State-owned enterprises (SOE) transactions are among the most intricate deals in the legal landscape, and demand far more than contractual expertise. They require institutional awareness and the courage to insist on the right process even when it slows things down.

In this interview, our Partner Pininta Ambuwaru draws on her experience advising on complex SOE transactions, including land acquisitions in Lombok, to explain why cutting corners on due diligence is never worth the risk. From title verification and environmental clearances to independent audits, she walks us through why each step exists not as a bureaucratic formality, but as a safeguard that protects the state from losses and gives every project a stronger foundation to stand on.

Her message is clear, transparency and caution are not the enemies of commercial ambition, they are what make sustainable success possible.