Advocates at work at DNC excel in whatever area of practice they choose to work. They see the big picture, yet know the finer points of law. They combine extensive legal knowledge, sound business judgment and the highest ethical standards. They think commercially and examine each client’s legal issues, business transactions and disputes from unconventional angles to develop an integrated approach that is tailored to the client’s specific needs to help the client accomplish its commercial and strategic objectives.

DNC ^{advocates at work}’s collegial style and pragmatic, straightforward and collaborative approach provide smart-practical solutions, comprehensive transaction advice and execution on increasingly intricate transactions, and efficient-effective representation of clients’ interests.

DNC ^{advocates at work} offers invaluable insight into clients’ expectations-considerations, develops ingenious solutions to critical commercial challenges and for unique transaction objectives, efficiently-effectively.

Corporate actions and transactions are the key attributes of the modern commercial world, and contracts represent the foundation of modern commercial relationships.

DNC ^{advocates at work}’s in-depth knowledge of corporate law and contract law best serve the needs of its clients in commercial collaborations, complex transactions and financing, including joint ventures, equity-debt (public-private) offerings, corporate finance, corporate structuring-restructuring, debt restructuring, (self-)liquidation, and bankruptcy. DNC ^{advocates at work} also has deep knowledge of Indonesian generally accepted accounting principles and taxation; understanding of the business climate and dynamics involved; and a lot of creativity.

Like no other, DNC ^{advocates at work}’s partnership with its clients enables it to work together with its clients on a broad range of general corporate issues, which has contributed greatly to its understanding of its clients’ businesses. This in turn has considerably enhanced its ability to assist its clients on transactional, and even on litigation, matters.

Clients entrust DNC ^{advocates at work} to join a deal team at the outset, to develop-implement their vision and business plan, deriving value from DNC ^{advocates at work}’s creative tax-efficient structuring of deals, anticipation of legal-regulatory complications, and elimination-mitigation of risks. These are the core of DNC ^{advocates at work}’s services: value-added quality of work it does and its value-based approach to work.

Financial services are the backbone of business, integrating sectors such as finance, banking, asset management, insurance and private equity.

DNC ^{advocates at work} has comprehensive knowledge of financial instruments used in a variety of circumstances and at all levels of the capital structure. Thus, DNC ^{advocates at work} has the capability to provide the highest quality advice to its clients in all types of financing transactions, with respect to every aspect of complex financings and financial restructuring, and to execute corporate and financial restructurings.

DNC ^{advocates at work} excels in product development, deal structuring-restructuring due to DNC ^{advocates at work}’s in-depth knowledge of Indonesian laws-regulations, and familiarity with the regulatory environment and the transactions business, as well as accounting and taxation aspects-practices.

DNC ^{advocates at work} understands that almost all financial products that are to be marketed in Indonesia to Indonesian entities-individuals have been designed, created and structured within the frame work of the common law system, while Indonesian law belongs to the civil law system.  Moreover, there has been a lack of regulation on the specifics and the taxation of those products so that, often, adjustments are required-necessitated to those products to determine how each of those products should be presented-marketed so as to comply with the principles-provisions of Indonesian law and any regulatory restrictions-limitations.

DNC ^{advocates at work} prefers to apply its knowledge of, and familiarity with, capital markets and securities laws-regulations in advising and assisting its clients in the product development, which broadens the type of financial assets available to investors and provides the market with access to certain types of investors. DNC ^{advocates at work} prefers to take and do legal works that require extensive use of analytical ability and creativity compared to legal audit work or other labor intensive work.

Historically, DNC has been at the forefront of legal innovation in the capital market. Immediately after the promulgation of the 1995 Capital Market Law, DNC advised-assisted Danareksa Investment Management in the incorporation of the first mutual funds in the form of collective investment contracts (i.e., Anggrek, Melati and Mawar in 1996) and the conversion of Danareksa’s Series A - F quasi-mutual funds into those mutual funds. 

