frank hutapea

Still on top

“When people ask me why I work in the same field as my father, I would say you just can’t run away from it,” says Frank Hutapea, financial litigation lawyer and first son of Hotman Paris Hutapea, an Indonesian attorney famous for his flamboyant style, high-profile clients and huge sports car collection.

“The law is the topic when you grow up in a family firm. We didn’t just discuss it at the office, but also at home at breakfast and dinner - even during holidays,” Frank goes on. “You heard how the cases were going on from day to day. Somehow, it brainwashed me, whether I liked it or not.”

The holder of a Bachelor’s degree in Law from the University of Kent recalls a youth in which he accompanied his father on business, often sitting in on his meetings. “When I was in high school, I never had a summer holiday. I spent most of my free time in the courts. I had to write reports about what was being discussed, so far as I understood it. My father loved to have me join his meetings with clients. I got to know people from all sorts of backgrounds, in a wide variety of cases. I soon became accustomed to the lawyer’s life and the work ethic. It’s embodied in your daily routine.

“Since the beginning of my career, I have worked hard to gain more clients for the firm and to earn the same kind of respect my father enjoys. I think the success of the second generation is measured by whether the family firm is still on top of the game and do not fake your success.”