Sahat Siahaan

Practice Areas

‘Sahat Siahaan is a knowledgeable and experienced practitioner who we work with regularly on shipping and commodities matters. He is exceptional – he is a reliable, safe pair of hands, who can work within tight timelines. He also communicates effectively.’

‘We receive quality and practical advice from the ANBR team. Their knowledge of local shipping practice and contacts with the relevant ministries are very helpful in our engagement with them.’

‘Good understanding of Indonesian maritime and commercial laws. Well researched and well thought out legal advice presented in a succinct manner. English is one of the best amongst local law firms.’

‘Sahat Siahaan is knowledgeable in maritime and marine insurance matters.’

‘Sahat Siahaan is an excellent communicator and knows how to get things done.’

Client testimonials (quoted from Legal 500 Asia Pacific 2022 ed.)

Sahat is a versatile litigator with expertise that extends across all aspects of dispute resolution, with a particular focus on commercial, shipping, construction & infrastructure, and manpower disputes.

As co-head of ABNR’s Dispute Resolution Department, Sahat has an outstanding track record of wins at all levels of the judicial system, with three Supreme Court, one appellate court and three district court wins over the last year alone, including successfully acting for Wallem Group Ltd. (a leading Hong Kong-based ship management and services company) in the District Court, Appellate Court and Supreme Court in Wallem’s USD 130-million dispute with Indonesian shipping company PT Layar Sentosa Shipping.

He also successfully represented satellite TV provider AXN Holdings, LLC (a subsidiary of Sony Pictures Television) in the District Court, Appellate Court and Supreme Court for its breach of contract claim for USD 958 thousand in damages against PT Karyamegah Adijaya, a satellite TV re-broadcaster.

In other recent matters, he successfully defended a well-known European car manufacturer in the Appellate Court against a USD 772-thousand claim for breach of contract, and a Swedish multinational company as defendant in the District Court in a dispute related to the distribution of USD 3.8 million in dividends. The case is now being heard by the Appellate Court.

In shipping, he acts for owners, charterers, and cargo interests and their insurers in disputes arising from charter parties, bills of lading, shipbuilding contracts, collisions, groundings, salvage, limitation and total loss. His expertise encompasses both dry and admiralty matters, which is particularly beneficial when handling major casualties with a multi-jurisdictional focus.

In non-litigation shipping matters, he assists clients with, among other things, the drafting of charter parties, bills of lading and sale and purchase agreements. He has also been involved in a long list of vessel financing transactions, representing both financiers and borrowers from multiple jurisdictions.

He regularly represents domestic and foreign clients in a variety of arbitration proceedings under BANI, ICC and UNCITRAL rules, and in international arbitration forums such as SIAC, KLIAC and HKIAC. He is currently acting for a Chinese investor in two parallel arbitration proceedings in Singapore related to a joint venture to develop a USD 850-million oil storage and blending facility in Indonesia.

In addition, he is presently acting for Italy-based shipping company Mediterranea di Navigazione S.P.A in its attempts to have 2 international arbitration awards totaling approx. USD 22.2 million enforced in the Central Jakarta District Court against Indonesian state-owned shipbuilder PT PAL.

Sahat holds a law degree from the University of Indonesia, Graduate Diploma in Legal Studies from the University of Canberra, Australia, and an LL.M degree from the University of Western Australia. He is a member of PERADI (Indonesian Advocates Association) and AKHI (Association of Indonesian Legal Consultants).

Sahat is listed in the Who’s Who Legal’s Transport 2023, is ranked as a “Leading Individual” for Shipping and recommended for Dispute Resolution by Legal 500 Asia Pacific (2022), and is recognized as a “Distinguished Practitioner” for Shipping by Asialaw.