The contract drafted by DNC became the standard contract for the establishment of the mutual fund in the form of a collective investment contract.  In 1997, DNC provided a significant contribution to the creation of the concept and scheme for the use of the collective investment contract mutual fund in asset securitization known as ‘KIK-EBA’ (Asset Backed Securities - Collective Investment Contract).

In early 1990s, DNC advised-assisted Citibank in the first securitization of credit card receivables, involved in PT Astra Sedaya Finance’s first securitization of auto loan receivables, and worked together with Bear Stearns in developing toll road securitization. These are mentioned because DNC ^{advocates at work} believes that: Securitization is the Financial Instrument of the Future, for Indonesia, in particular for her infrastructure financing and banking sector.

DNC ^{advocates at work}’s partnership-relationship and works with its clients results in DNC ^{advocates at work}’s sophistication and grasp of complex structures. These combined with its in-depth knowledge of Indonesian laws-regulations, and familiarity with accounting and taxation make DNC ^{advocates at work} capable of designing tax‑efficient structures for mergers, spin‑offs, joint ventures and intricate private equity acquisitions.

DNC ^{advocates at work}, working closely with its client, has worked in a creative acquisition, fully leveraging the assets of the target company and strategizing and manoeuvring against competing prospective acquirers.

DNC ^{advocates at work}’s skills and experience in dispute resolutions provide its clients with a reliable and trusted partner in mitigating and managing risk, in managing the critical situation prior or leading to any formal proceedings, and in resolving their disputes. DNC ^{advocates at work} strives to quickly resolve its clients’ issues with minimal disruption to their business. DNC ^{advocates at work} provides its clients with protection and defense from parties who have no hesitation in misusing the Indonesian legal system for their own benefits.

In foreign arbitration proceedings, DNC has worked as the Indonesian counsel of one of the parties or as an Indonesian law expert witness. Advocate at work at DNC (P.D.D. Dermawan) represented the Government of the Province of East Kalimantan in its claims against PT Kaltim Prima Coal, Rio Tinto PLC, BP PLC cum suis before the International Center for Settlement of Investment Disputes (ICSID) (ICSID Case No ARB/07/3). That was the first time in ICSID’s history that a provincial government, not a state, was registered as a party in its arbitration proceedings.

P.D.D. Dermawan, assisted by Deila Taslim, Dwina Oktifani, Marcia Tanudjaja and Richele Suwita, and worked together with: Mr. Amir Syamsuddin (then Minister of Law and Human Rights) and his confidant Mr. Cahyo R. Muzhar; Mr. Awang Faroek Ishak (Regent of East Kutai 2006 – 2008 and Governor of East Kalimantan 2008 – 2018) and his staff; Mr. Isran Noor (Regent of East Kutai 2009 – 2015) and his staff; officials from Ministry of Forestry, Ministry of Energy and Mineral Resources, Attorney General office and Investment Coordinating Board; and Curtis, Mallet-Prevost, Colt & Mosle LLP team led by Ms. Claudia Frutos-Peterson and Mr. Mark H. O’Donoghue, successfully defended the Republic of Indonesia from claims amounting to US$1.315 billion filed by Churchill Mining PLC and Planet Mining Pty Ltd before ICSID (ICSID Case No. ARB/12/14 and 12/40).

In spite of its general policy not to take on litigation works, from time to time, depending on the importance of the matter being litigated and only for special clients, DNC ^{advocates at work} does litigate before courts. DNC worked on the first derivative litigation in Indonesia in 1995, and was also involved in the litigation of the same matter before the High Court of Justice, Queen’s Bench Division, Commercial Court, London.  DNC worked on (for debtor and won) the first bankruptcy litigation after the promulgation of the 1998 Amendment to the 1905 Bankruptcy Regulations.

