The firm’s practice covers intellectual property (IP), corporate, technology, dispute resolution, investments, government procurement and transactions in many commercial sectors, including technology, media, and telecommunication.
Having expanded its services to cater to client needs from across different industries, K&K Advocates is a growing corporate practice headed by managing partner Justisiari P. Kusumah.
A leading figure in IP law in Indonesia
Throughout his long legal career, Justi has advised and represented government agencies, state-owned enterprises, and numerous multinational companies on IP litigation and enforcement, transactions, legal due diligence, and other legal matters.
Justi was involved in the drafting of many IP-related regulations as a member of an IP expert team under the Ministry of Law and Human Rights. He was a member of Indonesia’s delegations to USTR Public Hearing in Washington, USA, and to the World Intellectual Property Organization (WIPO) General Assembly Meeting in Geneva, Switzerland.
Bridges sat down with Justi to discuss the legal landscape in Indonesia, the country’s investment climate and K&K Advocates’ role in facilitating business
Bridges: How competitive is the legal services sector in Indonesia?
Justi: While there are many firms located in Jakarta and across the country, there is a great deal of work to be done as Indonesia has a very dynamic economy.
There is competition but it also depends on the market that firms are trying to target. Many firms are targeting international investors and we see this aspect of our business growing.
While there are major players here in Indonesia, there is a great deal of business to be won by the smaller and mid-size firms who can often act more quickly as they can be more flexible in their interactions with clients. A smaller firm is able to establish very unique services, often within a short period of time.
Technology is also playing a role in the legal services sector and following the pandemic, smaller firms no longer need to rent office space – these cost reductions are reflected in lower client fees and are driving firms towards growth.
Digital disruption and A.I. is playing a role at K&K Advocates as we are investing in technology and downsizing our physical office space while increasing the number of lawyers we have.
Is it getting easier for foreign firms to do business in Indonesia?
Yes. In terms of the ease of doing business and the investments being made, we are seeing more foreign firms coming to Indonesia.We have a one-stop shop with the BKPM.
Throughout his long legal career, Justi has advised and represented government agencies, state-owned enterprises, and numerous multinational companies on IP litigation and enforcement, transactions, legal due diligence, and other legal matters.
The ministry of foreign investment coordinating board facilitates investments and is making life easier for investors from around the world who are looking at opportunities in Indonesia. Indonesia is a democratic country and national and regional government bodies work together closely.
With the booming investment climate comes a surge in legal services and we are growing our firm in line with this.
Outside the large cities across the country, we are working in partnership with local experts and engaging with law firms who are ‘on the ground’ in order to better serve our clients.
Where is the foreign investment coming from?
Ninety five percent of our clients are international companies and individuals making investments in Indonesia.
We see Europe, Singapore, South Korea, China and the United States investing heavily in Indonesia and the Japanese continue to play an important role in the economy.
How well is K&K Advocates positioned to serve foreign investors and Indonesian-based companies?
We are simultaneously expanding our client base both internationally and within the local economy. In terms of the Japanese business community here in Indonesia, we are strengthening our offering to Japanese corporations and recently returned from a trip to Japan.
We met with associations, companies and individuals in order to strengthen ties to our friends in Japan and provided them with information such as updates on IP law in Indonesia.
Companies looking at Indonesia, they have a choice of law firms to work with. Why should they choose you?
As a firm, we are very unique. We are a local firm with international exposure and have a great deal of experience dealing with international clients.
As a firm, we are very unique. We are a local firm with international exposure and have a great deal of experience dealing with international clients.
Justisiari P. Kusumah, Managing Partner at K&K Advocates
We comprehend how the law is implemented, understood and practised in Indonesia and our reputation as a trusted firm continues to grow. We have the experience and the know-how. We have an Of counsel in New York, Singapore and China to help internationalise our firm and serve clients across the globe.
Indonesia will celebrate 100 years of independence in 2045, the same year the country intends to become a developed nation. Is Indonesia’s economy heading in the right direction?
I think we are heading in a very good direction. Politically there have been some challenges over the years however we have managed to maintain strong and consistent economic growth, currently we are around five percent.
We have confidence in our future. We see countries such as China become increasingly interested in the opportunities Indonesia offers. We have multilingual lawyers who speak Mandarin and Korean and we look forward to helping our clients who come to Indonesia to do business.
As a respected and successful lawyer heading a growing firm, what keeps you going?
The Indonesian market is growing and we want to be part of the growth we are seeing.
With increased investment opportunities, companies must quickly gain a better understanding of Indonesian law and that is where we can step in and serve our clients and partners – here in Indonesia and across the globe. We have won several awards and these are a testament to our desire to serve our clients.
I am also very excited about the role we play in serving Indonesian companies as they go abroad and enter new markets across the region including Australia, Africa, the Philippines, Singapore and Malaysia.
In line with our IP services and solutions, I am actively involved, and founder of a non profit organisation – the Indonesia Anti-Counterfeiting Society (MIAP). The Society brings together prominent members of the Indonesian business community and implements initiatives to overcome the problem of counterfeiting in Indonesia.
Finally, K&K Advocates is not only an Indonesian firm. We intend to become a solutions provider for clients across the region and support them on their journey.
K&K Advocates
KMO Building, 5th Fl. Suite 502. Jl. Kyai Maja No. 1, Jakarta 12120, Indonesia
www.kk-advocates.com
