Iswahjudi A. Karim
Founder of the firm
Iswahjudi ("Judi") Karim is one of the founders of KarimSyah Law Firm. He was recognized as one of Indonesia's most prominent lawyers, especially in the fields of finance and alternative dispute resolution.
Judi was a graduate of the University of Indonesia Faculty of Law, and was subsequently awarded a Masters from Sydney University of Technology. He began his career at Gani Djemat & Partners, before he eventually established his own law firm in 1997, which is now known as KarimSyah Law Firm.
Under his leadership, KarimSyah Law Firm has become Indonesia’s market leader in international dispute resolution, the firm having acted as lead counsel for the Indonesian Government in five different investor-state arbitrations thus far, including successfully defeating investors in the two Bank Century arbitrations, as well as defeating the Newmont group in the first arbitration brought by a state against investors, back in 2008.
Judi also frequently sat as arbitrator, and even helped establishing some of the industry-specific finance-based dispute resolution institutions in Indonesia. He was a listed arbitrator in several arbitral institutions in Indonesia, such as the Indonesian Capital Market Arbitration Board (BAPMI), Indonesian Commodities Futures Trade Arbitration Board (BAKTI), and the Financial Services Sector Alternative Dispute Resolution Institution (LAPS SJK). On the corporate side, over the years Judi has restructured over 100 companies’ debt structure and composed most of the documentation for Islamic finance in the country.
Judi passed away on 6 July 2021. He will be remembered not only for his remarkable career, but also for his love for teaching and his passion in academia that has profoundly impacted so many younger law practitioners and students alike. His sense of humor and cheerful disposition will be greatly missed.
Read more about the life and career of Iswahjudi Karim here:
