Khalifah Al Kays Yusuf
Foreign Counsel
Kays is in the firm’s Dispute Resolution practice, specializing in international arbitration and cross-border disputes, with particular depth in Indonesia-related matter.
An Indonesian-qualified advocate (Advokat), he draws on an extensive network across Indonesia to advise clients on disputes involving Indonesian parties, assets and courts, alongside broader experience spanning energy and natural resources, construction and infrastructure, joint ventures, and investment treaty claims.
Kays has acted for and advised corporations and foreign investors in SIAC, PCA, ICSID and UNCITRAL arbitrations, as well as in court proceedings in Indonesia. Before joining the firm, he worked in the international disputes teams of international law firms in London and Singapore.
He graduated from Universitas Gadjah Mada with an LL.B. (Magna Cum Laude) and from University College London with an LL.M. in Litigation and Dispute Resolution (with Distinction). He was President of the Asian Law Students’ Association (ALSA) Indonesia, and won Best Defence Counsel Team at the International Criminal Court Moot Court Competition in The Hague.
Kays is fluent in English and Bahasa Indonesia.
Professional Experience
- Acted for an Italian engineering and construction company and its Singaporean subsidiary in a $4 billion SIAC arbitration under an engineering, procurement, and construction agreement for the upgrade and expansion of an oil refinery in Thailand, against a Thai state-owned oil company.
- Acting for a Singaporean construction company in a S$25 million ad hoc UNCITRAL arbitration seated in Singapore, relating to a public housing construction project in Singapore.
- Acting for a South Korean company in a $10 million SIAC arbitration under a joint venture agreement concerning a resort and golf club in the Philippines.
- Advised a Singaporean natural gas and LNG company in relation to the setting aside of an ICC award under English law.
- Advised a Bulgarian company in a €17 million ad hoc arbitration under a power purchase agreement for a power plant in Bulgaria, concerning payment under a change in law provision.
- Advised a Dutch investment company on the restructuring of its investments for investment treaty protection.
- Advised a Middle Eastern oil and gas company in the vetting of arbitrators for a PCA arbitration.
- Assisted a wider team in Suomi Power Networks TopCo B.V., Supernova II Bidco BV and AMF Tjänstepension AB v Republic of Finland (ICSID Case No. ARB/24/37), an arbitration brought by Dutch and Swedish investors under the Energy Charter Treaty, arising out of regulatory measures adopted by the Finnish government in the electricity sector.
- Advised a South Korean bank in relation to civil tort claims before the South Jakarta District Court under the Indonesian Civil Code.
- Assisted a wider team acting for an oil and gas company in proceedings before the High Court of England and Wales concerning an oil spill, including issues arising under the African Charter on Human and Peoples’ Rights.
- Assisted in the preparatory work for the establishment of the proposed International Anti-Corruption Court (IACC), including reviewing its draft treaty and commentary.