With its expertise of Indonesian law, its experience in dealing with the Indonesian legal system, as well as its familiarity with all aspects and levels of Indonesian society and business, DNC ^{advocates at work} is in the best position to mediate disputes between parties that it knows and who know its reputation as honest and fair advocates at work (advocating honest and fair business practices).

DNC’s deep knowledge of the legal and taxation aspects of production sharing contracts (‘PSC’) and technical assistance contracts (‘TAC’) has resulted in its works for its Indonesian clients in secondary oil recovery projects, and for the United States tax authority in reviewing-determining the (tax) nature of amounts payable to the Government of Republic of Indonesia and/or Pertamina (state oil company).  DNC has also worked in the restructuring of various interests in PSCs and TACs.

DNC ^{advocates at work}’s familiarity with the applicable regulations in mining industry, including the contracts (CoW, CCoW) now mining undertaking licenses (IUPs) and the industry proves to be very valuable for its clients in dealing with the government and/or their business counterparts. DNC has played leading roles not only in Bre-X (Busang gold mine), PT Kaltim Prima Coal (KPC), and Churchill Mining PLC cases, but also in the acquisitions of various mining companies.

DNC ^{advocates at work}, with its deep knowledge on various aspects of Indonesian law and its creativity, works with its clients in structuring their investments in Indonesia or Indonesian assets. 

DNC ^{advocates at work} does not handle the administrative work of filing application forms and following the paperwork for regulatory approvals.  DNC ^{advocates at work} believes that this work can be done best by clients’ personnel, with minimal guidance and supervision from DNC ^{advocates at work}, resulting in more time-efficient and cost-effective ways of doing business for clients.

DNC ^{advocates at work} uses its creativity and resourcefulness, and deep knowledge of not only the laws on intellectual property but also the Criminal Code and the (civil and criminal) procedural laws, to assist its clients in dealing with pirates and counterfeiters to protect their valuable intellectual property and products. DNC ^{advocates at work} has extensive experience in planning and conducting successful major raids against major counterfeiters.

DNC ^{advocates at work} does not take clerical administration work of registering intellectual property. DNC ^{advocates at work} does assist its clients in the commercialization of their intellectual property, making sure that their contractual arrangements in the commercialization of their intellectual property in Indonesia work and are enforceable.

P.D.D. Dermawan is a graduate of the Faculty of Law, Universitas Indonesia (SH., 1984) and Tulane Law School, New Orleans, Louisiana (LL.M., 1989). He participated in the development lawyer training program at International Development Law Institute (IDLI, now IDLO), Rome (1988, with scholarship from USAID, Washington).

He is an advocate appointed by the Minister of Justice and a member of the Indonesian Bar Association. He has over 30 years of experience serving corporations, investment banks and financial institutions/investors in a wide variety of complex corporate finance, derivatives and structured finance matters including mergers and acquisitions, joint ventures, securitizations, private equity deals and complex restructuring transactions.

He also has extensive experience in structuring, developing and offering (new) structured financial products linked to equities, commodities, currencies, rates and combinations of these assets, as well as convertible-exchangeable securities, over-the-counter derivative products and swaps. He has advised clients on the tax consequences of those transactions and on managing crisis situations. He has advised and represented clients in both arbitration and court proceedings.

He is noted for his responsiveness, and his very detail-oriented and creative approach to matters.

He enjoys reading and gardening. He took aikido classes, and spends his spare time doing his favorite sports, i.e., table tennis, shooting and tai-chi.

Michael Timothy is a graduate of the Faculty of Law, Universitas Sumatera Utara (SH., 2014) majoring in Business Law.

Michael focuses his practice in dispute resolution and corporate restructuring. He distinguishes himself through his meticulous thinking, sharp analysis and logical reasoning ability. An avid debater from an early age, his passion for debating eventually led him to study law. During his undergraduate studies, he actively participated in debating and mooting competitions where he achieved numerous nationally prestigious awards. “I always enjoy intellectual pursuits, in-depth discussions and critical-thinking activities,” he said. It is these experiences that prepared him for the world of lawyering as they trained him to always think critically and not take things for granted. He quotes the philosophical statement “I doubt, therefore I think, therefore I am” as his guiding principle. 

