Ahmad Irfan Arifin is a Partner in the Dispute Resolution Practice Group of Arifin, Purba & Firmansyah. He graduated from Parahyangan Catholic University (LLB) in 2005 and obtained his master’s degree (LLM) from the Boalt Hall School of Law, University of California at Berkeley, United States, in 2013, where he received an award for best advocacy for legal research and writing. During that time he also worked as an international counsel at the San Francisco office of Pillsbury Winthrop Shaw Pittman LLP, a US based international law firm.

 

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, 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 ever brought against a Japanese investor before the Indonesian courts.

 

Ahmad Irfan Arifin’s professional experience includes:

 

(i) Principal Partner/Co-Founder at Arifin, Purba & Firmansyah, Jakarta (2020-present).

(ii) Partner at Lubis, Santosa & Maramis, Jakarta (2009-2020)

(iii) Senior Associate at Gani Djemat & Partners, Jakarta (2006-2009)

(iv) Associate at Bahar & Partners, Jakarta (2005-2006)

 

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.

 

Aside from the above, Ahmad Irfan Arifin has been frequently invited as a panelist in international legal seminars and conferences, to name one: as a panelist in 30th LAWASIA Conference 2017 in Tokyo, 9 Japan. 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 in the field of litigation as well as arbitration:

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• A major Norwegian based energy conglomeration in a dispute arising from the utilisation of Floating Storage and Regasification Units (FSRU) filed by a subsidiary of an Indonesian state owned company before the Singapore International Arbitration Centre (2021).

• A major Norwegian based energy conglomeration in an arbitration claim due to a parent guarantee given by an Indonesia state owned company over a utilisation of an FSRU facility in Indonesia. The claim is currently examined by the Singapore International Arbitration Centre (2021).

• A global pharma company based in Switzerland in an ongoing Arbitration against its Indonesian Distributor before the Singapore International Arbitration Centre (2020-present).

• 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 and mareva injunction issued by the Singapore High Court (2016)

• 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 (BANI, 2015).

• A London based mining company, in several shareholders disputes against an Indonesian conglomerate, before the London Court of International Arbitration (LCIA) (2013).

• A major Indonesian mining company in its successful defence on an arbitration worth USD 55 million brought by an Indonesian State-Owned Company before BANI Arbitration Center in 2011.

• A major international coal trader in an arbitration worth USD 35 million brought before BANI Arbitration against an Indonesian coal company (2009).

• 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. (2012) • PT Antam Tbk, (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.

• 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 (2010).

• Shimizu Corporation Japan, 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). • A Japanese-Indonesian Joint Operation Body with regard to a construction claim of USD 65 million filed against an Indonesian employer at BANI.

• Mitsubishi Heavyweight Industries, in a dispute against the Government of Republic Indonesia with regard to non-performance issues under major construction contract (2015-2018).

• Obayashi Corporation in its successful defence at an annulment proceedings of an arbitration award brought by an Indonesian government before the South Jakarta District Court (2018).