Research & Publications
Research, publications, and speaking
Dr. (Cand.) Putu George Matthew Simbolon, S.H., M.H. publishes peer-reviewed scholarship while advising clients and government institutions on WTO law, international investment law, and trade-environment regulation. Legal research is core to how the Office practices, not an afterthought.
§ 1Services
Legal research and opinion services
Legal Opinions
Independent legal analysis addressing specific legal questions.
Regulatory Research
Research concerning Indonesian legislation and implementing regulations.
International Law Research
Analysis of treaties, international agreements, international jurisprudence, and international legal principles.
Comparative Law
Comparison between Indonesian law and foreign legal systems.
Jurisprudential Research
Identification and analysis of relevant court decisions and legal doctrines.
Regulatory Mapping
Mapping legislation and regulatory requirements applicable to a particular business activity.
§ 2Focus
Where our commissioned research concentrates
- WTO & International Trade
- WTO-consistency assessments of Indonesian regulations, Article XX environmental exception analysis, TBT Agreement compliance, trade-restrictive environmental measures, non-tariff measures, trade remedies, and WTO dispute jurisprudence.
- Trade & Climate Change
- CBAM and WTO law, climate-related trade measures and Article XX GATT, carbon pricing and international trade, climate measures affecting developing countries, extraterritorial environmental regulation, the trade implications of the Paris Agreement, and the ICJ Advisory Opinion on Climate Change.
- Deforestation & Biodiversity
- The EU Deforestation Regulation and Indonesian supply chains, WTO implications of deforestation-free supply-chain rules, deforestation regulation and the palm-oil trade, CITES and international trade, and sustainability requirements affecting developing-country exporters.
- International Investment Law
- Bilateral Investment Treaty analysis, investor–state dispute settlement research, expropriation, fair and equitable treatment, legitimate expectations, the police powers doctrine, and sustainable-development provisions in investment treaties.
- Customs & Trade Remedies
- Anti-dumping duty analysis, customs valuation, tariff classification, import/export restrictions, trade-remedy investigations, and customs compliance audits.
- Comparative Law
- Comparative research between Indonesian law and other jurisdictions, including Germany, the EU, Australia, Singapore, the United Kingdom, and the United States, across contract, agency, civil liability, investment, environmental, commercial, administrative, and corporate law.
§ 3Deliverables
Research products, scoped to the question
- Legal Memorandum
- Focused analysis of a specific legal question.
- Regulatory Opinion
- Assessment of the legal consequences of a regulation for a particular business or transaction.
- Regulatory Mapping
- Identification and organization of all relevant legal instruments governing a particular activity.
- Jurisprudence Review
- Systematic analysis of Indonesian or international judicial decisions.
- Comparative Law Report
- Comparison of Indonesian law with another jurisdiction.
- WTO Compatibility Assessment
- Assessment of whether a domestic measure may be inconsistent with WTO obligations.
- Trade & Environmental Impact Assessment
- Analysis of how an environmental measure may affect trade, market access, or supply chains.
- International Treaty Analysis
- Analysis of treaty obligations, interpretation, and potential legal consequences.
§ 4Publications
Thirty-one published works
A book, two theses, journal articles, and conference proceedings, including six Scopus-indexed works and articles in Sinta-accredited Indonesian journals. Grouped by subject, most recent first.