Since becoming an advocate, Michael has been exposed to a plethora of legal areas covering corporate structuring-restructuring and dispute resolution, including arbitration cases that involved multi-jurisdictional issues. In the future, he wishes to delve into and grow more expertise in international arbitration as he sees the field as a road less traveled due to its complex and challenging nature. “International arbitration requires in-depth understanding of cross border transactional issues and intertwining (sometimes conflicting) legal systems. Its level of complexity is the reason why there are only a few qualified Indonesian advocates in this field and I aspire to be the best,” he concluded with glints of excitement in his eyes.

An aficionado of sports, playing basketball, futsal, bowling, swimming and going to the gym have become the go-to activities in his leisure time.

Rachmi Dzikrina is a graduate of the Faculty of Law, Universitas Gadjah Mada, majoring in International Law (SH., 2014) and Master of Law program of University of Toronto, majoring in International Business Law (LL.M., 2017).

Representing Universitas Gadjah Mada in the 10^th Willem C. Vis East International Commercial Arbitration Moot taught Rachmi that learning must be humbling. “No matter how well you argued, there was always a counter-argument that made you re-evaluate your arguments. There are always two sides to every argument and both can be equally supported with well-reasoned contentions,” she said. Her team was the first Indonesian University Team to receive an Honorable Mention Award for Best Memorandum for Respondent. Since then, she has developed an attitude of inquiry and a sense of curiosity to learning and knowledge. “Pride should not stop us from learning, no matter how perfect we think we are,” she said. Aspiring to develop her creative skills and out-of-the-box thinking, she decided to be an advocate, and to be an international arbitrator in the future.

Realizing that to excel in international arbitration, one must be mindful of the diverse legal traditions, Rachmi pursued her post-graduate studies in the University of Toronto to obtain a better understanding of the common law and the civil law systems.

Guided by a philosophy of “Don’t choose a firm, but a mentor. The money will always be there, but mentors won’t,” she believes that being a team member of DNC^{advocates at work} will support her goals and interests to keep learning and help people in need. “I don’t want to be the best, but the most valuable person. Yes, my true goal is always to better myself and everyone around me,” she emphasized.

While she is not at work, Rachmi loves watching movies, hanging out with her friends, and spending quality time with her family.

Contact :
Email : rachmi-advocate@work-dnc.com

Kathleen Cateliya is a graduate of the Faculty of Law, Universitas Indonesia (SH., 2016) and currently is taking her master’s degree (M.Kn) at Universitas Pelita Harapan. 

As a communication studies enthusiast and David Ogilvy fan, Kathleen sees the advocate profession as communicators; whether through a brief, or on our feet before the judges or board of directors, we advocate a position and sell it to the audience. In a world full of advocates who are eager to speak and be heard, she believes that many can argue – but not many are able to converse and connect, which is why she believes it is essential to be a good listener instead of a loquacious talker; because communication is often about listening, especially to what is not said. 

Kathleen is known as an energetic, friendly and spontaneous person. Her ambition is simple: to be creative, to share different perspectives, and to always stay one step ahead. 

Passionate about becoming a better-than-average, if not the best, advocate, her areas of interest include corporate (re-)structuring, banking, capital markets, and foreign investment.

In her free time, Kathleen loves to channel her voice into singing, her writing skills into song writing, and her ears and eyes to enjoy theatre and art exhibitions. She believes that art and law are quite identical; finding the right key and crafting ideas into words and harmony will always be a part of how she practices law.

Contact :
Email : kathleen-advocate@work-dnc.com

Cynthia Yukiko Kataoka is a graduate from Faculty of Law, Universitas Indonesia, majoring in International Law (SH., 2016).

