Ismail Muhammad

Ismail is a Senior Associate in the Banking & Finance practice group of Assegaf Hamzah & Partners (AHP). With a solid legal education and an evolving track record in complex financial transactions, Ismail has rapidly become one of the most promising talents in the firm’s financial services advisory team. His blend of technical precision and commercial insight positions him as a trusted advisor to both domestic and international clients navigating Indonesia’s rapidly evolving financial regulatory environment.

Ismail represents a diverse client base including leading banks, non-bank financial institutions, project companies, sponsors, and fintech platforms. His recent work includes advising on a wide range of cross-border and domestic matters such as syndicated lending, bilateral facilities, financial technology operations, payment systems, and regulatory compliance.

He has been a key team member in several high-value fintech-related financing transactions and has advised on complex debt restructuring and insolvency mandates. His work also spans corporate structuring and licensing for digital financial service providers entering or expanding their presence in the Indonesian market.

Notable engagements include:

• Advising a leading Indonesian peer-to-peer lending platform on its full licensing lifecycle, including establishment, registration with the Financial Services Authority (OJK), and ongoing regulatory compliance.
• Assisting a foreign direct investment company with legal structuring and regulatory analysis for the rollout of a nationwide online tax payment platform in Indonesia.
• Acting for a US-based global payment gateway provider on establishing an operational footprint in Indonesia, including licensing and corporate compliance.
• Advising a Singapore-based tech entity on the incorporation and licensing of a global switching company in Indonesia to support cross-border financial transaction infrastructure.

Ismail’s core expertise lies at the intersection of banking, finance, and technology. He is particularly skilled in:

• Fintech regulations and licensing under Indonesian law
• Syndicated and bilateral loan transactions
• Payment systems and digital banking advisory
• Structured and project finance
• Cross-border regulatory compliance
• Insolvency and corporate debt restructuring

With an in-depth understanding of Indonesia’s financial services ecosystem and a forward-looking approach to regulatory change, Ismail plays a central role in helping clients achieve compliance while capturing market opportunities in an increasingly digital economy.

Banking & Finance

• Representing PT Bank BCA Syariah as surviving entity in merger transaction with PT Bank Interim Indonesia.
• Represented Bangkok Bank Public Company Limited in granting a loan facility amounting to USD 200 million to Smart Head Assets Limited. The loan facility will be used to purchase several plots of land, to be used for the construction of a data centre in Indonesia. (2020)
• Acted as the legal counsel to PT Solusi Bangun Indonesia in the refinancing of its backstop loan. Bank Negara Indonesia, Bank CIMB Niaga, BTPN, Bank DBS Indonesia, Permata Bank and Bank CTBC Indonesia are acting as an original financing parties. The Sharia unit of Permata Bank acted as one of the accordion facility providers. (2020)

Fintech, Telecommunication, IT & Media

• Advising payment gateway service provider from United States of America to establish a payment gateway company in Indonesia.
• Aurrently advising one of Singapore Based Company on the establishment of global switching company on Indonesian law related matters.
• Providing ongoing legal advisory services to peer to peer lending provider from China to set up a company and peer to peer lending activity in Indonesia. Our role includes preparing agreement between the provider and the lender, credit agreement between the lender and the borrower, terms of use of the application, privacy and cookie policy. We also provide advise to the client on registration with OJK.