Trade, environment & sustainability
- 2026Unilateralism and the Rio Declaration: The Endless Debate on “Trade and Environmental” LawTanjungpura Law Journal, Vol. 10, No. 2, pp. 259–291 Sinta 3
- 2024When Extraterritorial Acts Meet the Indigenous People Protection: An Analysis of the European Union Deforestation Free RegulationPadjadjaran Jurnal Ilmu Hukum, Vol. 11, No. 3, pp. 405–433 Scopus Q3
- 2024Ketika Deforestasi Bertemu Perdagangan Bebas: Pengaturan Uji Tuntas pada European Union Deforestation-Free Regulation Ditinjau dari The Law of the World Trade OrganizationGraduate Thesis, Universitas Indonesia Thesis
- 2024Hukum Pembangunan Lingkungan: Greenwashing, Diplomasi Iklim dan Deforestasi(Environmental Development Law: Greenwashing, Climate Diplomacy and Deforestation), Yogyakarta: ALIFBA Media Press Book
- 2023When the Deforestation Meets the Free Trade: A Critical Analysis of the European Union Deforestation Free RegulationJournal of World Trade Studies, Universitas Gadjah Mada, Vol. 8, No. 1, pp. 1–13 Google Scholar
- 2023EU Deforestation Free Regulation dan Perdagangan Bebas: Sikap dan Langkah yang Harus Indonesia AmbilLegalist Society Law Article, Vol. 2
- 2023The Negative Investment List Policy in Indonesia: A Review of Free Trade and the Conservation of Endangered Fish SpeciesSIGn Jurnal Hukum, Vol. 5, No. 2, pp. 325–339 Copernicus
WTO & international trade law
- 2024Permanent Sovereignty vs. International Obligations: A Lesson Learned from DS 592Lentera Hukum: A Journal of Global South Legal Studies, Vol. 11, No. 2 Scopus Q3
- 2023Penyelesaian Sengketa pada World Trade Organization dan Solusi terhadap Kekalahan Indonesia pada DS 592 dalam Perspektif Kepentingan IndonesiaJurnal Hukum To-ra, Vol. 9, No. 2, pp. 192–202 Crossref
- 2023Safeguard Measure Application as ASEAN Sustainable Framework to Recover from the Post-Covid-19 Pandemic CrisisQuest Journals: Journal of Research in Humanities and Social Science, Vol. 11, No. 2 Copernicus
- 2023Hasil Review Trade Policy Review Body WTO sebagai Unilateral Act of an International OrganizationJurnal USM Law Review, Vol. 6, No. 2, pp. 448–467 DOAJ
- 2023Solution on the Legality and Legitimacy Tension within the World Trade Organization Law Based on the Positivism School of ThoughtInternational Journal of Science Academic Research, Vol. 4, No. 7, pp. 5899–5905 Copernicus
- 2023Indonesian Trade Policy in Adjusting the 2020 WTO's Trade Policy ReviewJurnal Hubungan Internasional, Vol. 12, No. 1, pp. 76–87 Crossref · DOAJ
- Is Indonesia Ready to be a Party of the Comprehensive and Progressive Agreement for Trans-Pacific Partnership?Jurnal Kajian Pembaruan Hukum, Vol. 4, No. 1, pp. 1–44 Crossref
- 2022The Implementation of Subsidies for Micro, Small, and Medium Enterprises: A Framework in Achieving Development for WTO Member StatesProceedings of the Seventh North American International Conference on Industrial Engineering and Operations Management, IEOM Society International, Orlando, Florida Scopus proceedings
- 2022Legal Analysis on Indonesia's Food Import Policy Review through the WTO Trade Policy Review Mechanism to Prevent International Trade Law DisputesProceedings of the Third African International Conference on Industrial Engineering and Operations Management, IEOM Society International, Nsukka, Nigeria Scopus proceedings
- 2022Analisis Mekanisme Pembaruan Kebijakan Impor Pangan Indonesia Melalui Trade Policy Review Mechanism World Trade Organization untuk Mencegah Sengketa Perdagangan InternasionalUndergraduate Thesis, Universitas Kristen Indonesia Thesis
International investment law
- 2025The Chilling Effect on International Investment Law and Indonesia's Preventive Steps to Overcome ItJurnal Kajian Pembaruan Hukum, Vol. 5, No. 1, pp. 91–120 Sinta 4
- 2024The Cooling-Off Period under the International Investment Law Regime in the Indonesian Regulations ContextJournal of Indonesian Legal Studies, Vol. 9, No. 2, pp. 835–866 Scopus Q1
- 2024The International Centre for Settlement of Investment Disputes (ICSID) Annulment Reform: A Lesson Learned from the WorldIndonesian Journal of International Law, Vol. 21, No. 3, pp. 467–502 Scopus Q3
- 2024Basic Policy and Implementing Policy of the Capital Investment LawInternational Journal of Research: GRANTHAALAYAH, Vol. 12, No. 12, pp. 12–26 Copernicus
Competition, agriculture & smallholders
- 2025Indonesia's Urgency in Adopting Government Regulation concerning Smallholder-Enterprise PartnershipConstitutional Law Society, Vol. 4, No. 2, pp. 291–318 Sinta 3
- 2024Palm Oil Smallholders in Peril: Indonesia's Urgency in Aiding Smallholders to Compete Fairly in Their Playing FieldSIGn Jurnal Hukum, Vol. 6, No. 2, pp. 124–143 Sinta 4
- 2024Competition Law and Sectoral Regulation: Efforts to Overcome Conflict of Interest Based on KPPU Decision Number 15/KPPU-I/2022International Journal of Scientific Academic Research, Vol. 5, No. 11, pp. 8631–8639
Public international law, comparative law & other fields
- 2023Penyelesaian Sengketa Tanah Berdasarkan Kaidah Hukum Positif dan Doktrin Hukum tentang Penyelesaian Sengketa di IndonesiaJurnal ComunitA Servizio, Vol. 5, No. 1, pp. 1050–1069 Crossref · DOAJ
- 2023Implementation of the Fair Use Defense Doctrine and Minimum Standards Principle in Copyright Dispute SettlementSIGn Jurnal Hukum, Vol. 5, No. 1, pp. 74–90 Copernicus
- 2023Analisis Mekanisme Pengajuan Hak Milik Atas Tanah yang Sejak Semula Dikuasai Oleh Negara Berdasarkan Peraturan Perundang-Undangan Republik IndonesiaSeminar Nasional Pengabdian kepada Masyarakat LPPM UKI 2022 (Multidisciplinary National Proceeding), Vol. 1, pp. 151–157 Google Scholar
- 2022ASEAN Collective Responsibility in Upholding Sovereignty in the South China Sea Exclusive Economic ZoneEuropean Journal of Economic, Law, and Politics, Vol. 9, No. 3, pp. 1–13 Copernicus · HeinOnline
- 2022Perbandingan Sistem Hukum Inggris dengan Jerman: Refleksi Terhadap Sumber Hukum dan Penerapan Hukum IndonesiaYurispruden: Jurnal Universitas Islam Malang, Vol. 5, No. 2, pp. 141–162 Crossref · DOAJ
- 2021Indonesia's Role in Formulating Association of South East Asian Nations Treaty regarding Health Protection toward Global PandemicProceedings of the First International Conference on Law and Human Rights (ICLHR 2021), Jakarta
Research profiles: Google Scholar · ORCID · Scopus · ResearchGate · UKI Repository · Legal research blog
§ 5Peer Review
Peer review and editorial roles
- Peer Reviewer
Padjadjaran Journal of Law, Universitas Padjadjaran
- Peer Reviewer
Journal of Central Banking Law and Institutions, Bank Indonesia and PERADI
- Peer Reviewer
Jambura Law Review, Universitas Negeri Gorontalo
- Peer Reviewer
Tanjungpura Law Journal, Universitas Tanjungpura
- Peer Reviewer
Journal of World Trade Studies, Universitas Gadjah Mada
- Peer Reviewer
Lentera Hukum, Universitas Jember
- Peer Reviewer
Jurnal Kajian Pembaruan Hukum, Universitas Jember
- Editor and Translator
SIGn Jurnal Hukum, CV Social Politic Genius
- Peer Reviewer, International Trade
East Asia Forum, Australian National University
§ 6Speaking
Presentations, lectures, and moderation
2026
- Presenter, Ultimate Sustainable Development Goals Conference, Faculty of Law, Universitas Udayana, on the intersection of international investment law and international environmental law in Indonesia's tourism-sector policies (August)
- Speaker on legal writing and artificial intelligence, Universitas Indonesia Master of Law Student Society (July)
- Facilitator and Moderator, International Trade Law Training, Indonesian Society of International Law Lecturers, Faculty of Law, Universitas Udayana (June)
- Moderator, 23rd Asian Law Society Conference, Universitas Indonesia, Depok (June)
- Speaker on trade remedies and recent developments in trade and environment, Dentons HPRP (April)
2025
- Presenter, International Postgraduate Students Conference, Faculty of Law, Universitas Gadjah Mada, on inequality facing smallholders and Indigenous peoples under WTO law and international environmental law (November)
- Speaker, international trade law seminar, Universitas Pembangunan Nasional Veteran Jakarta, on the Appellate Body vacuum and the WTO Dispute Settlement Body (September)
