One of Indonesia’s leading corporate and commercial law firm, located in Jakarta Selatan, Bagus Enrico & Partners’ foundation was laid in 2009 under the able leadership of Bagus Nur Buwono, Founder & Managing Partner. Bagus steers the strategy of the organisation with his 25 years of advisory excellence, spanning multinationals and domestic transactions. He specializes in mergers and acquisitions, banking and finance, construction, strategic investment, and general corporate or commercial matters, including corporate restructuring, insolvency, and employment, across various sectors of industries throughout Indonesia.
Bagus is highly admired for his business knowledge and legal expertise in recognition of his years of continued excellent work and expertise. He has won the trust, respect and many accolades for his significant contributions. The Guide to Asia’s Commercial Law Firm has acknowledged him as a recommended lawyer in the practice areas of corporate, M&A, employment, and restructuring and insolvency; AsiaLaw – Euromoney Asia recognised him as a leading lawyer in the areas of banking and finance, and corporate, M&A and as the expert in commercial law; and Asia Business Law Journal has been awarding him as one of Indonesia’s 100 Top Lawyers since 2018-2021.
In academics, Bagus graduated from the Faculty of Law at Gadjah Mada University in Indonesia in 1996. Subsequently, he received the Chevening Scholarship to undertake the International Business Law (LLM) from the University of Manchester, the UK in 2005. He also attended a Mini – MBA programme held by Mizuho Corporate Bank in cooperation with Hitotsubashi University, Tokyo, in 2009.
BE Partners, “Boutique Practice Focusing on Client Service”
Bagus Enrico & Partners is a boutique law firm that caters to domestic and international clients alike. They are made up of a collection of prominent individuals duly recognized for their expertise and professional experiences in handling various notable transactions in Indonesia. Their practice covers areas including corporate and commercial law, banking and finance, technology media and telecommunications, insurance, energy, and natural resources, construction, and litigation among others.
BE Partners’ clientele mostly consists of corporate clients, both local and multinational. They always strive to go beyond just the legality of things and consult their clients in a variety of aspects; they help their clients develop and grow their business long term, catering the services to what is relevant and tailoring it to their needs.
The Inspiration & The Journey
Bagus was inspired by this film he saw back in the day about a wrongfully convicted inmate who went on to study law remotely from prison and ended up defending himself until he was rightfully exonerated.
He believes that everyone should have access to proper legal representation, and in turn, make informed decisions on how to proceed with whatever issue they may face. He initially wanted to become a litigator and to defend the weak and marginalized, but considering the political and social climate at the time and how uncertain the justice system was, it was impossible to go very far in terms of practicing within that area of law in an imperfect democracy. So, he decided to switch gear and do corporate law instead but still with the aim of fighting for his clients and providing the best possible solution for them, just from a different perspective. It is to ensure that these corporations will provide more job opportunities for Indonesians.
Bagus worked as an in-house counsel and intended to keep doing so, but at one point in his career, he sat down and had a think about whether he wanted to stay in this corporate system where everything was set and they all did their own tasks or if he wanted to go out and start his own firm – the latter option struck a nerve and that was what sparked the beginning of BE Partners.
He wanted to start a firm with the right idealism and purpose, to create a working environment that puts clients first, and be a safe space for young talent to develop. Teaching is a very pivotal aspect for him as a lawyer so apart from mentoring the lawyers at the firm, Bagus also lectures at universities and teaches company law so as to share knowledge on current issues along with the legal theories behind it for a more practical approach in applying their knowledge as lawyers.
“It was never my intention to become an influential figure, I’m not actively involved in any sort of association or group. I do, however, focus on growing the firm and delivering the best advice and service we can offer. It is very humbling to know that it has resulted in recognition and appreciation within the legal community”, said Bagus talking his journey of becoming an influential leader in law.
An Edge Over the Peers & The Exciting Part about Legal Industry
Bagus always approaches his clients’ problems from a business perspective. He puts himself in their shoes and tries to solve their problems in a way that mitigates risk and promotes efficiency. The leader believes that lawyers should pave the way for their clients to move forward, not hinder their path to growth and expansion. He and his team walk hand in hand with their clients and go beyond just legal services.
“I solve problems for a living, which can seem to be quite a mundane job for some people. For me, it’s the excitement in taking charge and finding creative and out-of-the-box solutions for my client’s legal issues. Having to think of all the angles and challenging the way we think is very stimulating and fulfilling”, apprised Bagus.
From the Founder’s Desk
Back when I first started working as a lawyer, because a lot of information was only privy to a select few, it became a valuable commodity that people were looking for. However, now it is very easy to get any and all information with the help of the internet nowadays; all the rules, regulations, and even cases and legal forums are inline and accessible to anyone. The challenge is to improve the critical and analytical skills to get only the most relevant information and to underline the upcoming and potential legal and business risks.
So, the skill highlighted in this new age of lawyers is how to think critically and analyse the relevant information. Connecting the dots from the legal issue at hand, what the law says, how we want to move forward, the implications of said action, and how we present it to the client is what sets us apart.
New and more diverse specialties are also on the rise given the number of emerging industries that have started popping up on a global scale such as e-commerce, blockchains, and cryptocurrencies which did not exist when I first started my career.
Bagus’s Advice to Aspiring Entrepreneurs
Just go for it, give it all you’ve got and let it fall into place. Regardless of how much control you think you have; things will always take their course. Prepare as best you can, plan as best you can, but don’t be so stuck in your ways that you’re not able to redirect and take the necessary steps to move forward.
Closing Quote
All big dreams require steps; it’s a process that requires time and effort. Rome was but once a dream, built brick by brick over a long period of time. Consistency and determination are the foundation. Make sure to start, everyone has big dreams but only some follow through and actually do it. Failure is never a reason to quit, there is always a lesson in it that we take and keep in mind moving forward.