought by the Indonesian Police HQ on the licensing issues over its gas stations across West Java Province.
7. A UK production sharing contractor in an investigation brought by the Indonesian Police HQ on the licensing issues over oil spills incident took place in Timor Sea.
8. A Japanese International shipping company over a ship arrest issue took place in a Malacca Straits.