- Presenter and Best Presenter, Indonesian Society of International Law Lecturers Conference, Faculty of Law, Universitas Islam Indonesia, on the Rio Declaration, unilateral acts on deforestation, and WTO environmental disputes (September)
2024
- Keynote Speaker, Master of Law New Student Orientation, Universitas Indonesia Master of Law Association (August)
- Invited Speaker, legal writing webinar, PODIUM, Faculty of Law, Universitas Indonesia (August)
2023
- Presenter, 2023 Circular Economy Forum Call for Papers, Center for World Trade Studies, Universitas Gadjah Mada (December)
- Presenter on foreign investment, Asian Society of International Law 9th Biennial Conference (August)
- Invited Speaker, webinar on the legal profession in the disruptive era, Ikatan Pemuda Tionghoa Indonesia (July)
2022
- Invited Speaker, Law Article Workshop, Pelatihan Hukum Nasional (November)
- Presenter, Fourth International Conference on Law and Governance in a Global Context (ICLAVE), Faculty of Law, Universitas Indonesia (November)
- Speaker, PODIUM FH UI workshop on legal analysis skills in legal competitions (July)
- Speaker, legal opinion competition webinar, Forum Kajian dan Penelitian Hukum, Universitas Brawijaya (June)
- Main Presenter, 7th North American International Conference on Industrial Engineering and Operations Management, Florida Polytechnic University, Orlando, USA (June)
- Main Presenter, Third African International Conference on Industrial Engineering and Operations Management, University of Nigeria, Nsukka (April)
2021
- Main Presenter, First International Conference on Law and Human Rights, Universitas Kristen Indonesia and the Ministry of Law and Human Rights (April)
§ 7Media
Media coverage
National and university media coverage, largely in Bahasa Indonesia.
- Putu George Matthew Simbolon, Putra Batak yang Ukir Sejarah di UI dengan IPK Sempurna 4.0Karo Gaul, 2025 · profile of his record and the Sudargo Goutama Award
- Mengenal Lebih Dekat Sosok Putu George Matthew SimbolonPosmetro Medan · profile
- Reza Zaki dan Matthew Simbolon menjadi the Best Presenter International Conference di Fakultas Hukum Universitas Islam IndonesiaBINUS University Business Law, 2025
- FH UPNVJ Gelar Kuliah Umum Isu Strategis Hukum Perdagangan InternasionalForum Keadilan, 2025 · public lecture on international trade law and market access
- Sosok Putu George Jebolan SMA Taruna Nusantara Jadi Wisudawan Terbaik UI, Summa Cum Laude IPK 4.0Tribun News, 2024
- Sosok Putu George Matthew Simbolon, Peraih Predikat Summa Cum Laude Magister Hukum UI dengan IPK 4.0Tribun News via MSN, 2024
- UI Wisuda 9.074 Wisudawan, Rektor: Dedikasikan Ilmu Bagi Orang BanyakMedcom (Metro TV), 2024
- Mahasiswa Magister Hukum FH UI Raih Penghargaan Best Presentation, Juara II dan Juara I pada Bulak Sumur Law Fair Call for Paper di FH UGMFaculty of Law, Universitas Indonesia, 2024
- Mahasiswa Magister Hukum FHUI Raih Student World Trade Research Prize 2023 CompetitionFaculty of Law, Universitas Indonesia, 2023
- Selamat! UKI Berhasil Meraih Juara 1 Undergraduate Research Competition IEOM NigeriaMNC Trijaya, 2022
- Yudisium FH UKI, 93 Mahasiswa Dinyatakan LulusHarian SIB, 2022 · named the Faculty's best graduate
- Mahasiswa Berprestasi UKI: Putu George Matthew SimbolonMNC Trijaya · radio interview as two-time Most Outstanding Student
- PKKMB FH UKI: Menjadi Mahasiswa Hukum yang Bermutu, Inovatif dan MandiriFaculty of Law, Universitas Kristen Indonesia, 2021 · speaker at new student orientation
- Online Talkshow Mahasiswa FH-UKI Angkatan 2018 Kelas CFaculty of Law, Universitas Kristen Indonesia, 2021 · banking and finance law webinar
- Selamat dan Sukses Putu George Matthew SimbolonFaculty of Law, Universitas Kristen Indonesia, 2021 · international trade law legal opinion championship
- Apresiasi Yayasan Universitas Kristen Indonesia kepada Mahasiswa Fakultas HukumFaculty of Law, Universitas Kristen Indonesia, 2021 · foundation award for competition results
Consultation
Interested in commissioning research, or discussing a publication?
Tell us the question you are working on. We will reply with how we can help.
Jakarta, by appointment
Consultations in Bahasa Indonesia and English, for matters across Indonesia and cross-border.