Chambers Asia-Pacific
Restructuring/Insolvency 2024 – Leading lawyer for 16 consecutive years
"He is an intelligent and creative problem solver who always makes sure to understand his clients' objectives and concerns in developing effective strategies in their complicated cross-border restructuring matters."
"He has extensive and unique experience advising companies on debt restructuring in Indonesia and has consistently guided clients to excellent results."
"Very commercial and good at providing alternative restructuring and insolvency solutions."
"He impressed us with his work ethic and his extensive knowledge of Indonesia."
A client notes his "uncanny ability to look beyond just the legal side of things and can point out the commercial implications of a particular course of action."
"He is a deal maker, with a China and Indonesia focus."
"He is not only able to offer legal advice but also assists with the commercial implications. He also has extensive experience and knowledge about Indonesian legal issues."
"He can always come up with an outside-the-box solution to address those risks and concerns that the clients might have."
Chambers Global
Indonesia – Banking & Finance (International Firms): Expertise based abroad 2024 – Leading Individual for 2 consecutive years
Chambers High Net Worth Guide
Private Wealth Law 2023 Indonesia (Expertise based abroad) – Leading Individual for 8 consecutive years
"He has excellent high net worth Indonesian clients."
“...because he spent a lot of time in Indonesia, he is familiar with how things should be done. His grassroots expertise is very helpful in understanding the psyche of Indonesian clients and Indonesian markets.”
“very knowledgeable, quick to respond and great with client relationships.”
Kwek's practice is broad-ranging, and includes private equity, cross-border M&A and joint venture matters. He works with both Indonesian clients and wealthy inward investors.
Kwek helps high net worth families and individuals on private client matters, including restructuring, estate and trusts matters, reorganising offshore holding structures and businesses.
He also assists with immigration and citizenship applications, as well as advising on tax efficiency and complying with the Common Reporting Standard.
Asia-Pacific Legal 500
Restructuring & Insolvency 2024 – Recommended Lawyer for 9 consecutive years
Projects and Energy 2020 – Recommended Lawyer for 2 consecutive years
Corporate and M&A 2019 – Recommended Lawyer for 2 consecutive years
“Sushil Nair and Julian Kwek are extremely hard-working, smart and creative. I have seen them achieve excellent results for their clients in every matter where I have had the privilege of working with them.”
"I deal a lot with Julian Kwek and his team. I am very impressed with Julian’s commitment and professionalism. The team is not only to provide legal advice, but more importantly they can always come out with an outside the box solution to address those risks and concerns that the clients might have."
“Julian is not only well versed in the legal aspects but also has the uncanny ability to look at the issues from a business perspective and offer valuable insights and recommendations. He has always been extremely responsive to our needs and works well under time pressure. He has been available literally 24/7 and always able to meet deadlines and targets.”
“Rated for transactional-related engagements, including the largest workouts in Indonesia and defaults of Chinese companies listed in Singapore.”
Clients described Julian as “absolutely first-class”, “committed and professional” with the “uncanny ability to look beyond the legal aspects and provide invaluable advice on commercial implications.”
Julian Kwek is "outstanding in developing and implementing effective and creative strategies that have produced successful debt restructurings in circumstances that seemed hopeless at the start".
He is “extremely hard-working, intelligent and creative” and an “excellent” leader of a strong restructuring team.
IFLR 1000: The Guide to the World’s Leading Financial Law Firms
Restructuring & Insolvency 2023 – Highly regarded for 7 consecutive years
Leading lawyer for 6 consecutive years from 2012 to 2017
“Brilliant lawyer, friendly and able to think out of the box.”
"An intelligent and creative problem-solver who always makes sure to understand his clients’ objectives and concerns in developing effective strategies in complicated cross-border restructuring matters."
A client praised Julian for being “intelligent, creative and hard-working”. He “expertly [leads his] clients through complex cross-border debt restructuring matters.”
“He knows the law very well and also has a commercial point of view which helps the structuring.”
“Julian has a tremendous depth of understanding and knowledge of the Indonesian market which we are operating from. This knowledge had been most useful when assisting us to make major divestment decisions. He is able to think outside of the box and highlight to us, apart from legal issues, the commercial implications.”
A client commended Julian as an “excellent” lawyer in all respects. He is also “responsive to client needs.”
Julian is regarded as “extremely intelligent”, “hard-working” and “creative”.
“Julian has always been very responsive and able to provide excellent advice and suggestions on not just legal issues but also the commercial implications arising,” according to a client’s feedback.
Another adds, “He had impressed us on his extensive legal knowledge about Singapore law as well as a good grasp of the legal environment in Indonesia. His strongest point is his uncanny ability to look beyond just the legal perspective and also provided excellent advice on the commercial implications.”
“I deal a lot with Julian Kwek and his team. I am very impressed with Julian's commitment and professionalism. The team is not there only to provide legal advice, but more importantly they can always come out with an outside the box solution to address those risks and concerns that the clients might have,” says a client.
Who's Who Legal
Restructuring & Insolvency 2023 – Leading lawyer for 6 consecutive years
Julian Kwek is described as “hard-working” and “extremely intelligent”; he is lauded by peers for his “inventiveness when dealing with extraordinarily complex multinational debt restructurings”.
"well-regarded specialist in cross-border debt workouts and corporate restructuring."
National Leader
Southeast Asia: Restructuring & Insolvency 2023 – Recommended lawyer for 2 consecutive years
Asian Legal Business
Named Dealmaker of the Year at the ALB SE Asia Law Awards 2021
Named one of the standout dealmakers in 2020 in Southeast Asia (December 2020 issue of ALB Asia magazine)
Asialaw Leading Lawyers
Restructuring and Insolvency 2023/2024 – Elite Practitioner for 5 consecutive years, previously Market-leading Lawyer for 2 consecutive years
Corporate/M&A 2019 – Market-leading Lawyer
“Problem solver and provides practical solutions.”
“In addition to his extensive knowledge of the Indonesian legal and working environment, Julian has the uncanny ability to provide advice and suggestions on the commercial aspect and implications of a situation.”
“Very knowledgeable and commercial-minded.”
“Technical skill coupled with commercial acumen.”
Asialaw Client Service Excellence
In the 2020 edition, Julian is recognised as one of the highest rated lawyers to work with in the field of Restructuring & Insolvency based on client feedback
Best Lawyers International: Singapore
Insolvency and Reorganisation Law 2024 – Endorsed individual for 13 consecutive years
Asia Business Law Journal
Identified as one of Singapore’s Top 100 lawyers 2023