ALB Asia Super 50 TMT 2024
ABOUT
In its fourth edition of the Asia Super 50 TMT Lawyers list, ALB showcases the top lawyers in the region’s fast-growing technology, media, and telecommunications practices. Recognised for their achievements by clients, the list is presented in alphabetical order, with select lawyers profiled in further detail.
METHODOLOGY
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Lawyers were selected based on feedback provided by clients sent directly to Asian Legal Business during December 2023 and January 2024; During evaluation, the work of nominated lawyers and the commercial standing of the clients’ making recommendations were taken into account; The list was compiled based on recommendations from over 400in-house counsels across 11 jurisdictions in Asia and overseas. |
THE LIST
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Naufal Fileindi
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Naufal Fileindi is the head of the digital technology, personal data and privacy, media, and intellectual property practice groups at GHP Law Firm. With a talent for creative legal writing and advocacy, he promotes a wider understanding of the law among the public. Fileindi represents leading global and multinational corporations on issues relating to e-commerce, technology, media, data protection, and privacy. His work includes advisory support and representation on corporate restructuring and transactions. One notable example is Fileindi, who served as lead attorney for a data protection and privacy consultancy for Xiaomi Indonesia and Efishery, a leading Indonesian aquaculture company. The consultancy involved assessing and auditing the companies’ compliance with Indonesia’s Personal Data Protection Law. This provided valuable guidance to help strengthen their processes and privacy practices. Additionally, Fileindi assisted Warner Music Indonesia, a major music company, in reviewing its commercial contracts catalogue. He helped identify gaps to ensure contracts remain applicable amid Indonesia’s evolving music industry landscape. Fileindi believes tech lawyers, especially in Indonesia, must have strong industry know-how and grasp the interplay between relevant laws and regulations. His goal is to provide clients with legal and commercial certainty. One client remarks, “Fileindi is very responsive, flexible, and commercially knowledgeable. These attributes certainly distinguish him in the Indonesian market, while also placing him among a select roster of regional TMT lawyers trusted for international client work.” Another adds, “He is pragmatic, responsive, and highly approachable. As a subject matter expert with excellent communication skills, Fileindi under-stands his clients and delivers targeted, practical advice.” |
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Rakesh Kirpalani
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Rakesh Kirpalani is a seasoned legal professional renowned for his unique blend of legal acumen, commercial savvy, and technological expertise. Currently serving as the director of dispute resolution and information technology and chief technology officer at Drew & Napier, Kirpalani has spent an impressive 17 years with the firm. Kirpalani is at the helm of Drew & Napier’s information technology practice, where he leverages his deep understanding of technology alongside his background in commercial dispute resolution to offer strategic counsel on risk mitigation and dispute resolution in matters encompassing technology, data, commercial, and employment issues. A proficient trial lawyer, Kirpalani is committed to bridging the gap between legal practitioners, judges, arbitrators, and technologists. He actively advocates for enhanced understanding and collaboration between these disciplines, facilitating smoother navigation of legal issues surrounding technology for cli-ents and simplifying complexities for the judiciary. Beyond his professional endeavours, Kirpalani serves as the honorary legal counsel of Cyber Youth Singa-pore, a pioneering youth-driven movement focused on shaping Singapore’s digital future. Through this role, he actively engages with young technologists, empowering them to contribute to the nation’s digital trajectory and secure its place in the global digital ecosystem. Clients commend Kirpalani for his adept handling of legal and technical complexities, noting, “Working with Rakesh is easy... he understands all the cyber and IT jargon.” Another praises his practical focus: “He is the rock of my legal confidence when faced with legal challenges.” Rakesh’s willingness to delve into clients’ business intricacies earns him acclaim as a trusted advisor. |
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Mika Isac Kriyasa
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Mika Isac Kriyasa, a partner at Dentons HPRP focuses on TMT, fintech, and general corporate law, leveraging extensive expertise to assist with transactions and counsel domestic and international companies. Beyond TMT, he offers deep experience in data privacy, banking and finance, and investments. Notable engagements include Kriyasa providing legal services related to TMT to Bank Indonesia, Bank Mandiri, Bank Negara Indonesia, Bank Syariah Mandiri, and other major Indonesian business players. In addition to domestic clients, Kriyasa also counselled U.S. and Chinese multinational conglomerates on its Indonesia business and provided regulatory advice to a global internet giant expanding from e-commerce to offer cloud computing solutions, regarding its data centre in the country. Dentons HPRP brings unmatched TMT expertise, empowering fintech businesses, supporting compliance with data protection regulations, navigating e-commerce intricacies, and optimising AI ecosystems. As a key figure in Dentons HPRP’s TMT group, Kriyasa frequently produces articles, offers free startup assistance, conducts complimentary webinars, and speaks at workshops on data protection law for state-owned enterprises (such as Bank Mandiri, BNI, and their subsidiaries) to improve public awareness of TMT law. “Working with Mika was a truly great experience. He has tremendous mastery of data protection law and an ability to smoothly and clearly convey dense legal concepts and their practical implementations to clients. Mika also delivers speedy legal services, empowering us to complete transactions on tight deadlines,” says one client. |
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Lim Chong Kin
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Lim Chong Kin is a renowned expert in telecom, media, and technology law at Drew & Napier, where he has served for 29 years. He currently holds several key positions, including managing director of the corporate and finance department, head of the telecommunications, media and technology (TMT) practice, and co-heads of data protection, privacy and cybersecurity, and competition law and regulatory practice groups. Lim’s impact extends beyond the firm. He is a respected figure who has demonstrably impacted the regulatory environment in Singapore. A prime example is his role as the lead partner assisting the Info-Communications Media Development Authority of Singapore with the implementation and drafting of the landmark Converged Competition Code. This comprehensive framework governs competition within the telecommunications and media industries, addressing market access, consumer protection, mergers and acquisitions, and more. Beyond traditional regulatory matters, Lim Chong Kin embraces innovation. He recently served as the lead partner for a groundbreaking project involving a leading American legal AI startup. This project involved the first-of-its-kind pilot program deploying generative AI to assist court users in an ASEAN nation. Lim Chong Kin’s expertise ensured the project complied with all relevant legal and ethical considerations, paving the way for potential advancements in legal services. Clients praise Lim Chong Kin’s role in “liberalising strategic industries” and his work on “sectoral competition laws.” They value his “care” and “superb communication,” highlighting his ability to think creatively and provide “legal workarounds” while ensuring compliance. One client appreciates his “timely updates on new laws,” reflecting his commitment to proactive legal advice. |
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Ken Prasadtyo
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Ken Prasadtyo, a partner at TnP Law Firm, brings expertise in technology, media and telecommunications (TMT), capital markets, M&A, and general corporate law. Combining strategic thinking with deep industry knowledge, he is committed to client success. Prasadtyo’s leadership was instrumental in securing the largest Telco-Tower acquisition in Indonesia for PT Dayamitra Telekomunikasi (Mitratel). This complex deal, valued at $720 million, involved acquiring 6,000 towers, negotiating numerous agreements, and achieving completion within a tight regulatory window. His expertise ensured a smooth transaction, solidifying Mitratel’s position as Indonesia’s leading and Southeast Asia’s largest Telco tower operator. Beyond TMT, Prasadtyo’s experience extends to capital markets. He played a key role in the successful IPO of PT VKTR Teknologi Mobilitas (VKTR), a subsidiary of the prominent Bakrie & Brothers conglomerate. Under his guidance, VKTR secured vital funding of Rp 875 billion ($60 million). His strategic pre-IPO restructuring ensured compliance with regulations and maximised value for the client. Clients consistently praise Prasadtyo’s “pragmatic approach” and ability to translate complex legal matters into clear, actionable solutions. He is lauded for his “understanding of the nuances of contract drafting” and for staying “well-versed in relevant regulations.” His focus on commercial practicality resonates with clients, who appreciate his ability to “formulate exactly what clients need” and consider “commercial and business perspectives” in his advice. One client succinctly summarises Ken’s impact: “He is one of the best TMT lawyers I know. He is very smart and diligent. His knowledge about TMT is beyond other lawyers.” |
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Maria Sagrado