The complexity and intricacy of human relationships captivated and drove her to become an advocate. Law school taught her a lot about norms and rules. “But it never taught me how to deal in the real business,” she said. To learn how to do so and to help people along the way, she decided to join DNC^{advocates at work}. “I want to learn from one of the best advocates and teams,” she added. “Moreover, I want to learn to balance the personal and professional sides of life.”

Her background as an Indonesian of Japanese descent influenced Yukiko in her decision to learn international law and to broaden her horizon in terms of international studies. Her areas of interest and practice include international business law and international arbitration.

Yukiko's passions include singing, traveling, and taking care of living beings around her. Currently, her best friend and companion is her Shar Pei, Max, who she adopted in 2015.

Contact :
Email : yukiko-advocate@work-dnc.com

Cindy is a graduate of the Faculty of Law, Universitas Pelita Harapan, majoring in Business Law (SH., 2017).

“Law school was a life-changing experience. It taught me a lot about courage and looking at the bigger picture,” she said. “Being useful to others gives me a tremendous feeling of satisfaction. I believe that being a great advocate requires more than just knowledge - it also requires a sincere desire to help.” She stated that wanting to be a person that others could depend on is what drove her to become an advocate.

Cindy also has a keen enthusiasm for challenges. She possesses a constant will to continue honing her professional skills and knowledge, and she believes she will accomplish this by joining DNC^{advocates at work}. She believes in Jack Ma's advice: “When you are young, who you are working for matters more than which company you are working for.”

Her areas of interest include corporate finance with a particular emphasis on future business models, such as fin-tech crowd-funding and start-up businesses. She perceives such business models as unique and believes that they are the way of the future. These are fields where she wishes to obtain more expertise in.

Compelled by her eagerness to master Mandarin (which she can speak fluently), Cindy took a one-year sabbatical leave in 2018 to further her Mandarin proficiency in Hangzhou, China.

In her personal life, Cindy retains a passionate interest in music, singing and playing piano in her spare time.

Contact:
Email : cindy-advocate@work-dnc.com

Ghiffari is a graduate from the Faculty of Law, Universitas Diponegoro, majoring in Commercial Law (SH., 2017).

Ghiffari learned that being an advocate is not simply an occupation. He perceives advocating as a "way of life," as it revolves around a challenging environment, making him a stronger person, both intellectually and mentally.

Ghiffari understands that in order to become a successful advocate, one must have deep-rooted legal knowledge, strong analytical thinking, and a great work ethic. This must be accompanied with the ability to communicate and co-operate clearly, effectively, and efficiently, both with colleagues and clients. He also understands that the delivery of valuable and feasible advice must always be tailored specifically to the client's needs. Being knowledgeable on how businesses and industries work is necessary, as legal matters will always follow the developments within both. Therefore, as a fast and constant learner, he always keeps himself updated with recent events.

Ghiffari has passed the Indonesian Bar Exam, and is currently involved in arbitration dispute cases, in line with his plans to strengthen his capabilities by practicing in dispute resolutions and corporate practice areas. 

Ghiffari’s passion for the culinary arts, travelling, and sports keep him busy, and as a social being, he believes that life is all about balance.

Febriantoro Suardy is a graduate of the Faculty of Law, Universitas Pelita Harapan, majoring in Business Law (SH., 2018). Toro was an intern at Universitas Pelita Harapan’s Center for Constitutional and Anti-Corruption Studies. 

Toro believes that being an advocate is his calling, and to be a distinct one is his goal. He has the passion to make him willing to sacrifice pleasure for opportunity. “I will overcome any challenges; I am going to take down giants,” he said.

Toro is also on the path of strengthening his knowledge of legal principles by reading legal literature extensively. He plans to focus his practice in corporate and commercial law.  

Toro plans, with the resources he possesses and will possess, to contribute to society and have a positive impact on his communities.

During his free time, Toro loves reading books on self-development, as well as watching and learning from TED Talk videos.

Contact:
Email : toro-advocate@work-dnc.com