Ibrahim “Baim” Assegaf, the well-respected founder and managing partner of top-tier Indonesian law firm Assegaf Hamzah & Partners, passed away yesterday.
News of his death was released on the law firm’s website, which described Assegaf as “not only a pillar of our firm but also a trusted adviser and dedicated advocate to many of you”. The firm added that “his leadership, integrity, and unwavering commitment to excellence have shaped our firm into the firm it is today”. The cause of his death was not disclosed.
The law firm said a clear transition plan had been put in place with a dedicated team of partners and others to ensure clients would not be unduly affected.
“He navigated complex issues with grace and mentored many with generosity and insight,” the firm said. “He was always eager for a good conversation, sharing his love of knowledge and challenging those around him to grow.”
In February 2024, Assegaf became the managing partner at Assegaf Hamzah & Partners. An exceptional lawyer who specialised in banking and restructuring, he represented financial institutions, borrowers, project entities and sponsors in corporate and government syndications, bilateral financings, project financings and infrastructural initiatives.
His expertise extended to nuanced areas of structured finance and debt restructuring.
One of his legacies culminated in a role advising on the Palapa Ring project, an effort to enhance Indonesia’s broadband network through a comprehensive undersea fibre-optic system. His work focused on reviewing the project’s regulatory aspects, infrastructure guarantees, public-private partnership agreements with the Ministry of Telecommunications and Information, and finalising guarantee-related contracts.
Assegaf also contributed to establishing modern legal regulations, documents and information using internet technology. He co-founded Hukumonline (Justika Siar Publika) a media platform that provides services to the legal industry by gathering related information and regulations.
He was also an executive director at the Indonesian Centre of Law and Policy Studies (Pusat Studi Hukum & Kebijakan), and managing director at Hukumonline in 2000.
Among his advisory roles, he assisted the China Export-Import Bank’s USD1.2 billion project financing of a power plant in South Sumatra, and the Korea Export-Import Bank in its USD142 million project financing for a hydroelectric power plant in Lampung.
