Mr. Otto Cornelis Kaligis was born in Ujung Pandang (now Makassar), June 19th, 1942. He obtained his Bachelor of Law degree from the University of Parahyangan, Bandung in 1966. He took Notarial Education at the University of lndonesia, and from 1972 to 1975 he was a student of Faculty of Philosophy, University of Rheinisch- Westfaelische Technische Hochschule in Aachen, Germany. During the 1990’s he attended several executive trainings on Bankruptcy Law and Capital Market. In 2003 he obtained his Master of Law degree from the University of Padjajaran, Bandung and his Doctoral degree in Law from the same university in 2006. In 2008, he was inaugurated as a Professor in Law at the State University of Manado.

Before establishing O.C. Kaligis & Associates in 1977, he worked in a Public Notary office F.A.Tumbuan from 1966 to 1969.He is known as a Ieading lawyer and prominent figure in lndonesian and international legal circles. Apart from his profession as advocate, he was and is a member of various organizations such as PMKRI, Peradin, Ikadin, Golkar, Bakumham-Otda Golkar, International Bar Association, International Association C.D. Dag Hammersjkold, Association of Consultants of Capital Market Law, Indonesian Advocate Association (AAI) and Congress of Indonesian Advocate (KAI). He is also a co-founder of the Jakarta Lawyers Club.

As an Advocate he has been involved in many non-Iitigation and Iitigation cases, both in criminal and civil law, domestically and internationally. He has handled cases involving important national figures, such as H.M. Soeharto (former President of the Republic of Indonesia), Prof.Dr. Ing. B.J. Habibie (former President of the Republic of Indonesia), Prof. Dr. Beddu Amang MBA, Prof. Dr. lr. Ginandjar Kartasasmita, Prof. Dr. Rahardi Ramelan, Prof. Dr. Ida Bagus Oka, Mr. Soedomo (retired admiral), General Dibyo Widodo (former Chief of Indonesian National Police), General S. Bimantoro (former Chief of Indonesian National Police), E.C.W. Neloe (former President Director of Bank Mandiri), Aulra Pohan (former Deputy Governor of Bank lndonesia), Rusli Simanjuntak (former official of Bank Indonesia), Ir. Abdullah Puteh (former Governor of Aceh), and many other figures.

He has also handled cases involving prominent entrepreneurs and big corporations suc h as Joko S. Tjandra (Mulia Group), Samadikun Hartono (Bank Modern), Kaharuddin Ongko (Ongko Group), Tommy Soeharto (Humpuss), Racardo Gelael, Prada S.A., Marubeni Corporations, Diamond Cold Storage, Astro, and Bank Danamon lndonesia.
Apart from defending the rights of top figures and corporations and serving the community. Mr. Kaligis also provides legal services on “Pro-Bono” basis. The “Pro-Bono”cases which he has handled are, among others, the case of Philipus (the murder of Rohadi Family Case), the case of retired PPD bus drivers (to which Mr. Kaligis also provides aid in the form of Iifetime allowance), the case of Kemat et. Al. (illegal detention based on allegation of murder). and Prita Mulyasari case.

Mr. Kaligis founded Indonesia Against Injustice in 2008. He is also a member of the expert board of the National Democrat Organization. As a Professor, he delivers lectures at the National Police School (Sespim, Sespati), National Defense lnstitution (Lemhanas), Trisakti University, State University of Manado, and Catholic University of De La Salle. He is also an examiner of Ph.D. candidates of Arilangga University and Diponegoro University, as well as an examiner of LL.B. candidates of Tarumanegara University.

Languages: Indonesian, English, Dutch, German, Latin.