John Lumbantobing

Experience

John Lumbantobing is a Partner at Rifdaan Novarazka & Prabowo, specialising in commercial litigation and arbitration involving sectors such as mining, oil and gas, shipping, construction as well as in shareholders disputes. John has acted in arbitrations under SIAC, UNCITRAL and BANI Rules, as well as handled enforcement and annulment proceedings in Indonesian courts. Additionally, he has received appointments as expert on Indonesian arbitration law in SIAC and BANI cases as well as in Indonesian court proceedings. Prior to joining Rifdaan Novarazka & Prabowo, he worked at a top-tier boutique law firm in Jakarta. John is also a Fellow of the Chartered Institute of Arbitrators (FCIArb).

Some of John’s recent experience (in the last 2 years):

• Representing a subsidiary of an Indonesian state-owned company in an UNCITRAL arbitration (seated in Singapore) in a construction dispute under a turnkey contract for the construction of a major factory designated as as ‘National Strategic Project’ by the Indonesian government;

• Represented an Indonesian coal mining company as respondent in an SIAC arbitration seated in Singapore against claims brought by the company’s buyer. The dispute is based on a coal supply agreement governed under English law;

• Represented a global beauty-product manufacturing company as respondent in an arbitration under the Indonesian National Arbitration Board (BANI) arbitration rules to defend against a tortious liability claim brought by its business partner arising in connection with a brand affiliate agreement. Having prevailed in the arbitration, John also successfully defended the award in a setting aside proceedings at the district court.

• Representing an established Indonesian shipping company in a tort dispute arising from ship collision against one of the biggest global shipping companies.

• Represented an individual plaintiff in a tort litigation against the owner and operator of a five-star luxury hotel arising from personal injury suffered while the plaintiff stayed at the hotel, concluded with a settlement among the parties.

• Advised an Indonesian shipping company, a subsidiary of one of the leading conglomerates in Indonesia, in a Supreme Court proceeding (kasasi) in an employment termination dispute arising from seafarer employment contract (Perjanjian Kerja Laut). 

• Advised an Indian container lines at the pre-arbitration stage on the potential enforceability of arbitral award in Indonesia and related substantive issues in anticipation of an arbitration conducted under the London Maritime Arbitration Association (LMAA) arbitration rules.

• Advised the Indonesian subsidiary of a leading global vehicle manufacturing company in a dispute against one of its biggest dealers involving several related underlying agreements but with different dispute settlement forums. 

• Represented and advised an Indonesian hotel chain in its dispute with a company assigned by a team of receivers (acting as the owner of the hotels in question, which forms part of a bankruptcy estate) with regards to the termination and various breaches of the hotel management agreement. The dispute was concluded with a settlement between the parties. 

• Acted as expert witness on Indonesian arbitration law and UNCITRAL Arbitration Rules in an arbitral award annulment proceeding at the Central Jakarta District Court, in particular on the issue of the appointment and composition of an UNCITRAL arbitral tribunal seated in Indonesia.  

Specialty

John’s specialty lies in commercial litigation and arbitration involving sectors such as mining, oil and gas, shipping, construction as well as in shareholders disputes. Furthermore, he is one of the few Indonesian lawyers with deep knowledge of investor-state arbitration and disputes related to investment treaties. John is widely recognised as a thought leader on Indonesian arbitration law and frequently serves as expert in complex arbitration cases or arbitration-related court proceedings.

Education

John Lumbantobing earned his Bachelor of Law (LLB) from Universitas Katolik Parahyangan, graduating as the class valedictorian. He further obtained a Master of Law (LLM) from the University of Cambridge (Hughes Hall).