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Maria Sagrado is the managing partner at Makarim & Taira S. She has spent 24 years at the firm, where she currently heavily involves in the TMT, banking and finance, and fintech practices. As a pioneer in the field, Sagrado is one of the few Indonesian lawyers actively involved in fintech transactions. She contributed to drafting Indonesia’s Financial Services Authority’s first 2016 regulation on peer-to-peer lending. Sagrado has authored extensive legal advisories and articles, including an in-depth explanation of Indonesia’s central bank regulatory sandbox initiative for fintech players, published in IFLR1000’s 2018 Fintech Special Focus. A highlight of her recent work included representing PT Asianet Media Teknologi (PT AMT), an Indonesian company that develops and provides fibre optic network technology in Indonesia when obtaining financing from various banks. Additionally, Sagrado played a leading role in facilitating Razer Fin-tech’s investment in E2Pay, an Indonesian company specialising in digital payment solutions. Sagrado’s expertise and attention to detail helped address the complexities of this transaction. Through comprehensive legal due diligence, she provided vital insights to enable Razer Fintech to make well-informed decisions and mitigate potential risks. This deal signified payment solutions infrastructure’s increasing importance as e-commerce including games sales in Indonesia expand. “Their responsiveness and commitment to providing reliable advice and keeping us informed at every stage gave us confidence in their service. Sagrado and her team contributed professionally to positive outcomes for our cases,” says a client. |
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Pramudya A. Oktavinanda
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Pramudya A. Oktavinanda is the managing partner of UMBRA – Strategic Legal Solutions, bringing nearly two decades of experience in the legal industry. Oktavinanda positions himself as the go-to legal expert for intricate, cutting-edge transactions requiring a systematic blend of profound legal expertise, business acumen, pragmatic approach, and innovative thinking. Specialising in M&A, securities, restructuring and special situations, and projects, Oktavinanda has represented significant governmental, local, and international clients throughout his career. He has successfully guided some of the largest and most complex national and cross-border deals. One notable work saw Oktavinanda and UMBRA, representing PT Telkom Indonesia (Persero) (Telkom), as the lead counsel on a $3.9 billion spin-off deal. They handled implementing Tel-kom’s proposed spin-off of consumer broadband B2C business Indihome to subsidiary PT Telekomunikasi Selular for developing Indonesia’s first-ever Fixed Mobile Convergence technology. The transaction broke new ground as it involved transferring over 2,000 contracts with third-party vendors and strategic partners related to Indihome’s consumer internet business and around 8 million Indihome subscribers, making it the largest asset M&A deal in Indonesia’s history while also winning 2023’s ALB Indonesia M&A Deal of the Year. “For many years, Pak Pram has assisted our group on numerous strategic investments in technology and digital sectors, including major investments in two of the largest start-ups in Indonesia, and recently for our new digital invest-ment venture covering fundraising for one of our key subsidiaries,” says a client. “In all of these deals, he shone through with creativity, energy, and confidence that gave us much-needed assurance because we knew we were in reliable hands. That’s why we keep returning to him for all our strategic transactions.” |
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Ronald JJ Wong
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Ronald JJ Wong is the deputy managing director of Covenant Chambers. Wong specialises in dispute resolution, TMT, intellectual property, and corporate M&A. His TMT work includes advising listed game publishing and media companies in Vietnam and China, Medtech firms, Artificial Intelligence (AI) data firms, and Fintech firms, including payment services, blockchain, and digital assets businesses. Notable matters include advising on a multi-million dollar acquisition and joint venture regarding a company developing and commercialising Wing-in-Ground crafts; advising on a joint venture involving a global brand franchise; advising an institution-only digital asset exchange on intellectual property matters and specialised software and technology agreements; advising a global digital token company on laws, regulations and compliance; advising and acting in representative proceedings claim for more than 80 claimants against a cryptocurrency exchange operator for digital assets worth more than $17 million. Wong is also advising a government-linked entity on various transactions and legal issues involving, among others, design consultancy and construction of laboratories, research and development, and venture financing of biotechnology companies. Wong is also an accredited mediator and sits on the Singapore Academy of Law Subcommittee on Artificial Intelligence and Robotics. Beyond practicing law, Wong has served as a Trial Advocacy tutor at the National University of Singapore Faculty of Law, and lectures at LASALLE College of the Arts. |
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ALB ASIA SUPER 50 TMT LAWYERS 2024 |
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Supratim Chakraborty Nick Chan Athistha (Nop) Chitranukroh Dr. Abhimanyu Chopra Jonathan Chu Dang The Duc Phisit Dejchaiyasak Agus Ahadi Deradjat Naufal Fileindi Bryan Ghows Rahul Goel Mark Gorriceta Sheena Jacob Hiroyasu Kageshima Gabriela Kennedy Kim Sun Hee Rose Marie M King-Dominguez Rakesh Kirpalani Nikhil Krishnamurthy Mika Isac Kriyasa Lam Chung Nian Gilbert Leong Lim Chong Kin Gordon Milner Nguyen Viet Ha
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Minchul Park Ferish Patel Ken Prasadtyo Anirudh Rastogi Maria Sagrado Wincen Santoso Nadarashnaraj Sargunaraj Anupam Shukla Bryan Tan Jeremy Tan Jessie Tan Joshua Tan Joyce A Tan Lionel Tan Brandon Tee Tham Kok Leong Veeranuch Thammavaranucupt Keiji Tonomura Pramudya A. Oktavinanda Connell O’Neill Luky Walalangi Jennifer Wu Ronald JJ Wong Wilson Wong Samuel Yuen |