Wong Alliance

Timor-Leste

Protecting clients’ interests, upholding the law with uncompromising integrity

A Timor-Leste law practice for investors, institutions and organisations who need work that holds up in a civil law jurisdiction — and counsel who can explain it in the language you work in.

Office
Dili · Timor-Leste
In practice since
2010
Jurisdiction
Civil law jurisdiction
Working languages
Português · Tetun · English · Bahasa Indonesia · 中文

Established in 2010, Wong Alliance Timor-Leste handles contentious and non-contentious legal matters, navigating common law and civil law principles. Known for reliability and perseverance in pursuit of justice for our clients, we pursue practical and effective legal solutions.

The office was formally opened on the 23rd of August 2010 by His Excellency Dr José Ramos-Horta, President of Timor-Leste.

Our multilingual team handles matters in Portuguese, Tetun, English, Bahasa Indonesia and Chinese, providing multi-language documents when required to better inform our foreign clients.

Wong Alliance and affiliate Indonesian law firm Nurjadin Sumono Mulyadi & Partners (NSMP) are members of the Pacific Legal Network (PLN).

Address

Suite 331, Timor PlazaAvenida Presidente Nicolau LobatoDom Aleixo, Dili, Timor-Leste

Telephone

+670 3323 335

In practice since

2010

Practising in Dili continuously since, on contentious and non-contentious matters.

The team of Wong Alliance Law Office (TL) Lda in Dili

Practice areas

Nine areas of Timor-Leste practice

  • We provide expert advice on business structures, company formation, and licensing requirements for various business sectors. As a pioneer, our firm was selected to submit the first business registration at SERVE (Service for the Registration and Verification of Entrepreneurs). Beyond incorporation and licensing, we assist clients with working visas, opening bank accounts, and other essential startup activities.

    In a market where corporate governance and compliance are still developing, we act as company secretary for Timor-Leste companies, particularly subsidiaries of foreign companies and those with plans for public listings in other jurisdictions.

    Additionally, we conduct comparative jurisdictional surveys for foreign entities, including governmental and non-governmental organisations, seeking to establish legal presence in Timor-Leste, ensuring compliance with local laws and practices.

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  • Our firm specialises in negotiating and drafting a broad range of commercial agreements tailored to diverse business needs and sectors, including cross-border transactions.

    We assist in acquisitions, joint ventures, shareholder matters, and all aspects of commercial and company law, including providing due diligence and field reports for assessment of risks or legal/regulatory compliance. We also offer expert advice and drafting services for personal and corporate loan agreements and security documents, including guarantees.

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  • Our firm is a trusted partner for investors seeking special investment projects in Timor-Leste. We help prepare investment proposals, negotiate special investment agreements with the government, and secure incentives and benefits. A notable achievement includes advising on a USD 700 million investment in 2022, the largest non-oil and gas investment project in the country.

    We also provide advice on procurement law and handle disputes related to tenders for major infrastructure and other projects.

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  • We provide expert advice to navigate the complexities of property rights arising from conflicting regimes under Portuguese and Indonesian control under the framework of the recently enacted Land Law. We conduct due diligence on land ownership, advise on and prepare documentation for property transactions including leasing, purchasing, and property development projects.

    Our expertise extends to representing clients in court for complex land disputes, including inheritance claims. As land use by foreign entities increases, so too do disputes. We advocate for our clients in court, seeking injunctions to prevent interference with their land use and ensuring their rights are safeguarded.

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  • Our firm provides comprehensive support for both borrowers and lenders in banking transactions. We negotiate terms for proposed facilities and advise on security arrangements. In cases of debt enforcement, we navigate enforcement actions to achieve optimal outcomes for our clients.

    We assist prospective entrants in navigating the licensing process for establishing banks and financial services in Timor-Leste, providing advice and facilitating communication with the Central Bank.

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  • Our firm provides legal support to employers and employees in the areas of employment law, drafting employment contracts, hiring policies, and human resource manuals. We ensure compliance with Timor-Leste’s Labour Code and social security laws.

    We also handle termination procedures, redundancy, and labour disputes, including negotiations with workers’ unions and government bodies such as SEPFOPE (Secretariat of State for Vocational Training Policy and Employment).

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  • Our qualified lawyers handle both civil and criminal litigation before Timor-Leste’s national courts and tribunals. We have expertise in international arbitration and alternative dispute resolution (ADR), offering effective legal solutions for commercial disputes.

    We also assist clients in public and administrative law matters, such as tax audits, penalties, and appeals. In addition to corporate and investment matters, we provide legal advice on general civil law, including family law and inheritance disputes.

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  • Wong Alliance Timor-Leste provides legal advice on downstream activities in the energy sector, assisting clients with licence applications for storage, fuel filling stations, and more. Our experience includes advising private oil companies and working with Timor-Leste’s national oil company on support services for oil and gas, such as helicopter services.

    In the mining sector, we advise on the Mining Code, licences, exploration agreements, and joint ventures with the national mining company. We have assembled a team of recognised experts in energy law to provide full-spectrum legal services in these industries.

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  • Our work in Timor-Leste began with assisting non-governmental organisations (NGOs), including churches and schools, to obtain legal status. Today, we continue to support NGOs in promoting social objectives that benefit the people of Timor-Leste, offering guidance on legal structure, compliance, and operational continuity.

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Practising in Dili since

2010

Contentious and non-contentious matters, continuously.

First registration filed at SERVE

No. 1

Selected to submit the first business registration when SERVE was inaugurated in 2013.

Working languages

5

Portuguese, Tetun, English, Bahasa Indonesia and Chinese, in-house.

The team

  • Paralegal and Office Administrator

    Isazélia graduated from the Faculty of Education, majoring in English, at Universidade Dili (UNDIL) in 2021.

    Isazélia joined Wong Alliance in 2011 as an administrative assistant and has since developed into a key member of the firm’s administrative team and a paralegal. She provides practical support across office administration, client coordination, regulatory filings, and liaison with government authorities. She also assists clients with:

    • Business registration and licensing matters with SERVE, I.P.
    • Tax administration matters, including the e-tax online system, taxpayer registration updates, requests for tax clearance certificates, and domestic monthly tax filings.
    • Immigration and labour-related matters, including visas and work permits with the Migration Service and SEFOPE.
    • Social security administration through the INSS online portal.

Contact and consult with us

Every enquiry receives prompt, personal attention.

Request a consultation+670 3323 335

Initial enquiries are answered by a lawyer, not a form.

Visit us

Address

Suite 331, Timor PlazaAvenida Presidente Nicolau LobatoDom Aleixo, Dili, Timor-Leste

Telephone

+670 3323 335

Enquiries

+670 7724 8006

Email

enquiries.tl@wongalliance.com

Office hours

Monday to Friday, 09:00–18:00 (UTC+9)

Finding us

Suite 331 is on the third floor of Central Timor Plaza, on Avenida Presidente Nicolau Lobato in Comoro. Take the escalators to level 3; the office is signed “Wong Alliance Law Office (TL) Lda”.

Timor Plaza on Google Maps ↗